MESSAGE of
LAMARTINE GRIFFIN HARDMAN
Governor of Georgia
to the GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1931
Atlanta, Georgia

MESSAGE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
lVIR. PRESIDENT, MR. SPEAKER AND
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL AssEMBLY:
This is my closing message to the General Assembly of Georgia; and I wish to express my appreciation of your loyalty and cooperation during the administration just ending, which began in 1927not only the present legislature, but the preceding ones.
The State of Georgia has Thirty-seven Million acres of land, with a population of little less than Three Million, and a citizenship more uniform than many of the states in the Union-a type of citizenship that is looking to the welfare of the state as a whole. Her resources in agriculture, manufacturing, water power, minerals, forestry, climate and geographical location as relates to other stateswith both mountains and sea-make her very attractive. Her advancements in building, in educational programs and in good roads have made a striking improvement over other methods and plans; and these opportunities, which have come to her by reason of the study of materials and construction in other states, have made it possible for her to attain to these more advanced steps. I believe within the next five years the State of Georgia will be equal, if not the leader of other states in progressive transportation, education, forestation and utilization of her powers for the manufacture, consumption and distribution of her various products. At the end of five years she will have paid back the W. & A. Rental discounts, and will practically have completed her roads on the present program-and maintained during this period the upkeep of the public highways. She will have invested Two Hundred Million Dollars in highways, and will have contributed on the present basis Thirtyfive Million Dollars from the State to the Public Schools.

