Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-03

| way foster the agricultural interests
| which are the basis of the wealth of our
people.
| Previous legislatures have done much
to advance them, and all agencies main
tanned to that end are doing splendid
work The farmer is more and more
approaching the almost inestimable ben
efits that are being conferred through
the department of agriculture, the state
college of agriculture and the district
agricultural schools; is availing him.
self more literally each year of the ad-
vice and assistance which trained eX-
perts are able and willing to give, and
is demanding still further assistance.
STILL FURTHER ADVANCEMENT
NEEDED IN AGRICULTURE.
| There are yet opportunities for won
| derful advancement and upon scales so
large that what has been Accomplished
| will appear trivial-but an earnest OF
/ what can be done.
| In reviewing the agricultural laws.
one is struck, however, with the fact
| that in building up our agricultural sys-
| tenn no definite plan or scheme mas
been followed. Independent departments
TOO often have been created, and under
| the present arrangement there IS ire
ouent erlapping-different Depart
ments pursuing the same end, where one
department more economically ana Ell
fectively could accomplish the purpose
Future legislation should seek co-or-
/ dination, Capitalization and consollda-
/ ton IN the end that lost motion and
/ duplication of effort may be saved, ana
/ that iealousies, useless and detrimental
which are found to exist, may be elllni-
mated 1t is probable that at no distant
date an entire reorganization could be
undertaken very profitably.
| Too much of the valuable time of the
! general assembly is devoted to the con-
/ sideration of purely local matters
! There should be general laws provldlns
| for the incorporation of municipalities
! for the creation of county commission
ers of roads and revenues and for the
establishment of state bank desposl-
tories. Many other matters of similar
nature will present themselves when
Won come to a consideration OF TINS suS-
gestion.
An insnection of the laws enacted at
any session of the general assembly Tor
! the mast several years will show that
| tbe majority of the statutes pertain to
| local matters which could have been
better cared for under general enact
ments.
| There should be legislative reforms
in the administration of the criminal
laws of this state. However, the great
est reform is exclusively within the
mower of your executive to initiate
am convinced that nothing will bring
greater and more permanent security
than an understanding, on the part OF
those who entertain slight regard Tor
property rights or human life, that
/ there will be infrequent interference by
the executive with the judgments OF
our courts. The exercise of the par
doning and committing power entrusted
| to your chief executive should De I'M
l tied to those exceptional cases Wnere
| the states clemency is demanded 1or
the public good and in order that injus-
tice may not be done. When once 1t Is
known that neither political nor SEN
| timental reasons can after conviction
save those found guilty of violating our
laws, the commission of crime will be-
come less frequent In Georgia. The
surest guaranty against mob rule, eX-
cepting only fair and expeditions trials.
| is a strict adherence to this policy OF
respect for the work of our courts and
non-interference with the sentences
which they impose.
NEW GOVERNOR SHOULD BE
INAUGURATED IN JANUARY.
| There should be earlier official ascer-
tainment and announcement of the Sc
lection of governor after an election.
Heretofore, We have had no close vote
for this office, and, fortunately, no OIL
cial count has been required to deter
mine a choice. In anticipation or an
election, however, where it might take
official action to determine who is elect
ed, the law should be changed.
| There are several simple and mex
pensive methods by which this can be
done, and without anectlng any essen
tial safeguards.
| A Joint committe of the senate and
house, composed of the president of
the senate and the speaker of the house,
together with the secretary of the sem
ate and clerk of the house, and the sec
rotary of state, easily could assemble
and canvass and publish the results In
the event of no election, or a contest,
authority can be lodged in this canvass
/ ing board itself to convoke the general
/ assembly in immediate extraordinary
session and the election had or contest
disposed Of as now provided Nby our
constitution.
And I would go further and seat the
governor in January following his cleo
ton. Too long a period now expires
after election and before Inauguration
The governor-elect is not only unable to
pursue his usual course but is virtually
required to give most of his time to the
I consideration of matters pertaining to
his incoming administration. He could
be inaugurated in the presence of the
canvassing board referred to, the other
state house officers and the public, with
out the necessity for the convocation
of the genral assembly. An advantage
of no little consequence would result
/ by this earlier Inauguration, not only
| to the governor. but to the public as
well, because the time intervening be-
tween his inauguration and the assem-
bling of the legislature we'll could be
devoted by him to study and investi-
cation of affairs of state. and under
auspices not susceptible of attainment
except by one clothed with the execu-