The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-02-06
CONFER OVER PENSIONS
,-,,u, MEMBERS ON ROLL WILL
DE left OUT OF PAYMENTS.
covarnor and Commissioner Lindsey
Agree Such Course Is Necessary.
PAYMENTS in Two Weeks.

PAYMENTS IN TWO weeks.
,TTANTA.-A conference was
hold this morning between Governor
sIaton and Pension Commissioner
lindsey regarding the payment of
pensioners for this year.
After canvassing the situation full
" if was determined to leave off of
+bo rolls now the 1886 new names
oddod to the 1914 rolls for payment,
rooI,iring some $4,000, inasmuch
90 if appeared in the compiled fig
,,ras of the commissioner that de-
fcit of something like that amount
-ron1d occur after all the apprOpria
ION and available fund was used.
Roth Governor Slaton and Captain
lindsey took the position that pen
sfoners who had been on the rolls
for q long period were entitled tot
frst consideration in the distribution
of the appropriation, and that new
9orsioners must take their chances
with the legislature.
PAYMENT in Two Weeks Hoped.
Il is hoped now that sufficient
money will be in the treasury to pay
anproximately half of the counties
in ten days or two weeks, depend
ing largely on how tax collectors re-
nit.
A rather general impression has
gained currency apparently that
Governor SIaton set the precedent
of paying teachers out the first avail
able funds. A pensioner wrote Cap
tain Lindsey along this line, and the
commissioner set out the matter
clearly as follows:
NO one person is responsible for
the financial condition of the state
at this time. The legislature made
the law creating the teachers and
pensioners and fixed the manner and
the time Of their respective pay
nlzIts. These payments are depend
ant upon the collection of taxes an
nuaIly from the people and every
other source of revenue provided by
the law and during these years gone
by the general assembly created
more debts and appropriated more
money than they provided sources
to pay them. I am told, and it is
true, that the state is in debt more
than one million dollars. Neither
Governor Slaton, myself nor the state
treasurer individually or Jointly are
responsible for this condition.
If there had been sufficient funds
in the treasury as there used to be
on the first day of January, three or
four years ago, both the teachers and
the pensioners would have been paid,
without any dispute as to whom
should be paid first When the time
came in January, 1911, to pay teach
er and pensioner it was developed
that there was not sufficient funds
in the state treasury to pay both.
Then the question arose as to who
should be paid first, the teacher or
the pensioner. This was question
of law, and Governor Brown at that
time submitted it to the then attor-
ney general, Hewlett Hall, he being
the legal advisor Of the governor and
of heads of all departments OF the
state government, and clothed with
the authority to interpret the law
and to declare its meaning as the
guide to those whose duty it was to
execute the law. After careful in
yestigation the attorney general de-
clared the law to be that the teacher
had the right to be paid first out OF
the taxes collected in the year that
the teaching was done.
Course Being Followed.
That settled the dispute and this
course has been followed in 1911,
1912, 1913 and will be followed for
1914. Therefore, you can see and
understand that Governor Slaton nor
myself are at all responsible for the
existing conditions, and should not
be censured for it under the inter-
probation of the law.
The teachers have nearly all been
paid for their last years work, and
Just as soon as sufficient funds can
be collected and paid into the treas
ury the pensions will begin to be paid
for this year, which l hope to be able
to do in the next ten days or two
weeks. All cannot be paid at one
time; some will have to wait; so let
me beg you and every other pen
sioner to exercise patience, for the
state is hard pressed, but her honor
and her good name is a sure promise
and guarantee that every pensioner
will be paid their pensions for 1914"