FOR RELEASE:

12:00 O'clock Noon, Monday, January 9, 1961- (~fil\'SPAPRS. RADIO & TV, PLEASE OBERVE NOOfil EMDARGO,)

("State of the State" address by Governor Ernest Vandiver delivered before a joint session of the General Assembly of Georgia meeting in the House of Representatives' Chamber at the State Capitol in Atlanta. The Chief Executive~ message was telecast and broadcast over statewide neHmrks. The Governor wi 11 transmit a detailed budget message later.)
LIEtrrENANT-GOVERNOR BYRD, HOUSE SPEAKER SMI'fll. MEf11BERS OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, STATE OFFICIALS, DIStlNGUISHED VISITORS, AND TO THE GREAT CITIZENRY OF GEORGIA:

Through a program of efficiency and economy in its first two years, it has been possible for the Vandiver ad~inistration to avoid asking the General Assembly to levy a single new or additional tax on the people of Georgia.
Of the fifty states, Georgia is one of only nine which has not raised taxes in the past two years.
I am gratified to report to you today that, through pursuance of these same policies, the Vandiver administration will not ask this General Assembly session for a single tax increase.

We are demonstrating to the people of this State what can be accomplished through the use of tax-conserving policies, rather than tax-raising policies!
And, Gentlemen Within the next few days, you will receive the administration's proposed appropriations' bill -- at perhaps what is the earliest time in the history of any legislative session.
By our mutual efforts, I am happy to say today, the General
Assembly of Georgia's proper legislative prerogatives in the appropriation of public tax funds have been restored.
1261 THEME; BUILDING AND EXPANSION
The;theme of our ~fforts at the 1959 sessi~n of the General Assembly was "Clean-up and Economy."
In 1960, it w~s "Reorganizati~n and Progress." This year, I propose that our theme be "Building and Expansion." As we begin this session of the Genei-al Asseinbly I am sure we all realize that Georgia's destiny depends upon our deliberations and our actions. We are determined to measure up to our awesome responsibilities.
We do so with prayer to a Divine Creator for Georgia's future and the welfare of he~ people. Those stand uppermost in our Minds and first in our hearts. POLICIES STATED
As we embark upoh our work today, you ask: What is our policy in the coming two years?
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I will answer by saying We will maintain essential services, expand.them on a "first thfngs, first" basis consistent with State inc~me, preserve a solvent treasury and move ahead to an even stronger and better State! We will stand together, you and I, all the way to protect th'e children and parents of Georgia -- we are determined to fight to keep the operation and control of Georgia's schools in the hands of Georgia people -- we will do so intelligently and wi'tb firmness!
We will utilize every legal means and resource and every effective alternative available to us.
And, my friends We will do our utmost to preserve, protect and defend Georgia's county unit system against all assaults.
STATE 9F THE STAI~
Now, the state of the State -I am happy to report to you gentlemen that
. in the first six months of the fiscal year State governmental income equals outgow
current commitments are being met. there is a modest surplus ~f $4,000,000
governmental services -- essential services to the people -- are at an all-time high.
Looking at the economy of the State, at year's end 9 personal income was up encouragingly despite serious nationwide unemployment, our non-tar work force remained well above the million mark
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bank deposits set new records
beef cattle production was greater than ever before.
e the State led the entire Southeast in the rate of increas~ in exports and total foreign trade.
All of this meant new plants, new jobs and new payrolls.
In the first two years of this administration 317 new plants or expansions have been established, each employing 10. or more people and each representing a capital investment in excess of $50,000.
