The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-07-09
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
INTERESTING PAPER
COVERS MANY SUBJECTS AND
CONTAINS NUMBER IMPORT
ANT RECOMMENDATIONS.

PrOpmt action on war measures is
urged by Governor Hugh NJ. Dorsey
In his message to the house and SEN
ate, and among the important war
measures mentioned in the document
are the bill to enlarge the powers
and increase the appropriation of the
state council of defense, the bill re-
quiring all able-bodied men between
the ages of IS and so years of age
to work at least five days in every
week, and the bill authorizing and en-
abling Georgians in the army and
navy to vote in elections both state
and local.
Declaring that mob violence must
be stopped by the state or else the
federal government will take the
matter in hand, Governor Dorsey in
sists that the governor should have
the power and authority to take
local situation in hand at once, with
out waiting for a call from the sheriff
or other local authorities to send
the military. He favors method
whereby the conduct of local peace
officers can be investigated with pow
err vested in the governor to remove
them for dereliction of duty He ia
vors the impaneling of state court
with jurors drawn from the state at
large to return indictments against
persons guilty of participation in
mon ulnlpnan ooI fTio1 81 -,
dlcted persons by a similar state
court and statewide Jury.
With regard to the tax system of
the state Governor Dorsey declares
the time has come for complete re-
organization. He suggests the advis-
ability of doing away with general
taxation for support of state institu-
tions, and the substitution of a sys-
tenn of income, Inheritance, license
and other special taxes. He strongly
recommends the creation of a special
commission to work out this problem.
Tax Reorganization.
Directly related to taxation is the
subject of appropriations. The pres |
ent slipshod system of pork barrel APP /
proPNationa, as the governor points /
out, has been discarded in numerous
states and the budget system has
been established in its place. The
governor recommends that the legis-
Lature create a budget committee to
be composed of the governor, the
president of the senate, the speaker
of the house, the chairman of the ap-
preparations committee Of the house,
the chairman Of the finance commit
tee of the senate, the attorney gen
eral and the state school superintend-
ent of education, which committee
shall inquire into the needs of all
Departments and pass judgment upon
th.m, and which shall make recon- I
ne1datiole Of maximum amounts fer
each department, these maximum
amounts not to be exceeded except .
by two-thirds vote of the house and
senate acting separately
Would Reduce Railroad Commission. |
The governor recommends that the !
railroad commission be reduced from F.
five to three members, this reduction !
to take place when the terms Of two
members expire on December 1 81, !
1919, and recommends that the com
mission be made a corporation com
mission with jurisdiction over the |.
charter, organization and operation |
Of all corporations, public and pri- ,
vate. He points out that the control |
of all railroads by the federal gov
ernment has practically stripped the
railroad commission of its functions
IN this department.
The governor points out the we'll
known fact that entirely too much
time Of the legislature is consumed
IN the passage Of purely local legis-
lation, such as the abolition of coun-
ty treasurers, the creation, abolition
and recreation Of county commission
ers, the granting of authority to con-
struct stairways into hotel basement
barber shops, etc. He urges again
that general plan should be adopt
ed placing these matters in the hands
or local authorities.
Inauguration of Governor.
The state election laws should be
changed, declares Governor Dorsey,
SO as to permit of the earlier .asccr-
talnment and declaration of the gu
bernatorlal election. The governor
should take Office, he says, on January
l, instead Of waiting until the con-
Venlng Of the legislature in June.
He urges the creation of board
of charities and corrections to "co