The Marietta journal and courier., 1914-01-30
THE GOVERNORS BIG TASK.

Governor Slaton is deVoting him
self to the duties of his office with
an industry and clearness Of pur-
pose that is most commendable and
his business-like grasp of things aug
ers well for the State.
He has before him this year the
most delicate and difficult task that
has confronted Governor of Geor-
gia within recent years. The appro-
prlations made by the Legislature
have run the State behind to the
extent of million two hundred and
eighty thousand dollars and not on
ly will the State be still deeper in
debt when July comes but Governor
Slaton will have to borrow money
with which to pay the Legislature
that has helped to pile up this in
debtedness
This condition has been brought
about by the excess of appropria-
tions over receipts and by the fact
that under the Constitution of the
State levy in excess of fifty cents
on the hundred dollars cannot be
made. This wise provision was adopt
ed by the people during the admins
tration of Governor Terrell. If it
had been kept in mind the heavy
n oh
ed.
The Constitution provides that
$1OO,OOO.00 of the bonds of the State
shall be paid each year and the
people have laboriously paid the debt
at that rate for thirty-four years
until they have retired three and
a half million dollars; but while
they have been doing so extravagant
Legislatures have, within a compar-
atively short time, plunged them in
to a floating debt of a million and
quarter of dollars, or more than
onethird the amount of the bonded
debt that has been paid in thirty
four years.
That is the situation that CON
fronts Governor Slaton, and with
out strong and positive help from
him relief cannot be obtained.
There are two things to be done.
One is to stop eXtravagant legs-
lation. BY his personal influence and
his veto power the Governor can con-
troll that feature.
The other thing necessary is to
make a success of the new tax law.
The new law which is to be tried
this year for the first time provides
for County tax assessors who are to
adjust tax valuations as between the
various properties in a county and
1t also provides that the State Tax
Commissioner may adjust valuations
as between counties. If a county is
returned too low he can raise the
valuations.
The Tax Commissioner, Former At
torney General John c. Hart, is an
able, clean and impartial man. He is
devoting himself to his work with
conscientiousness that could not be
eXcelled. When we have at the head
of the taxing system such a man, in
situation so fraught with finan-
cial difficulties, we should hold up
his hands and see that he gets a
square deal from public sentiment
The danger of the situation comes
from the fact that the bill passed
by the narrow margin of one vote.
There is already a threat that IT
will be fought in the approaching
session of the Legislature. AS there
is no subject about which it is easier
to stir up trouble than that of tax
alton, a little rocking of the boat
might result in the repeal of the law
from which so much is hoped. 1t is
certainly a time for the people to
stand squarely by the Governor and
the Tax Commissioner in order that
there may be no interference with
the new law.
If the new law can be fairly tried
and the Legislature can be prevail
ed upon to hold down appropriations
the State Treasury will soon be in
good shape and the refunding Of
nearly four million dollars of the
State debt, which will be necessary
within year, will be made easy and
will be accomplished at a low rate
of interest. This rate of interest is
matter of very great concern to
the people who will have to pay it
and we cannot hope to sell long term
bonds at low rate if after having
plunged headlong into a floating
debt we make no provision to pay it
and show no repentance for the folly
that brought it about.