Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-13
GOVERNOR ENDORSES
STATE LEGISLATURE
) ON PAST SESSION

1.-THE legislature 4hich adjourned
at an early hour Thursday morning
is entitled to the thanks of the peo'
pie of Georgia for the record it made
during its fifty-day session." de-
clared Governor Hardwick, comment
ing on the session just closed.
1.-THE fiscal affairs of the state are
In better shape today than in sew
eral decades" he continued, land il
is a source of genuine delight tc
express publicly my appreciation tc
the members of the assembly for
their work.
The governor, Notwithstanding the
strain of the closing days of the
session and an almost sleepless
hight, was vt the executive offices
ut the usual hour, and there was no
mistaking his satisfaction with the
results of the closing hours or the
session. His office was overrun with
senators and representatives VINO
wished to congratulate him upon ms
direction of legislative matters.
"The credit does not properly be-
long to me- the governor told MS
callers. cit properly belong to the
legislature. Of course, am apprecl-
alive of the thoughtful and consld-
crate treatment accorded my sugges-
lions, but I cannot overlook the fact
that the legislature and not he gov
ernor did the work OF Whlch we
are so justly proud"
Governor Hardwick expressed TO
representative of The Journal regret
that it was necessary to curta1l the
appropriations for many worthy state
institutions.
But" said he, at was ground
hog case. The legislature was con-
fronted with many difficulties. me
finances of the state were in deplor-
able condition There was a huge
deficit for which neither the COVER
nor nor the legislature was RESPONSE
Bile. It was necessary to pull the
OK out of the ditch and the man
rer in which this was accomplished
"a q. cause for genuine gratlhcatlon'
.I should have liked very much
had it been possible for the assembly
to make generous appropriations Tor
Georgia Tech, the state university
and other worthy institutions, but
our fiscal affairs were in such condl-
tion that 1t would have been 1mpos-
sible to pay increased appropriations
had they been provided by the leg
islature.
"I feel much the same way about
certain tax levies on business. L
should have been delighted had 1t
been possible to finance the state
without the imposition of these bur
dens. but unfortunately it was; i'm
possible. However, these additiona!
taxes are light and I am persuaded
they work no serious injury to any
industry.
"There were many matters that l
should have been pleased to see the
Legislature handle, during the SEES
sion. but in the extremity Of the
Estates financial difficulties it was the
part of wisdom for the legislature to
subordinate them to the consideration
land enactment of legislation design
ed to correct our fiscal condition.
81 am not unmindful of the fact
THAT the legislature will be with us
|again next summer, and l feel conh-
dent that many matters that were
lside-tracked during the session just
adjourned will be handled in an in
ltelligent and satisfactory manner. In
|deed, the very fact that the finances
of Georgia have been Strengthened
4 out will enable the assembly next
Iyear to devote it's time to construc-
Tive legislation designed to improve
conditions generally.
II feel confident that under the
revenue laws enacted and the appro-
7priations authorized, it will be pos
i ible for the state to accumulate a
small surplus within the next twelve
months, and this surplus can and will
be distributed among the state in
3stitutions."