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

s1bilftles Of legislation FOR the welfare OF
The people of this great Commonwealth,
1 extend to you cordial greeting with
the heartfelt hope that our Almighty
Guide viii lead your minds into the
channels Of wisdom and elaboration.
an not doubt that the people have
shown careful discernment in the choice
e members Of both OF your houses,
hence it is with confidence that l lay
before you the views which / deem
worthy your consideration, recommend
ing their enactment into laws which !
believe win enhance the well-being Of
the State
These views affecting the proper use
u the ballot-the freeman's inherited
right-the safety OF person from dis
case and casualty, the economical. but
judicious. expenditure Of the peoples
money and the equitable levying Of
taxes for collecting the same. and other
matters are such as experience and OBJ
5ervation in the Executive Office have
convinced me are necessary for the pro-
lection Of the people and their progress
on orderly lines.
I can not refrain from promising with
the statement that the words Justice"
which is built our governmental struc-
are. without justice government is a
u1ockery. without equality we can not
have a republic Therefore. II We be
patriots. our life lines. our ambitions and
endeavors cluster around these fateful
words
Registration Laws Defective.
First for consideration, call your at
tention TO the serious defects and I'M
necessary barriers in the registration
law now upon the statute book. The re-
quirement that the registration lists
shall be closed six months in advance
Of regular elections is more drastic than
that in any other State IN the Union,
and imposes unnecessary hardships upon
the country people OF this State.
The same barrier TO franchise rights
for the choice Of state and County Of
hcers prevails In only a less degree
against the voters in the cities. Yet in
their municipal elections. the latter are
allowed as short a time as they desire
for registration. with some Of them
this limit is less than 30 days. Hence, l
earnestly recommend that your honor
able bodies make such changes IN the
registration laws as well protect all vot-
ers alike In their proper rights for exer-
cising the franchise.
Under the present law upward OF 20
900 white voters in Fulton County alone
are deprived OF the right to vote by the
operation Of the law In question. And
the total number Of disfranchised
throughout the State exceeds $4,000. The
continuance Of the law, as framed, on
the statute book viii bring reproach
upon the state.
Farm Credit System.
The farm credit system which has
wrought such extraordinary results for
good to the dwellers upon the farms
in Germany and some other European
countries has attracted, wide attention
within the past twelve months In this
country.
/ attended conference OF the Gov
ernors at the White House, called by
President Taft, in December, 1912, for
the purpose OF discussing this system.
Experts appointed by the United States
Government and by the Governors OF
some OF the States are now investigat-
ing this subject IN foreign countries.
Georgia IS represented in this inyesti-
CATION.
That our people may have direct in
formation uopn this subject, / recon-
mend that your honorable bodies APP
be added about three or five other ciu-
zens of Georgia 70 be named by the Gov
ernor. for the purpose Of securing and
placing before our people the most
available plan OF securing for our far
mers at the lowest rates Of interest such
money as they may need for the CON
duct of their affairs.
When we realize that In Germany a
farmer can borrow money at a rate Of
interest not exceeding per cent. where
IS in Georgia the gross rate paid runs
ont FF4y,.,
20 per cent, the importance of this sub
5ect can be readily realized as being
paramount
Near Beer Tax Evasion.
The law providing for the collection
Of a license tax for the sale of near
beer is so drawn that the payment of
this tax has been delayed or evaded by
very many dealers.
To prevent excuses for delay in paying
this tax in future, ! recommend that
you place the duty Of its collection upon
compensation therefor and also provide
adequate penalties for failure to make
prompt payment
Prison Commission.
] would suggest that the Prison Com
mission be given authority and directed
TO Inspect 1ails. IL is more important
that persons detained merely for trial
be properly cared for than that those
already convicted Of crime be treated
we'll
Many good women have urged me to
dAk0AdAE Atlt enactment OF a law DFN-
viding for the inspection by women OF
those quarters occupied by female pris-
oners. ] deem the suggestion a good one
and well in keeping with the demands
OF actual propriety and broad humanity,
ana as such commend IL 10 YOU.
In this connection / win state that IL
has been proposed IN some circles to re-
store the practice Of whipping female
conVicts in order to maintain discipline
/ respectfully suggest that such q return
70 a practice semi harbarOus In it's ma
ture would not be in keeping with the
enlightened spirit Of our modern Ciyili-
cation.
The point has been raised in the pub
lie press and In some other circles that
the State ought 20 allow moderate wages
20 convicts in the peuitentiary such
wages TO be paid 10 the families OF
these convlcts whose protector and pro-
wider the State holds in confinement
1 scarcely think that we are ready to
take such a step, but in the event IL he
seriously considered, ! respectfully sug-
Sest that. inasmuch as the convict Is
immured because of his taking the life Of
another, or Of some Gawage done to
STATE they should be paid mostly, If not
entirely. TO the family whom the convict
has deprived Of its protector and sup
porter
Charge 70 Jurles.
Experience having shown that I'm cap
ital cases trial juries from time 90 time
have requested the presiding judge 70
recharge them upon certain points where