Since January, i959, a total of 17,010 new jobs have been added to the economy, representing over $54,000,000 in new payrolls annually.
In the number of new plants and in the amount of added payrolls established in the first two years of this administration, despite the present downturn in the national economy, the figures are well ahead of the combined figures for l957 and 1958.
Yes, my friends, the state of the grand old State of Georgia is EXCELLENT!
REAT PARTNERSHIP
In early January throughout the business world, businessmen .are taking inventory and laying their plans for the future.
So do we in this great State partnership -- the people, the Legislature and the Executive branch.
What have our combined efforts produced -- what is being accomplished -- where do we stand financially -- what plans can we make for improvement in the future?
By working together in the past two years, we have achieved two balanced budgets, adding $1 million to the net operating surplus in fiscal '59 and $21 million in fiscal 160 WITHOUT A SINGLE NEW OR ADDITIONAL TAX.
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THE RECORD SPEAKS
The ledger -- the written record -- is irrefutable.
May I now proceed with you and with our other partner -the people of this State -- to examine this record.
The story of the Vandiver administration is told to a Jrcat extent in the building programs and in the plans to advance the welfare of the people, their health, their happiness and their economic opportunities.
Now, listen closely to these figures.
They arc extremely significant.
The building program instituted by the General Assembly and the Governor during the first two years of this administration and for which funds have been set up in the annual State budgets, totals $225 million dollars.
That figure, ladies and gentlemen of Georgia, is over $100 million dollars more than all of the physical plant construction undertaken by the State in the whole preceding 4-year period.
STATE SCHOOL BUILDING
By far the largest and most fur-reaching building program is the $105 million dollar school construction effort. bringing benefits to every county on the basis of need and attendance.
Sixty million dollars in State funds and forty-five million in local funds are buying
New grade schools throughout the State.
sadly - needed new high schools.
Gymnasiums to build the body as well as train the mind.
New cafeterias where hot, nourishing school lunches can be prepared.
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And other vital facilities for the children of our State.
We are making a giant stride in this building program toward our goal of modern educational facilities for every child .in Georgia.
Education Tv
And we are pioneering in new educational methods. It has been conclusively demonstrated that educational television can do much to improve the quality of education. Accordingly, app~oval has been given for ~- $soo.-OO'O educational TV station at Waycross to serve a 30-county area.
Area Trade Schools
Answering the need which many of you have stressed for additional technical training facilities, we have embarked on a program of building thirty vocational-and technical trade schools, at a cost of $19,000,000, to be located in 21 areas throughout the State.
University System Expansion
For higher education -- for our junior and senior colleges in the University System -- there are fifty-three separate building projects, costing $33 million dollars.
These projects include: -
The magnificent Coliseum to be built at the University in Athens and the badly-needed new Pharmacy Building for training a
profession that assumes more and more importance in the fight on
illness and disease. Also, at the University of Georgia, is the new Fine Arts
Center which is now under construction.
Over at the Georgia Institute of Technology here in Atlanta plans are being completed for the Chemical-Ceramic Engineering Building.
And of cquul importance for the truining of future engineers is the electrical engineering nuilding being constructed at Georgia Tech.

