Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-26

When this is read by the Country Home
people the Georgia legislature will be quite
ready to assemble and the ffty-day session
will begin. 1t is clearly evident that the poll
ticians are determined to hold on to big SAL
aries and multiplicity of office holders, from
Dade to Chatham and from the Savannah to
the Chattahoochee rivers, despite the orders
given by the taxpayers at the general election
in 1922. Governore-elect Walker was chosen
to repeal the tax equalization law, first of all.
Nothing is better understood than this COM
mand by the taxpayers Of the state. Those
who saw the action Of the 1922 legislature
cannot dispute this fact 1t is patent to every
body. 1.-The fails to do this one thing he will
be defeated at the polls in 1924, whether he
offers for reelection or runs for the United
States senate. He has his chance now, and
his best friends will so advise him. Nothing
will please his political enemies half so much
as to find him defaulting in his election
pledges
For one, do not think he will risk it, be-
lieve he is a shrewd politician Cor he would
not have fought Governor Hardwick so sue
cessfully on this particular issue). and will
come out to the front, promptly and say to
the people of Georgia, II promised and will
perform" He must stand like the Rock of
Gibraltar for this particular pledge, for Walk
er's own sake, matter how many people
may urge him to the contrary.
This pension business is in muddle. Ac-
cording to the advice of the authorities of the
1922 legislature there will be required on
January 1, 1924, five millions of dollars to pay
off the pension roll, which was expanded out
of all proportion in 1920 for unknown rea-
sons.
The taxpayers are more than willing to pay
annually enough to assist all needy Confed-
crate veterans; but they are not willing to
pay those who are better off in money and
lands than ninety hundredths of those who
are not able to pay this enormous tax bill.
I have but one request to make of the leg
nIxr fh0f how twill YNrNh
LEGATION, in each county, once year at least,
the names (and their claim as pensioners) of
all persons who get this bounty out of the
strong box of Georgia.
1t is preposterous that rich man who has
lived witohut q state pension since, 1865
should demand pay since 1920 for his military
service to the defunct Confederacy. 1t is
joke only with many of them. One million
aire was heard to say sit makes nice little
birthday gift for grandchild." Another rich
man said to me, "It was handed to me, and
just took it, l knew how he got it, namely,
by applying for it, There are tens of thou
sands of acres of land that have been exposed
for sale in counties I can name where the own
ers could not find enough income to pay the
state and county taxes in 1921, and tax fl fas
were issued. The tax collector in some cases
wrote to the comptroller general, and he
showed me one letter where these overtaXed
lands did not find a bidder, and did not bring
a dollar. Where is this thing to end?
have been informed that there are certain
syndicates controlling plenty of eastern mon
ey who are planning to buy up these over
taxed lands, and Georgia will find landowners
holding immense tracts of thousands upon
thousands of acres, which have been literally
confscated to raise revenues to reward such
rich people who take it because it was hand
ed to them" Old Rome went to destruction
just that way!
The last legislature called for a full recital
of every name, their office and their pay and
their expenses, in the School of Agriculture
located in Athens, and the department of ag-
riculture under Commissioner J. J. Brown.
Brave lack Arnold, of Clay, introduced the
resolution, and the exhibits secured from
these two departments were printed by the
state printer, and brave little lack gave me