The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-11-06
SURPLUS COUNTIES ARE
SCORED AS A BURDEN
CUT IN NUMBER is URGED BY
MCPHERSON AND COULTER =
TO EFFECT BIG SAVING.
NEW REPRESENTATION BASIS
Population Division Is Asked in the
Place of Present Geographical Plan
AS Fairer Method. Too Many Non
Supporting Counties in State.


ATHENS, Ga.-A solution of many
of the financial problems of the state
of Georgia is seen in a substantial re-
duction in the number Of counties in
the state, or else a limitation in the
number of new counties created in the
| future, by DIR. ]. HI. T. Mcpherson
and DR.. Z. M. Coulter. professors of
history and political science at the
University of Georgia, as expressed in
an interview.
DR.. Mcpherson is a member of the
tax commission recently appointed by
Governor Walker and is on the sub
committee drafting the recommends
tons to be submitted to the general
assembly DIR. Mcpherson was mem
Der of tax commissions of previous
administrations and is the author of
several books on the government of
Georgia and other states.
Counties Are Burdensome
Dr. Coulter is a native of North
Carolina, graduate of the University
of North Carolina and holds graduate
degrees FROM several of Americas
leading colleges. In addition to this
DR.. Coulter has just completed tour
of Georgia during the course of which
he talked with many Georgians. DIR.
Coulter said that almost without ex
ception the people with whom he
talked are of the opinion that there
are far too many counties in the state,
working to the disinterest of the COM
monwealth.
There are today 154 counties in
Georgia" Dr. Coulter said, "and OF
this number III obtain more money
from the Golfers of the state than they
turn back into the state. In other
words, there are III counties that are
burdens rather than assistance to
Georgia. And by mathematics it is
seen that only 81 of the entire l54
counties in this state are profitable TO
the state. These facts should speak
for themselves, but the benefit OF those
who may not understand why some
counties are burdens | can say that
the needless creation of new offices
that goes with the creation OF new
counties brings about the added ex-
penses on the state.
Loses Much Money.
DR.. Coulter would venture no state
ment as to a method by which the
counties already existing in Georgia
could be ,essened in number, but rath-
er emphasized the point that III the
large number of counties lies leak
| through which Georgia is losing much
of its money DR.. Coulter quoted the
statements of editors, business men
and bankers from all parts OF Georgia
with whom he has talked on the SUB
ject to support his contention.
For several years DR.. Mcpherson
has held the opinion that there is
tendency to override the matter oil
creating counties, and on more than
one occasion he has lectured to the
students of the University of Georgia
on this topic.
THE present Georgia system OF APP
portioning representation in the ere
ating new counties, and each of these
couties getting a representative, GeoT-
gia cannot expect just and equitable
representation. Furthermore, all these
new, created counties are burdens on
4 the state of Georgia in financial
way"
New Plan
DIR. McPherson's position is that
representatives in both houses OF the
Georgia legislature should be based
upon some divisions of the number Of
! inhabitants of the state rather than
upon the present geographical divis-
ions. He would not, however, discrim-
mate against the rural districts in IA
vor of the cities, but rather suggests
that no district-by whatever boun-
Diary it shall be fixed-shall have more
than a certain percentage of the rep
resentatives.
According to the modern demo
cratic theory of equality the repre-
, sentatives in the state legislature
should be apportioned among the dis
, tricts containing substantially the
same number OF inhabitants"