The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-11-10
ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, GEORGIA AND TeNNES-
SEE FORCED TO SHOULDER S25 600, 900 IN DEBTS
BECAUSE OF DRY LAW Z
CONDUCT BUSINESS ON CREDIT
James G. Rice, After a Personal Investigation. Writes Article foF
Memphis Herald, Depicting the Bad Effects of A%nti-Liquor
Statutes When Not Supported BY Public Sentiment

appropriations because they could not
be met by the treasury. He even We
toed appropriations for biennial re-
ports of state officials and some appro-
p.iations to charitable institutions OF
the state. The state is now running
it's affairs on what some OF the officials
call "a ruinous credit system. Wnea
a department issues a voucher no dc
finite information can be given as to
when that particular voucher can be
paid.
Georgia was forced to sell bonds to
the amour of $3.500,000 a year ago to
pay deficits in her revenues. The is
sue was taken by a wealthy citizen OF
Atlanta after the governor had tried to
sell the bonds in New York. The re-
cent legislature of Georgia made APP
preparations of $5O0,000 in eXcess of
the estimated revenue for the year
Georgia has run behind, therefore. IL
recent years about $4,000, 600.
Mississippi in a peplorabIe Condition.
The state OF Mississippi has a deficit
in its revenues Of about Sl,35O,OOO to be
covered some wayat the end OF the pres
ent biennial period. The auditor COM
plains that a credit system upon which
the state is forced TO conduct its bust
moss. is costing the people a great a
of money. He also says that many OF
the counties suffered their warrants to
deDreciate in value until they are at a
discount Of from 10 TO 20 per cent.
n,flso -.f~C1 toocfNnrC IL, T-rnW aOnn
ties are forced TO stand a loss Of
$4,000 out OF a warrant for 500, ac-
cording to the state auditor. There
has been a depreciation OF taxable
properly in Mississippi in h past two
years of $21, GOO, 600. This deprecia-
ton, says The state auditor, takes
about $125. 600 a year out of the treas.
ury. The last legislature in Missis
sippi made appropriations OF about
100000 IL excess of revenue. state
officials are asking that bonds be IS
sued in sufficient amount to pay all
accumulated obligations of the stat"
but the legislature does not respo.
to the appeal. improvements in pub
schools is very much handicapped Z
these conditions, and a number of th'
charitable institutions of the state are
suffering for money.
Tennessee's Bonded Debt Increased.
The last legislature of the state o
Tennessee found a deficit in revenues
of S1.023. goo. This has been convert
ed into bonds and is now a pant of th'
: bonded debt Of state. 1t was caused il
a large measure, if not entirely, by tn
operations of a prohibition law. 1t i
! a part of the fiscal history of Tennes
see that before prohibition was adopt
ed the state was reducing its bOnder
debt by %$250,0 600, or more, a veal
Practically nothing has been paid q
\ the debt under prohibition admin.stra
e tions. The larger cities Of the state
ard many Of the counties, have sal
e fered losses almost beyond compute
tion by this policy.
4 How much the same policy OF &c
z stractfon has increased the bonded an
floating debts OF the cities Of the SOut
can not be definitely given until ia
government takes another census; bu
n it is safe TO assume that the increas
in the cities has been as much as
{ the states. Estimating upon this basl
the five Southern States under discu
S. sion, together with their cities an
1t counties, have been forced to shouldt
-e debts to the amoun of $25, 100000
If the past six years. These are deb
;e that could not have accumulated und'
u sensible. constructive laws and admi
ID istratiOns.