Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-29
GOV. HARRIS IN
FINAL ADDRESS
URGES CHANGES

-
ton Of a state pardon board, the crea-
tion of a state auditor, a recommends
ton that the new governor be inaugu-
rated in January, instead of in June.
the decrease in the number of lynch
ings in Georgia, a strong plea for in
creased appropriations to the Georgia
chool of Technology, exemption of col
lege endowments from taxation and the
beneficial results of prohibition laws
enacted in his administration-the
are the outstanding features of the
farewell message of Governor Harris
read today to the general assembly in
joint session.
The governor says that the arduous
labor of passing on applications for
Executive clemency should be taken of
the shoulders of the prison commits
sion and placed in the hands of spec
ial board of three members created for
that purpose.
In recommending the creation of a
state auditor he calls attention to the
Ideplorable condition of the states fl
nances and the haphazard manner in
which appropriations are made, and in
this connection he recommends the
adoption of an up-to-date and efficient
budget system.
He recommends an increase in the
governors salary, recommends an APP
preparation of $4,000 to pay the cost of
conducting the military registration in
this state on June 8 and recommends
that provision be made for keeping a
permanent and official record of COM
missions issued to notaries public-at-
large.
He recommends that the state eX-
pertinent station either be merged with
the State College of Agriculture, or
else that the trustees of the latter in
stitution be made majority of the ex-
pertinent station trustees so that the
state of Georgia con secure its share of
the federal appropriation for the ex-
pertinent station.
In reviewing the educational work of
the state, he urges that county school
authorities be required to discount
the governors warrants promptly, so
as to pay the teachers their salaries;
urges that the Georgia Normal & In
dustrial College for girls at Milledge-
Vile be empowered to confer degrees;
strongly urges increased appropria-
lions for Georgia Tech; urges that
provision be made for securing the
states share of the federal appropria-
ton under the Smith-Hughes bill for
vocational training, and recommends
that college endowments be exempted
from taxation, which all states are
now doing except two, of which Geor
gia is one.
He recommends that the state dis,
pose Of the governors mansion, which
has now become valuable piece Of
central real estate, and build another
governors mansion in more suitable
location.
He strongly recommends the estab-
hshment of state market bureau in
the department of agriculture.
He recommends small approprio-
ton to continue treatment of drug ad-
diets; recommends liberal appropria-
items to combat the boil weevil and
ether plant insects and diseases; rec
cmmends increased provision for the
ltate insane asylum; recommends the
passage of laws authorizing the organ
ization of home guards during the
war and giving them power to perform
riot duty and to permit them the use
of national guard armories; and rec
cmmends that the legislature pass all
necessary Legislation to aid the fed
6ral government in prosecuting the
VA.
Several pages are devoted to prais-
f.g the benefits of prohibition.