Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press., 1922-06-29

vein and may be properly divided I'm
der two distinct yet complete headings !:
viz: the fiscal affairs of the state, their
status: the insistent prayer for the cre-
alton OF a practical business policy In
handling the state affairs.
me governor deals exhaustively
win the question of taxation, using
emphasis In the declaration that he
never has been and Is not now willing
70 tear down one piece of necessary
operating machinery until there has
been created something to function in
It's place. It 10 on that basis he deals
WIN the tax eGuaIiZation law and the
SUBJECT OF substitute in the form of a
new system, of which Sae says: 81
propose that the state fall abandon
the field OF property taxation on the ad
Vaiorem basis" and, as the substitute
machinery which he offers, "in lien
OF the property tax for state purposes
ana as a substitute for 1t, propose a
graduated income tax"
financially he shows that the state
raced January /, 1921, an actual de-
ilcit OF $2,5O0,000 which would have
been deficit of $3,000,000 in Decem
Der OF that year but for measures
adopted to prevent 1t. The state nov
owes on UNPAID balances" on 1921
appropriations $63,740, for which re-
quisiuons will be paid when they are
properly drawn. In connection wit,
the financial showing he draws atten
.lon TO the provision by law that one.
haif OF all the states income, when n
exceeds $S,5O0,000, shall be set aside
ior the public schools. To follow thi,
requirement, he shows, would make Il
impossible, by one-third, for the stat,
10 pay the appropriation as made and
Tor well defined reasons he gives TN,
recommendation is made that mi,
clause be repealed,
The Governor shows the total ammo
prlations made for 1921 were $40. .88s
oo4, and this total was cut down I,
SS'462,317 for 1922. being a reduction
OF $1.434,567.
The governor urges upon the leeisla
fture q close investigation OF ever,
board. bureau and commission and. I'm
uer the stress of conditions. that "w,
Abolish every useless place, purge ev
cry payroll Of every useless official. H,
recommends the department of ar
chives and history be abolished. IN,
reduction of the railroad commission
from five to three members. tn,
abolition of the special attorney fol
the state Highway department, and. re
peating his own and Governor Dorsey,s
recommendations, that the state be re-
ueved OF being board-ridden, commits
sion-ridden and trustee-ridden.
The governor especially urges imme
diate establishment by the legislator,
"a complete modern and up-to-date sys
tenn In the operation of the state',
fiscal affairs" referring directly tC
the need for an auditing system which
ne epoints out, should pass upon and an
prove all items before they are paid
and in connection Herewith he
insists that the departmental and in
stitutional heads be required to make
up advance budgets and working plans
Tor each year. The auditing system
he says. should be applied to the states
collection as well as to its purchases
ana payments, and that every cent col.
iected for the state from any source or
any agent be turned into the state
treasury.
the governor urges the enactment
OF real and rigid Australian Ballot
Law TO be applicable to primary and
general elections alike, and to be
installed at every precinct in Georgia"