Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-25

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number Of farms in Forsyth County
have been practically abandoned this
year for lack OF labor. which has fled
[ before these threats. The State can not
tolerate such a condition Of AFFAIRS. She
can not allow even a just resentment
against lawless individuals TO take the
! shape Of wholesale Intimidation Of labor
necessary for the conduct Of farms and
! Industrial enterprises.
There Is no reason why farms should
lost their productive power and why
The white women Of this State should
be driven to the cook stoves and wash
pots simply because certain people blind
~ strike down all Of one class In re-
taliatiOn for the nefarious deeds Of in
dividuals in that class The application
Of the law is TO the Individual who vio-
lates it, and all who are law abiding
are entitled TO and must have the pro-
lection Of the law
/. therefore, recommend the enactment
Df a statute which will meet the situa-
ton above indicated, and punish all who
would impair the powers OF honest la
Dor. The penalty for dynamiting or
burning residences should be fixed at
5000 for each ofense, and rewards Of
such amounts, not greater than 5000
per person, should be authorized for the
arrest, with proof 10 convict. Of every
one guilty Of posting threatening no
Ices or using other measures for in
timldating people and driving them from
their homes.
Unnecessary offices which levy addi-
tional taxes upon the people should be
abolished. II Is against public polity
10 maintain sinecures. /. therefore, re-
spectfully recommend to your honorable
bodies the reduction Of the membership
Of the Railroad Commission from FIVE
members to three
When It is considered that only one
member OF the FIVE is required by law
TO devote his entire time TO the service
ha
Der OF members makes that body cum
bersome, as well as needlessly expen-
ave- II ls patent that II is to the States
interest to reduce the number Of Com
mlsSloners, and also to dispense with
he office Of special attorney for the
Railroad Commission
| will add that the Interstate Com
merce Commission has assumed the au-
thorlty to raise intrastate rates when II
seems that these rates injuriously affect
Interstate rates. The lower courts have
upheld that Commission In this action
Inc supreme Court Of the United States
has practically upheld this position in
recent decision, hence Il would appear
that blow has been struck the Rail
road Commissions Of the States In such
event Il would clearly be a waste of the
peoples money to maintain as many as
hVe members on this Commission for the
purpose mainly Of supervising the occa-
sional building Of depots and the collec-
tion OF statistical information
Furthermore It is well known that the
number Of members Of this Commission
was increased In 1907 for the purpose
OF Installing what were termed port
rates. Yet, although the advocates ~
port rates" have been in the majority
on the commission from September 1901,
to June, 1909, and from November, 1911,
to this date, there has been no effort
made by the Commission to even pro-
rates" have been proven to be a cam
paign theory which II is impracticable
to make effective, II Is manifestly con
trary TO the public interest to maintain
pense Of the taxpayers.
Criminal Law Reform.
Inasmuch as our penal laws have
undergone little change during the past
half century 1t might be timely for you
to make inquiry looking to amendments
necessitated by changed conditions and
modern Developments
l wish to direct your attention TO one
important change that is needed. In
misdemeanor cases where prison penal
ties with alternative fines are imposed
leave should be given for payment Of
the fine, or the pro rata portion of the
hne due at any time before the compile
ton of the prison or Changing sen
tence. In most court jurisdictions It is
held that once the fine alternative is re-
jected, and the period for accepting It
elapsed, the fine can not be paid except
by Communication from this Office In no
Quoting, as they do in cities for the pc.
riod of time served by the prisoner
This is manifestly unjust. amounting
to a special penalty on poverty and
unable to raise the amount of the al
tentative fine when IL is imposed upon
them, but later do raise II, or a suffi-
Client amount allowing for the time
served to meet the intent of the sem
tence imposed The only way they can
get relief Is by coming to the ENecu-
tive Office with applications for Glenn
ency, which puts them to unnecessary
expense and this office to much trouble,
all Of which could be obviated by your
providing an automatic method for pris-
oners to pay their fines at any time be.
fore sentence is completed.
Pardon Clerk Recommended.
Applications for executive clemency
are becoming more and more burden
some on the Executive Office. During
the past eighteen months this office has
been forced to consider nearly 1000 OF
such appeals. outside the assistance
rendered by the Prison Commission, the
Executive Office each week Is forced to
read and answer scores of letters, and
see or otherwise deal with scores Of call
ers relating TO such applications. mas
much as the Constitution places full re-
sponsihility in these matters on the Gov
crnor, he is in duty bound to examine
each record and to make such inVesti-
cations ana inquiries in addition to
thinks proper
The result is that this work takes up
large proportion OF the time Of the
Executive Office, precluding attention to
other important business. In addition
to this, lack of time makes II impossi-
bic for this office to pursue investigation
Of many cases as thoroughly as their
impOI lance demands
Therefore, | recommend that you pro-
vide the Governor with a pardon clerk,
or attorney who shall devote his entire
time to assisting in handling applica-
tons for executive clemency.
Better Tax Assessing.
Again permit me to repeat the recon-
mendation made in my general message
OF last year and previous ones during a
former administration. relative TO the
urgent need Of a better method OF as
Sessing property for taxation.
All who have studied the question
agree that II property now escaping
taxation, and other property bearing
less than its equitable burden were re-
Quired TO contribute their just part to
the support OF the State government our
revenues would be augmented to the
extent OF the deficit, which is now Of
serious consequence.
Il is but simple honesty to demand
that all property be required to bear Its
just share Of the expenses Of the gov
eminent which gives ii protection.
Therefore. l recommend that you amend
The tax law so as to provide a method
Of assessment for, and eQualtzlng Of
taxes more just than now prevails.
Compulsory Arbitration Necessary.
During the fall of last year there &C.
Cured a strike by the employees Of the
street ear company in Augusta, and
another strike by certain EMPLOYEES OF