The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1919-01-16
ROBERTS DELIVERS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
TENNEssEEs NEW GOVERNOR
Is INDICTED
Outlines Policy Of Administration in
Address to General Assembly
Touches Upon Tax Reform and the
Finances Of State

Touches Upon Tax Reform and the
Finances Of State.
Wednesday at noon Gov Albert Fl
Roberts was indicted into office as
Tennessee,s chief executive in the
capitol building in Nashville, the ia-
auguration ceremonies incident there
TO being simple and plain in every
detail. Gov Roberts address IL
unusually short, but touches upon
many important matters Of interest
to tho people Of the state, chiefly
among which are tax reform laws
and the financial condition Of ne
state
Below we give a short synopsis OF
tie proceedings and the new govern
III address. /.
TIE ceremony took place in the hail
of representatives amid q gatnellhg
Sf legislators, state, county and ma-
nicipal officials and friends OF the
incoming and outgoing admlnstfa-
lions The senate and house q tne
sixty-first general assembly met n
Joint session and the body was Pre-,
sided over by Speaker Andrew Il, Todd
~ tie Senate. aHail to the Chief, .
Nv Tony Roses booster band preceded
Tia entrance Of the inaugural party,
after which America" was played
as the vast audience stood and lolnea
voices III concert with the band, /.
The Rev. w. Nj. Lantrip, pastor oil
the Monroe Street Methodist hpiseo-
pal Church. delivered the inyosationi
and the chairman, Senator ~ 4.
Rnrkhalter, was introduced by Speak
nr Todd. Senator Burkhaiter W.T.
3ned those present, after wnicn the
band rendered "The Stars and Stripes
Forever
Gov Roberts was then presented
~ III w Bond, representative from
av.vood county. Gov. Roberts &C.
Iivered an inaugural address tkag tor
brevitg has rarely been equalisd ~
anv Sc his predecessors. Ihe aadfsss
was ii thorough accord with ms ae-
sire for plain ceremony.
The address follows;
M President, Ladies and Gentle-
men: Permit me at the outset 70 ex-
nfess INV deep gratitude TO the peo-
nle. IF Tennessee for their faltn q
ma and their approval Of my policies
at The ballot box in the recent No-
yember election by a majority 81 over
$4,000 votes. 1t is my firm resolve,
WSth Divine helm, SO to discharge the
duties of the high office Of governor
az Tennessee that those who thus
renewed nv NAV not have just cause
u regret their action.
II il also fitting that ! here as
knowledge nv debt Of gratitude 70
g.ov Rve and his estimable family
FOR the many courtesies EXTENDED 70
INV various members Of my mousse
hold. His gracious words aAd KINGS
IL treatment have made for nm
mace of affection IN my heart
ri is indeed proud distinction to
&arve Al chief executive of Tennessee
IN anv time. but count myself donn
~ honored to be privileged to holu
4his high station at the very dawn
" u new era in the worlds history,
following the victorious ending 81 the
greatest war ever waged, IN when
Am own brave sons, by their unself-
~ patriotism and valorous deeds,
cave unaonbted proof that the UNI
concuerabIe spirit Of our illustricus
ancestors abides with US vet.
Within the last four years vast
changes have been wrought through
oft the world thrones builded upon
force have been leveled IN the DUST,
and Id their stead TEMPLES q liberty
ma Justice have been erected, based
4,non the free will Of the people, and
WANG states have sprung into being,
each with constitution guaranteeing
the inalienabe rights Of the citizens
Grave dangers lurk along the path
way Of all free states. Anarchy, So
eiaIism and pternalism are urged
bv misguided men ais panaceas for az
governmental ills. Even in our own
free soil the seeds of Bolshevism
nave already been sown, soon TO
5erninate and take root unless
nronnt action is taken to eradicate
everv vestige Of it. The remedy tor
sfhese ms IS the absolute guaranty
0f equality Of opportunity to every
citizen. both BY the state and the
gafion. and the maintenance of a
system Of laws that insure Justice to
every man, and the full protection Of
sgerv citizen in his life, liberty and
prosperity
IN ii d matter Of common knowl-
es30e that III Tennessee gross must |
siee exists in the distribution OF the
INV burden. Some large corporations
owning valuable properties IN Ten
nessee nav no ad valorem tax what |
avar. for the reason that there u NO |
law on our statutes providing a meth |
81 al assessing their property; other |
forms Df property escape taxation |
l,eranse Of lax methods of assessors,
8 AZ the fraud of property owners
sin other property is assessed az
very small percentage Of It's real
val1a: while small landowners and
few holders Of personality, assessed
according Ia law, are forced To bear
,,snfe fhan their share Of the burdens /
n state, county and municipal gov
eminent.
gnch condition is intnlerable. ho /
honest man can defend Il or look (
,S;kh complaeency upon It. ] stand
.asenitfed to d correction Of these
ssils a az the members Of this leg
saIatura. elected on the ticket with [
me The citizenship Of Tennessee rs
hnnest. and. being honest, is not only +
Teadv for 3 change. but IS demand Z
mo Il. The tax burden must be s. 4
shifted as to bear equally upon al