The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-08-13
Continued from Page ID


which it came and just how it has
been spent. In asking for appro-
prlations to carry on the work Of
the Department, it should show,
IN parallel columns how much was
spent on each item during the
year and how much is wanted for
the coming year, and where an in
crease is asked, why it is needed.
These Budgets should be prepar-
ed before the Legislature meets
and be published, so that every
tax payer in Georgia can know
what the State s income has been
and how the money was spent.
Then if you see Extravaganza or
unnecessary expense in any De-
partment, you can confer with
your Representatives and insist
on curtailment. Unquestionably
much of the money from our taxes
is being used for purposes that
are of little or no use to the gen
eral public and should be applied
to more essential things. This
can only be remedied by turn
ing on the light and letting us
taxpayers know exactly what is
being done with our money.
Under the present laws, dozens
of bills carrying appropriations
can be passed by the Legislature,
and when the Session is over and
all totalled up, it is found that
the amount appropriated greatly
exceeds the income. Such was the
case last year and again this year.
Little effort is being made to stay
within the income and they are
even advocating issuing Five Mil
lion Dollars in Bonds to pay the
deficiency of the two years, and
are moving heaven and earth to
find some other means Of twisting
more taxes out of the people, in
stead of using common business
sense and cutting off useless jobs
and expenses. If elected, | will
advocate and work for, the adop-
ton of a Constitutional Amend
ment making it illegal for the
Legislature to have the right to
appropriate in any year one dol
lar more than the income for that
year The farmer and business
man may not know just what his
income is going to be, as that de-
ponds on crop and business conri-
tons, but the State can know by
the time the Legislature meets
exactly what thetaxes are going
to yield and should stay within
it's income. If emergencies arise
and it is thought more appropria-
tons are needed, special Elmer
gency Bill should be had, stating
clearly just what the emergency,
or supposed emergency, is, how
much it will take to meet it, and
it should provide for special
Levy for this special emergency
and not a permanent in crease,
and this bill should not become a
law or the tax levied until it is
submitted to a vote of the people.
If the taxpayers consider it a
real emergency, they will vote it,
and should alone have the right
to pass on it. firmly stand for
"a Government of the People,
for the People, and by the Peo-
pie" In my opinion the States
present income would be found
ample to meet all our real needs,
if we will apply business methods
and strict economy. will OPP
pose any Legislation looking to
further and continued increase in
our taxes. With our present
prosperous conditions and high
prices, we might be able to meet
them now, but what will become
of us when every thing finds a
lower level, as is bound to take
place? We we'll know that taxes
and tax rates are never lowered
Our only protection is to keep
them down now.
All realize that good schools
and good roads are of the most
vital Importance, and | will favor
Legislation looking to all reason
able improvements on these lines.
Under present conditions, we
know it is going to take lots of
money to give us good schools and
roads, and we should bend our
efforts on these essentials and
leave off things that are less i'm
portant. We can not afford all
that we might desire, so let's cen
ter on the real needs of the people,
All louc of IN lnool oh q 40 % Z a n