Beginning in 1936 you will, therefore, find that on the present basis of taxation you will have sufficient funds to give to education more than Twelve Million Dollars a year, and to continue your highway improvement; and there will be available from the gasoline tax-besides maintaining your roads and providing other constructions, a sum of money that could be used for other purposes.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
It is not always easy to appreciate the responsibility that is placed upon the Chief Executive of a State. We sometimes find that the viewpoint of the politician, who may not have supported the Chief Executive, is more or less suspicious of him and his administration-but I wish to say to you that during my administration, while your views and the views of the previous legislatures may not always have been in harmony with those of the Governor, it has been my desire and effort to cooperate and thereby bring to the State a service to the best of my ability and conscientious conviction.
We are sometimes inclined to criticize the General Assembly, as well as the Chief Executive, and heads of other departments; but I take it that they are all doing their utmost to serve the best interests of the State.
My acts during the four years just passed, I hope have been in keeping with the preamble of the Constitution of Georgia, which provides for reliance upon the protection and guidance of the God Almighty. It is His guidance and direction that I have sought on all occasions for every interest that has come to me during my administration, to execute the laws on a righteous and just basis for His glory and for the good of the entire citizenship of this commonwealth.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF STATE DURING PRESENT ADMINISTRATION
It is my op1mon that these four years have accomplished much m the State of Georgia-for the advancement of every interest fostered by her. Besides what has been accomplished, there has been brought to us new visions of the needs of the State, which will secure for her in future legislation many measures that will
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bring prosperity to her institutions and relieve the burden of the taxpayers of the State. New methods of administration of the affairs of State, I believe, will be enacted. The Chief Executive of the State of Georgia has very limited authority. It is divided into two heads-the executive and administrative. The executive authority is granted the Governor of the State by the Constitution. The administrative authority is placed in him by statutory enactment. It is my opinion that amendments should be made to our Constitution providing our Chief Executive with greater authority; also that additional authority should be provided by statutes for the administration of affairs of State. It is my opinion that he should have these powers and authorities, and that he should be held responsible for the authority placed in him by the people in the execution of the laws. I believe also that he should have the authority to eliminate those whom he appoints, if in his judgment they are not efficient in their duties.
I am convinced that the study of methods of operation of this State, made by Lutz and Searles & Miller, and the Commission appointed by the Governor of Georgia, have brought to us information and understanding that will bear much fruit, and make it possible for you to render a greater service to your constituency than at any time in the history of our State; and I most respectfully recommend that you give further study to the reports of the two experts, as well as your own citizens' commission, in your rearrangement and reorganization of the State's affairs. These experts are men of acknowledged ability and experience in the study of conditions in other states-such as Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee, and others.
OPPORTUNITIES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
It now becomes your responsibility to simplify, economize and make efficient the administration of the affairs of State. You are to be congratulated on the efforts now being put forth to reach these needs; and I predict for this General Assembly a most forward step in harmony with the most advanced methods of handling business affairs. No organization or corporation should have better business methods in the operation of their affairs than a State.
vVe have in the State of Georgia a number of very strong, capable and efficient business institutions, whose affairs have been so
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handled as to meet their overhead expenses and secure for their
stockholders very satisfactory dividends on their investments. We
find these business institutions without debt, and their stocks and bonds commending themselves to the purchasers of securities.
The State of Georgia should have no less efficient methodson the other hand, as stated, they should be even better; and you will do well to consider the methods of these institutions and apply them to the State in your rearrangement of State departments and institutions.
ATTENTION CALLED TO FORMER MESSAGES
I shall call your attention to several matters, which I most respectfully recommend for your consideration. First, I would request that you refer to my messages given you in 1927 and in 1929, also to the extraordinary session, which it seems to me furnish the proper basis now upon which legislation should be enacted.
LARGEST INCOME IN 1930 IN SPITE OF PERIOD OF DEPRESSION
In spite of the period of depression, or panic, I further call your
attention to the fact that you had the largest income into the State in 1930 of any year in her history-a larger sum of money was paid to our common or public schools; to the Highway Department, and to the Confederate Veterans, than in any previous year. So I say, in spite of the depression that exists, the taxpayers have responded to the needs of the State in a most liberal manner.
BUDGET
One of the advancements is the removal from our statutes of the almost useless method of budgeting heretofore presented to the General Assembly-a new budgeting commission being established by your extraordinary session, which furnishes you authority and intelligent information as to the income from all sources in our State, and the distribution of same. This is the only safe and sound basis on which business transactions can be safely operated.
However, as a surgeon or a physician I would say, before you proceed or suggest a procedure, you must make a diagnosis-before you use the knife you must be sure of the conditions, because it is
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a decided step and means life or death-before you prescribe climate or medicine you must know what your disease is, because neglect or lack of proper direction or nursing would result in death. So we must first secure a clear and sure statement of our income and disbursement before taking steps to change them-or apply the surgeon's knife.
Under the budget plan, it seems to me that the purchasing of all material and disbursement under the direction of the Chief Executive would be wise. We are required, under the Budget Act, to stay within the income of the State; and with this in view we found it absolutely necessary to reduce some of the requests that have been made, since the income of the State-not including the Bus Bill, nor the Sales Tax, is $10,728,000.00 for the years 1932 and 1933, with the requests for 1932 amounting to $13,407,000.00,
and for 1933, $13,205,000.00, leaving a deficit for 1932 of $2,-
500,000.00; and for 1933, $2,600,000.00, provided the total sum asked for be approved.
Since the budget is bound by the law and cannot exceed the income; and since the law provides that the legislative and judiciary departments are to receive their sum, the reduction must come from some other source.
MATTERS OF STATE
The question might be suggested in the reorganization of a state government as to whether it would be wise to eliminate some of the offices elected by the people and place the authority of appointing them in the Governor, creating for him a cabinet out of those elected-those who will cooperate with him in the administration of the affairs of State. This, I take it, does not violate the spirit of democracy, which provides the control of the people; but makes it possible to simplify matters of State and place clearly the responsibility of administration where it belongs. Under our present program instead of having one Executive and Administrative office, you have many; and instead of having one Governor, on this basis, you have many Governors.
U. S. GOVERNMENT DEMANDING REFUND
I call your attention to the fact that the United States Government is demanding a refund of $2,614.14, for tax on Gasoline which
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has been consumed by the employees of the Government. I recommend this for your study, consideration and proper legislation.
REDISTRICTING
It is necessary under the Constitution of the United States that the State of Georgia rearrange her Congressional districts-instead of having twelve, she will have ten. This is the result of her decrease in population; and I call to your attention the fact that this will be one of your duties.
