Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-27
GOVERNOR ELABORATES
POLICIES He OUTLINED
IN INAUGURAL SPEECH
FavorS State Ownership of
WhaVeS and Exhaustive
Study of w, & A, Extension,
Urges. Law Changes

Governor Hugh NJ. Dorsey on We'd
nesday submitted to the house and SEN
ate a written message outlining more
fully and in detail the general recon-
mendations contained in his inaugural
address.
The message IS a lengthy document.
I'm which the governor goes into partic-
ulars regarding the matters of impor-
lance and concern to the state. There
! is something of interest to every Geor-
gian, whether his interest be in this or
that especial line of state activity, and
| il is we'll worth reading carefully from
start ia finish.
| Perhaps the most interesting single
feature of the message is Governor
Dorsey's recommendation that the state
begin to lay plans for system of state
owned wharves along the Atlantic coast
where government owned merchant YES.
sells after the war can discharge and
take on cargoes.
| He calls attention to Louisiana $
state-owned wharves at New Orleans, to
lCaliforniaS state-owned wharves al
San Francisco, and makes the very per-
Itfnent point that Georgia's barbors and
IGeorgias commerce will never be de-
Iveloped to the maximum until wharf
age charges are reduced to a minimum
by public ownership and control
In connection with the suggestion OF
state-owned wharves and docks, he sug-
gests that the question of extending the
Western and Atlantic railroad to some
port where these wharves or part OF
them are loca ted should be gone into
with the utmost thoroughness. He pro-
poses a commission of five citizens not
Iconnected with the railroad or shipping
Interests TO investigate the whole sub
ject.
Under the head of law reforms the
governor recommends that the age of
consent be raised at least to sixteen
years; that the necessity for grand jury
indictments be eliminated where defend
ants have been bound over in justice
courts: that provision be made for in
determinate sentences. and that the
state be given the right of appeal in
criminal cases.
He touches on child labor reforms at
length; makes recommendations con-
corning the development of the state
department of agriculture, and urges
Increased food production; under the
head of education he recommends that
the state make appropriations to secure
the federal governments aid in voca-
tional education, and strongly insists
on better educational provisions for the
/
negroes.
He calls attention to the dangerous
neglect of the records In the state
archives.
| He recommends that the state health
laws be brought up to date.
He recommends that the governors
mansion be sold or exchanged.
He opposes repeal of the tax equaliza-
ton law. declaring 1t should be
strengthened instead of repealed; rec
lommends legislation to compel the re-
turn OF all personal property, and
lstrongly urges the adoption of the
budget system.
In conclusion, he recommends that a
committee of the house and senate be
named to take the governors message
and go over 1t in detail, reporting II
back favorably where IT meets with
their approval and adversely where
they disagree with his recommendations