We intend to keep Georgia Tech in the forefront of the Engineering Colleges of this nationa.
The Research addition to the Talmade Memorial Hospital in Auiusta.will enable us to carry on one of the most outstanding medical research programs in the whole South.
A multi-purpose building for Georgia State College will help that institution make an even more effective contribution to higher education.
Forty-four other proj~cts, embracing every conceivable type of facility, are underway on the campuses of our junior and senior...,colleges .throughout. the State.
MENTAL HEALTH .
In the long-neglected field oX-nrental health, we1have .,. derway an $18~million-dollar building program
It embraces:
A $6,000,000, 500-bed, intensive Treatment Center to be builtiop',,t.he Atlanta Briarcliff property now owned by the State.
Milledge-ille State Hospital
A $2,600,000, 500-bed, intensive Treatment Building as ~much-needed addition to Miliedgeville State Hospital to serve the pa1:ients there.
A $1,400,000 Food Preparation Center at Mi1ledgevJllet~ insure hot, wholesome, uniform meals for all patients.
A $2,000,000, 600-bed addition to the Arnall Building at the State Hospital to retire existing buildings which are haz~rd~us.
And a $1,000,000 staff dormitory and apartments a-t Milledgeville to help in attracting professional personnel.
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Bids will be operied fifteen days from now on all of these improvements at Mill.edgeville State Hospital
. Also authorized.for later construc~ion a proposed $2;500,000 sewage disposal plant at Milledgeville to be jointly financed with local governments.
Gracewood
At the Georgia School for Mental Defectives at Gracewood, we will construct:
A 300-bed infirmary, costing $1,400,000;
Two, 100-bed patient cottages at a cost of $600,000;
An Out-Patient building, costing $200,000;
,A sewage disposal plant, costing $350,000; and,
Water plant improvements, at a cost of $130,000.
Thousands upon thousan~s of our loved ones cry out from ~ehind the thin veil of mental illness, "Help Os, help us."
The General Assembly -- this administration -- the people of Georgia answer with this 1:ong--'S'OUgh;t ,long-needed, but heretofore unfulfilled building program.
We move nearer to our goal -- a mental health program in Georgia second to none in the nation.
HOSPITALS AND OTHER MEDICAL FACILITIES
We are also making magnificent progress in providing facilities to improve the general health of our people.
During the first two years of this administration, there have been 55 projects involving hospitals and other medical facilities totaling $24 million dollars.
This includes 11 new hospitals completed, underway or approved and critically-needed additions at ten hospitals throughout the State.
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cities.

It also includes health centers for 22 other towns and

Also included are:

Hospital equipment to Grady in Atlanta.

A Rehabilitation Center for Aidmore.

Diagnostic and treatment centers for Dalton and Moultrie.

A training facility for colored nurses in Atlanta.

Nursing homes for the aged and infirm for Atlanta, Savannah and Columbus.

A chronic disease unit at Albany.

And a .nursing school at Gainesvil1e.

TRAINING SCHOOLS' IMPROVEMENTS.

Turning now to other areas, we have instituted for the
first. time a planned, systematic schedule of improvements at-the
juvenile training schools of the State improvements totaling
$2,000,000 in this administration
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PORTS' DEVELOPMENT LEADS

Of forceful economic impact has been the Ports improvement effort being carried out at a cost in excess of $6,000,000.

This includes: Three new cargo berths at the Gard~n City Terminal in Savannah. Modernization and rehabilitation of the -old Central Docks, now known as the Savnnnuh Oceun Terminal.
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Acquisition of the highly desirable Whitehall Plantation property for future port and industrial expansion.

And land acquisition and development for the Port of ,Augusta.

STONE MOUNTAIN MEMORIAL

~tone Mountain -- a wonder of nature here in Georgia at long last will be transformed into a place of beauty -- a shrine to the Confederacy -- fulfilling a cherished dream of the people of Georgia.

Work is beginning now on the re-routing of highways around the project, andit_ was a pleasure for me to break ground for the dam a few days ago.

Plans are now being perfected which include:

a museum,

an airlift,

an amphitheater,

a bus terminal,

an administration building, and other improvements to cost over ;$5~000,000.

JOURISM

Other projects to increase Ge~rgia 1 s attractiveness as

a tourist state include a Tourist Welcome Station, 14 miles North of

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Sylvania, and a Museum at The Litile White House at Warm Springs.

CORRECTIONS

To further Georgia's Corrections' objective -- rehablli tation, with separation of different classes of.offenders -preliminary plans are completed and a site has been selected tentatively in Hart County for a new industrial Prison and Ciassifl~ cation Center, to cost approximately $4,000,000.