This, however, is no exception in the State of Georgia, for by investigation you will find that other states will lose some of their representatives in Congress by reason of similar conditions. So while this comes to Georgia, she is not alone ; and I desire to call your attention to the possibilities of increasing her population by providing legislation that would not burden the farmers of the State, the producers of the wealth of the commonwealth, with taxes -that they be relieved of taxes on their farms and products as far as possible; and that the institutions or financial interests of the State shall provide for revenue to take care of the needs of the institutions and departments of Georgia.
RELIEF OF DEPRESSION OR PANICKY CONDITIONS
I do not intend to convey the idea that there should be any inequality of the burdens that come upon the citizens of the State, but that those who have received from the citizens of the State large sums of money should contribute their share to the support of the commonwealth. I commend thrift and enterprise of all citizens of the State, but I believe that it is to the interest of those who have accumulated a fortune to contribute largely in the effort to stabilize the low prices and relieve the causes of depression or panicky conditions now existing in Georgia and the nation. By so doing they not only relieve human needs and human suffering, but they make it possible to restore normal business conditions and create for themselves a greater income.
During the recent Governors' Conference at French Lick, Indiana, it seemed to be the expression of the states which have amassed the greatest fortunes that they could only relieve the unemployment and depression, or panicky conditions, by providing for the relief of
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the conditions out of the immense stores of money unused and not bringing in any revenue. This statement, I take it, is not for the purpose of discriminating between classes, but to encourage those who are less fortunate, as well as to make it possible for those more fortunate to use their immense sums of money.
I do not care to discuss National issues before you, but suggest that you constitute a part of this great Nation-that you have the safety, progress, happiness and prosperity of the Nation as a whole at heart, and that you are interested in seeing that unemployment and depressions are abolished.
The national issues which affect us, as well as every other state, are the prices of farm products and handling of the same .through the Farm Board, which it seems to me has proven unsatisfactory and ineffective along that line.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
The Public Utilities have made wonderful contributions to the states and the Nation-to transportation, and every form of activity for the comfort of the masses of the people. They have amassed great fortunes, and it seems in some instances have directed, controlled and dominated the legislation and activities of the states and Nation-and that sooner or later some new method of operation of these public utilities must be reached.
The great water powers and natural products of the earth, such as gas and other utilities, should not be completely removed from the masses of the common people; but the states should maintain to themselves, at least to some degree, these great powers and comforts that belong to the masses of the people.
The State of Georgia recognizes the great contribution made to her by reason of the public-spirited men and their means in the development of her many Public Utilities; but there seems to be a State's rights and democracy which cries out for those who have been forced to vacate their lands on the basis of public good for the whole, which perhaps is in disguise and not for their benefit at all.
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STONE MOUNTAIN
In the suggestion which I now present to you, there seems to me to be the greatest opportunity for making permanent the history of Georgia as it relates not only to Georgia herself, but to the Nation as a whole. We need to develop and bring to our people, as well as to the Nation, the contributions that were made, the occurrences and general events during the American Revolutionary War in our coastal counties; as well as that part of the history of Georgia that relates to another tribe, the Indians, who were found upon this continent when America was discovered.
I wish to suggest for your consideration a study of the entire boundary of Stone Mountain and its area for the purpose of placing on its bosom, on every side, the historic pioneers and great soldiers in the battle of Bloody Marsh and many others in this Stateplacing thereon the contribution made by the State in the wars that have followed in the interest of humanity, self-government, liberty and righteousness.
I recommend for your consideration the suggestion that in securing this great wonder, Stone Mountain, for this purpose, that there shall be excavated and carved out in its depths permanent record spaces for all records pertaining to this State-if possible furnishing record-grounds for the entire nation.
Such an accomplishment would give to Georgia a world's reputation that would be eternal in its storage of the records. I might here call your attention to the fact that in Indianapolis there is a monument to the heroes, from the beginning of the Revolution to the World War, that is the most outstanding contribution to the heroes of all wars it has been my opportunity to witness. Today they have started the operation and expenditure for the erection of buildings for the storing and safe-keeping of records of the World War, which will amount, when completed, to Eight Million Dollars.
In connection with the almost staggering problem of securing Stone Mountain, is the problem of securing Kennesaw Mountain, beyond Marietta, and the National Highway from Kennesaw to Stone Mountain.
Perhaps it is not generally known that the longest battle line during the War Between the States was at Kennesaw Mountain,
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being ten miles in length, with General Joseph E. Johnston on one side and General William T. Sherman on the other.
I take it now that could these outstanding values of Stone lvfountain and Kennesaw Mountain be secured, it would be one of the most valuable possessions that has come to the State in recent
times. It is estimated that there are Five Billion Dollars spent
annually by tourists-Four Billion by Americans and One Billion by Europeans. So it must be apparent that with the great attractions of the two mountains-with the history of the heroes on the battle grounds of Kennesaw, and with great rooms or space excavated in the body of Stone Mountain (filled with histories of the entire universe), we would be the most outstanding Nation and State in the world-with the only record-ground of its kind in existence; and for this reason would bring visitors from all parts of the world, adding great revenue to our State.
Now, I wish to suggest to you these outstanding, unusual and far-reaching problems, which magnified the great kings and heroes of the world, and in times past were the accomplishments that challenged the manhood of the Nation.
It is these same great and outstanding achievements that could be stored away here in Georgia to stir the souls and hearts of the youth of posterity.
HEALTH PROBLEMS
I wish further to call your attention to the more modern times and to invite your consideration to the study of human problems that relate to the production the highest type of citizenship that can come to our State. I refer to the health problem.
One of the State's greatest burdens is crime, the greatest burden that comes to the entire Nation-there being a cost of over Thirteen Billion Dollars a year for same. It is a matter that must engage your attention, for it is the greatest burden to the people of all other tax burdens combined, besides the intense human suffering that comes by reason of same.
The normal man as a rule is a man free from crime and its tendencies. The abnormal and diseased man is inclined to crime.
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The mentally defective man and child also have the same tendency. I, therefore, recommend that you provide in your Health Department every means possible for our children to make strong bodies and minds, thereby eliminating crime.

I would not pass from this subject without calling your attention to the $100,000.00 which the former legislature appropriated for the treatment of cancer; and I urge you to provide for this fund for the prevention and cure of cancer.

I am not bringing to you figures in this message, as you will find by reference to my former messages all figures as relate to the finances of the State of Georgia; but I am bringing to you a vision of the possibilities and what can be accomplished in future legislation in the State of Georgia; for it is the vision in human affairs that is destined to accomplish our every financial success.

I thank you! June 24, 1931.

L. G. HARDMAN, Governor.

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