Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-12

Governor Slaton is of the opinion
that the Federal aid to good roads
act, carrying as it does a tentative
appropriation of something like
s750,000 to Georgia, should specifical-
ly provide that those States working
convicts exclusively on their public
roads, or largely on the same, should
be permitted to use that labor, upon
an equitable basis, in lieu of a none
tary appropriation. or supplementary
thereto. in adjusting themselves to
the requirements of the Federal act.
In other words, the Governor
thinks that if Georgia, in undertake
ing to meet a Federal appropriation
of, say. $750.o00, with similar APP
preparation, desires to do so, she
should have the right to make her ap-
preparation to this work partly in Ia
Dor and partly in money or entirely
in one or the other, as her necessl-
ties and desires seem to warrant.
Georgia now, next to New York,
appropriates more to her public roads
than any State in the Union. A few
people may be surprised to learn this.
but Il Is a fact said the Governor
Today.
Upon the lowest sort of financial
basis, Georgia gives to the work on
her roads every year ten dollars to
every one the average State gives If
the Federal Government wishes to
help us with our good roads work III
Georgia, 1t will be a glorious thing,
provided it permits us to go forward
with the fine work already in hand.
81 believe the bill, as 1t stands now,
may permit Georgia to use Its convict
labor as cash contribution TO the
cause, but l think 1t should specitical-
ly and openly do So"
Game Warden Charles l.. Davis, in
this connection, thinks 1t imperative
that Georgia make some sort OF pro
vision for a highway commissioner
through whom the State may work
intelligently, quickly and harmonious
ly with the Federal Government in
administering its good roads fund, on
the one hand, and the various State
authorities in administering the state
fund on the other hand.
A highway commissioner, so Mr..
Davis thinks, should be always on the
Job in Georgia, to act as a clearing
house for seeming conflicts between
the Federal provisions for good ROADS
and the State operations
The Governor Is considering this
entire question in it's broadcast as
pect, and doubtless will deal ex-
haustively with the subject in spe-
cial message to the Legislature, to
be submitted soon after it assem-
bles in June.
Senator NJ. c. Tarver, from the
Forty third District, whose term OF
service expires this year, probably
will be a candidate for Representa-
tive from Whitfield County in the
! next Legislature.
Mr.. Tarver has twice represented
Whitfield in the lower house OF thu
General Assembly.
Mr.. Tarver states that he will make
the race If the State road is no
leased by the present Legislature a.
the approaching summer session
for he wants to be in the Genera
Assembly when the lease is made, II
order to work for a clause which will
cause the lessee to pay into the
treasures of the counties through
which the road passes, their pro rata
part Of the taxes.
At present Mr.. Tarver Is a member
of the joint committee from the Sen
ate and the House on the Western
and Atlantic road. He states that
he thinks the committee favors his
pet feature for the new lease, thus
recognizing the contention of the
counties that the road should bear
part of the big court expenses caused
by much railway litigation as a just
one.
Representative A. J. S. Stovall, OF
Ebert, has announced as a candi-
date for the State Senate from the
Thirtieth District. in the next Gen
eral Assembly. He has been a mem
Der Of the lower house for several
terms.
The Thirtieth District is composed
Of Ebert, Crawford, Clark, Madison
and Oglethorpe Counties, and under