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Add to that, the two new security-wing additions at Reidsville, costing $632,000 for materials, which are already under construction.
And, we are building 12 new chapels for existing penal institutions. We know that Religion can play a major role in returning our prisoners to community life as useful citizens.
NEW ARMORIES
For National Guard Units, new armories, costing $2,000,000, have been authorized for ten other areas ~f the State.
FORESTRY FACILITIES
Georgia's forestry leadership is being maintained. Fifteen
new county headquarters u.n..its have been built. A new central supply
warehouse has been added at the Macon Center, and other permanent improvements have been made throughout the State.
STATE RECORDS' BUILDING
Construction will begin soon on a new State Archives and Records Building here in the Capitol Square Area, at a cost of approximately $4,000,000 to provide a safe repository for our priceless historical documents.
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That, ladies and gentlemen of Georgia, is our State's current building program.
In scope and comprehensiveness it is greater than anything Georgia has undertaken before.
But I am confident that it is consistent with Georgia s bright future and the determination of her people to build a happier, healthier and more prosperous environment.
So much for our building program.
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Let us examine now our record in providing essential governmental services to the people of Georgia.
EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION
During this first two years, our budgets have reflected the major emphasis placed on education.
State expenditures for common school operations, the Minimum Foundation Program, capital outlay and teacher retirement have been increased from the time this administration took office to the present budget by a total of $29 million dollars.
NOW GET THIS:
This increase for common school education,.without a tax raise, is greater by $9 million dollars than the increas~r~~---
two Years of the preceding adminiskration1 with a tax raise,
In fact, 54 per cent of. the total state budget -- well over
half -- is going this year for educational purposes -- t~e highest percentage ever.
What has this new money bought?
It has bought: 1,300 new state-allotted teachers.
A $200 salary increase for teachers.
More liberal mid-term adjustments.
Grants for in-service training of teachers.
An increase in maintenance and operation funds.
A scholarship loan plan for prospective teachers.
An actuarially-sound teachers retirement system.
And an experimental program to aid exceptionally-bright students.
All of these and more, have been made possible by the largest increase in educational funds this year since enactment of
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the sales tax.

PROGRESS IN STATE COLLEGES

made.

In the University System, comparabl~ progress has been

It includes:

Significant salary adjustments to attract qualified professors and to retain those already on the staffs,

activation of new physical plant facilities, better maintenance, improved student counseling, expansion and operation of the newly-acquired junior colleges at Augusta, Col~mbus and Savannah, broadened adult. education and strengthened agricultural and individual research.
UNPRECEDENTED HEALTH PROGRAM

Turning now to public health, there has 'been an increase of $4,500,000 during the past two years -- the greatest increase ever made in a comparable period.

Included here have been.
two million dollars in added support for operations at the Milledgeville State Hospital
. . . additional funds of $500~000 to open 100 new beds
at the Talmadge Memorial Hospital

an $850,000 increase for operations at Gracewood

and provision of more than $1,000,000 for other expanded statewide health services.

For the first time, units for colored patients have been opened at Gracewood.

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We have achieved a much more effective health.program through reorganization, transferring Milledgeville State Hospital, Gracewood and Alcoholism Com. mission to the Healt.h Depart~ent and. creating a Mental Health Division in that department.
A't Milledgeville, we can list significant accomplishments:
More professional personnel.
Improved sanitation-and water supply.
Stronger fire protection.
Improved administration all alo~g the line.
WELFARE ROLLS UP
In the Welfar.e Department, total assistance benefit. payments have climbed some $5,000,000. Nearly .2,000 dependent children and 6,000 disabled persDns have b~en added to the rolls.
HIGHWAY REFORM
In highways, we have a highway budget $10 million dollars
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higher,.than ever before.
Georgia has advanced from a lagging 25th to 13th in the nation in the total miles of Interstate work under construction, and
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,fro~ 37th to 19th in the amount of Interstate work completed.
SERVICES. AT ALL-TIME HIGH
Summing up, support of current operations of the .State's major:functions, in terms of expenditures, has been boosted to the highest point in history.
In two years, reguiar operations' support for education, the university system, wolf~re, health and highways has been increased $55,149,238.
This increase was accompli~hed without the levy of a single new or additional tax whatsoever.

