Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-15
Macon. Ga, May s. 1917.


The questions raised by this correspondent,
who, are told, is a welI-known citizen of Macon,
are deeply important because of the principles as
we'll as the revenues involved; the Constitution
truly declared. they OF keen import to the
whole State" Funds from the inheritance tax.
like those from any other source. public trust
TO be administered for the common good, not sack
of booty to be divided by palmitching political law
yeTs. If litigation becomes necessary for the coec
ton of any inheritance it is the Attorney Cen
erals duty to take the matter promptly in hand, and
see it through. should the be of such
ceponal difficulty and Importance to require the
assistance of special counsel it would be the Gov
ernors duty to appoint such counsel.
But it appears that in number of counties spe-
cial attorneys. appointed by the Attorney General
are receiving, demanding, ten per cent fees
inheritance taxes paid in those counties. Is the
States treasury plethoric that its revenues
be dshed out as "gratuities" to agreeable gentle
men whose politics happen to accord with the At
torney Generals? The fee system has taken many
bold and many monstrous forms in Georgia, but
it before so utterly brszen and pre-
posterous to exact ten per cent of tax fund
without even the shadow of an excuse for doing So
Well may the Constitutions correspondent ask
with amazement:
Can It be true that this ten per cent rake
OFF is permitted even where there is no litiga-
. paid is agreed between the Ordinary and the
administrators of the estate to be taxed?"
1t is a fact that in at least counties this has
been done, and it appears that in other counties
the attempt has been made.
There is neither warrant nor necessity for the
appointment of special attorneys in this connection
except perhaps in rare cases. and then it would be
the Governors duty to designate counsel. Yet, in
least five of the big-city counties of the State
lawyers have been awarded these delightful COM
missions: Shall the bestowai of these sinecures be
limited to political centers shall they be scat
tered broadcat until every courthouse circle from
the Gap to the Light has fits beneficiary?
The Attorney Generals Office seems to have mis-
taken its functions for those of the Associated
Charities. But it is violating the first principle of
sound charity by giving something for nothing and
dispensing its generous aims where they are not
needed, while the States institutions cry out for
support. The Constitution has rendered an impor-
tan public service in bringing this matter to notice
We indorse its original declaration that "if any
thing of this sort is going on,
THE next Legislature will be asked to
stop it, and if it does not do So the people will
want to know the reason why"
The Journal ventures a step further and pre-
diets that If the gratuities are still being handed
out when the Legislature convenes there will be
troduce resolution to investigate or bill to blot
out this pernicous practice. For there will be no
lack of public indignation to stimulate Legislative
action The people of Georgia are patient and long
suffering with ineffciences but they will not toll
crate even the remotest likeness of graft
The granting of fees to these illegally appoint
ed attorneys, ought to forthwith; but if I'M
happily it is persisted in there will be reckoning
at once certain and severe.