Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-03
GOVERNOR-ELECT WALKER
STUDYING STATES FINANCES
Promises to Balance Sheets
If Legislature Permits,
May Pay Privately for
Audit of Books

|, Governor Elect Clifford Walker
was in the state capitol Tuesday
making d study of the states finan'
cial condition in preparation for his
assumption Of the duties of chief
executive on the fourth Wednesday
in June.
Making a study Of the states fl
nances is the principal occupation of
a governor-eIect during the. interim
between his election and his inaugu-
ration. 1t is an occupation to which
all governors elect of recent years
have devoted themselves assidious-
". Nor is it an occupation which
they abandon after assuming their
duties. Tn fact, it would not be an
exag geration to say that they devote
more attention to it after Inaugural
ton than they do after election.
And the funny thing about it, as
Cfovernor-Elect Walker remarked in
| converse ton with friends in the
capitol, is that no two persons seem
ever able to agree on the question.
What is the status Of the states
finances?"
Mr.. Walker said he we'll remem-
bered some conspicuous differences
of opinion among prominent state
officials and members of the legisla7
ture while Ice was serving as attor-
ney general and therefore at close
range and in good hearing distance
of differences of opinion. OF course,
in those days it was not the duty of
Mr. Walker to concern himself with
state finances. Furnishing legal opin-
ions was then his job.
But now that he is presently to
assume the duties of chief eXecu-
tive Of the grand old commonwealth,
/ the states finances are his chief
concern. And he hopes to be able
to assume his duties with complete
and exact knowledge as to the
status Of the same.
Plans Private Audit
"I am considering the idea Of en-
ploying ON my own account firm
of auditors to furnish me a state
ment as to the exact condition of
the states finances" Mr.. Walker
said.
He was asked when he expected
to formulate his ideas concerning
taxation, which has been the prin-
| Clpdl question: III lIlS .lOE
the last ten years or more.
He said he did not know whether
he would have them formulated by
the time he wrote his inaugural
message. He left the inference that
his present intention is to let legis.
latiVe leaders formulate their ideas
before he formulates his own.
For the present, he said, he is ego
! n In nm re "a
states finances. At about that mo-
ment in the conversation, Comp
troller General Wright, the oldest
official in the capitol in point of serv-
ice save one, Colonel Il. D. Harrison,
clerk of the supreme COURT, crossed
the lobby, and Governor Elect Walk
err greeted him cordially.
After 1 have finished going to
school," he told the veteran comp.
troller, 81 am coming around to
your office and take a post graduate
course, if you viii be good enough
to give it to me-"
| Comptroller Wright said he would
Will Balance Sheets
Regarding the question of the
status of the states finances, Gov
ernOr Hardwick recently stated that
1928 revenue would just about bal
ance 1928 expenditures, unless the
legislature at the forthcoming SEES
sion should make additional appro-
, priations to be expended this year.
In which event it will be up to
Mr.. Walker, who will become COVER
nor when the legislature convenes,
to approve or disapprove them.
With an audit showing the condi-
ton of the states finances, such
as he said he was planning to have
made, Mr.. Walker will be able to
pass upon any such appropriations
with accurate lights before him.
In connection with the general
subject of the states finances, it is
interesting to note that Cecil Neill,
representative from Muscogee Coun.
ty, speaker Of the 19211922 house,
and candidate for speaker of the
1924 house, is understood to be
planning the introduction of a bill
to place a limit on county tax rates,
which would require an amendment
to the constitution.
AS pointed out by all who have
studied GeOrgia's peculiar fiscal sys-
tenn, the state raises the bulk Of its
revenue from ad valorem taxation.
The values on which the state APP
plies it's rate are fixed by the coun-
ty authorities; the states rate is
limited to five mills, and the rates
, of the counties are practically I'M
limited.
: Thus county is able to depress
, its values and increase its rate and
still produce revenue sufficient for
it's needs, while the state must sub
sist upon the five-mill limit, and
when a great many counties depress
their values and run up their rates
the state finds it's revenue whitfield
, down to such low ebb that it has
not enough to support its instltu-
lions.
Theory Is Good
. 1t was for the purpose of prevent
) ing this inequality of tax valuations
]. among the several counties that the
tax equalization law was enacted
| during Governor elaton's admin
: istration. Theoretically. the state
through the operation of this law,
, preserves a parity of values among
= all counties by having a state tax
: commissioner to pass, upon each
= countys digest and require the de-
5 pressed ones to be elevated.
t But the coming legislature is
pledged to repeal the tax equaliza-
d. tion law, and Governor-elect Walker,
/ in his platform, Endorsed the repeal
t ! of the law, and the prevailing opin-
f ion in legislative and statehouse cir
$ cles is that the law will go over
/. board at the 1923 session, and that
:. nothing can save it. Governor Hard
t wick prevented it's repeal by refus-
j ing to approve repeal unless and I'M
t til the legislature enacted some sub
.. stitute revenue measure. No sue"
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