Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-07-05
Important Work Before
Georgia Legislature
Outstanding Issue That of Taxation
And Revenues

Georgia Legislature, which has started
well on its ifty-day grind is the con-
census of opinion both among law
makers and people generally. No
more perplexing problems, it is de-
clared, have confronted any state law
making body of recent years.
The outstanding issue of course, as
Atlanta editors point out, is that of
taxation and revenue.
ITO this, the legislature must add
Xess itself very seriously says James
B. Nevin, Atlanta editor and veteran
commentator on Legislative matters.
1T must invoke its most intelligent
and capable craftsmanship to the I'M
raveling of that puzzle
1T is not matter for demagogues
or mere politicians. 1t will not be
solved by quacks, OR self constituted
'Moseses', or gentlemen with peculiar
axes to grind. It's he-man's job
Thus is summed up in a few words
what one newspaper man who has
watched Legislative proceedings for
many years has to say of the 1928 ses-
sion of Georgia lawmakers.
Advice to the body of $50 very ex-
excellent gentlemen who are now en-
gagged in furnishing grist for the leg
islative hopper is not out OF place;
in fact, Editor Nevin strikes the keys
of his typewriter in advice giving that
may be said to be in complete accord
with the ideas OF the average citizen
of the state. He says:
Let Georgians adjourn at least for
the present, their factional differences
of opinion; let them think only in
terms of the good of Georgia and the
perils that beset her-and the rea
problems that press for solution.
Let us proceed along considerate
and friendly lines, not along lines OF
antagonisms and irreverant-even i'm.
Observation-Disclosures of opinion, as toe
often we have done in. the past
The Expected Has Happened
Already one of the things promised
before the Legislature met has prompt
ly found its way on the calendar since
the solons took their seats-a renewal
OF the legislative fight on the State
Highway Department 1t will be re-
called that this very thing occupied
considerable time in the General AS
sembly last night Now the Senate
from whence the hostilities were nat
urally supposed to begin, has passed
a resolution calling for the appoint
ment of a joint committee from the
Senate and the House to investigate
: all records and reports OF the Highway
Department. The chairman of the
Highway board, Hon. John N. Hold
der, former speaker OF the House and
veteran lawmaker, it may be stated in
passing, is not opposed to an investi-
cation but rather invites it. He has
said so on more than one occasion.
- pNOl ga, tllI great CIllpllC STATE
of the South, is to be numbered among
the progressive states, road construc-
ton must go on is the emphatic opin-
ion of Chairman Holder.
TO carry it on, Georgia's quots
of federal funds must be obtained. TIC
do SO these funds must be matched
dollar for dollar Heretofore counties
have been furnishing funds, but the
state in the near future must provide
state funds to match federal funds
Mr. Holder advocates that there be
levied a tax of two cents per gallon
additional on gasoline and a tax oil
three cents on lubricating oil. He wants
the motor vehicle law strengthened SC
that every person who operates such
a vehicle must pay the license tax.
This will provide sufficient funds to
match the $2,000,000 of federal ait
funds which come to Georgia, he be-
lieves..
1t is the concensus of opinion among
lawmakers, who are now discussing
the highway department and its work
and the belief is expressed that under
his administration, properly backed
with Legislative support, the depart
tment will show results of extraordn-
airy proportions in the road building
program of the State Georgia, it was
pointed out here by good roads advo-
Gates, is already far ahead of many
other states in highway accomplish
ments.
What the outcome of the proposed
legislative investigation of the high.
department will amount to is a mat
ter of conjecture If it will help tc
make a bigger and better highway de-
partnient a majority of the lawmakers
say they are for it. If it is simply =
time-killing proceeding, the quicker the
investigation is made and over with the
better it will be for the Legislative body
think many legislators who want to get
to work on some Of the big questions
they've got to settle during their stay
gin our midst"
pu!qeq lJsI ST LeATls p9uy