But I would remind you that the record of this administration the General Assembly and the Exe cuti ve Branch -lies, not only in its impressive list of accomplishments, but in sound, businesslike management of our State government.

OTHER GAINS MADE

Not only in the larger spending agencies have impressive strides been made; we have made significant progress throughout our State government.

In the Agriculture Department, we have instituted a

program to eradicate the white fringe beetle and have provided

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increased funds to fight fire ant infestation. Support has been

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extended to Foundation Seeds, Incorporated, for seed development,

growing and processing. Property has.been acquired at Macon for

farm ~arket expansion.

Support for the Commerce Department and the Industrial Development Branch at Tech has been raised to the highest level ever. A reorganized and strengthened Commerce Department is placing emphasis on its industrial and tourist promotion programs.

A far-reaching research program being carried on by the Forestry Research Council and a broadened forestry effort under the Forestry Commission combine to give Georgia what is universally recognized as the Number One undertaking of its kind in the nation.

In the Parks Department, attention has been turned to renovation and long-neglected repairs. The Jekyll Island development program is being pushed to completion and today is one of the finest State Parks in America.

A water safety program bas been instituted in the Department of Game and Fish to protect the lives of countless thousands of Georgia's boating citizens

A teorganized prison system is being administered,.more effectively than ever before.

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The State Highway Patrol has been considerably strengthened by the addition of 50 State Troopers.
Installation of modern accounting methods, machine records and fat better enforcement procedures in the Revenue Department, have brought about vastly-improved tax administration.
A pay-as-you-earn personal income tax withholding plan has been installed.
Idle State funds are now invested at a rate whi~h. will produce in excess of a million dollars annually. This should improve as experience is gained. I commend the fiscal officers of the Highway Department and the Board of Regents for the splendid results which' they have achieved in investing idle funds.
Several recommendations for an improved State insurance program are under study, and a final. plan should be ready for submission to you next January.
The constitutional impediment to State aid for munici~
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palities has been removed.
As you know, we have sought in every way possible to strengthen the Legislative Branch. We have activated and re-vamped the Finance Commission, created the office of Legislative Counsel and barred concurrent service in the Legislative and Executive branches.
Not only that, you and I have written into law a stringent conflict-of-interest statute -- an "honesty-in-government" ac~ -giving teeth to the precept that a public office is a public trust!
COMPETITIVEBIDDING SAVES MILLIONS
Despite a $60-million-dollar increase in total State spending in this administration, it will be a source of gratification to the taxpayers of Georgia to know that in the last two-year period thr number of purchase orders processed by th~ purchasing department is
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down 2,200 in number. In fiscal 1959, the cost of goods and services was $4 million dollars less than in 1958; and in 1960, it was $1 million dollars less than in 1958.
Considering expanded State activity and increased budgets of departments buying goods and services, these figures reflect, conservatively, a saving in the Purchasing Department alone of at least $5,000,000 annually due to competitive bidding and careful buying practices.
Confidence has been restored in our State government.
I am proud of this record yours and mine.
I will stand on it before the taxpaying citizens of Georgia.
fiUDGET MESSAGE
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Within a few days a detailed budget message will be transmitted to you. It will contain my recommendations for State operations in the coming two fiscal years.
I ask that you give careful study to the matter i~ cont~ins, .. h 1
Particularly, do I call your attenti-On to that portion of the budget message containing my recommendations for a "crash" program that must be undertaken now to widen and resurface our arterial highways in Georgia to protect the taxpayer's ~nvestment and to prevent them from deteriorating further after thirty years of wanton neglect.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
On last Friday, on the very eve of this General Assembly session, a Federal Judge in Macon, issued a sweeping edict, the harsh and vicious terms of which threaten to destroy or disrupt the University of Georgia.
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Today, eve11 at this very hour, events are transpiring which you and I must watch closely -- even hourly -- and must meet.
About two hours ago the Federal District Court granted a
supersedeas tn the University caso conditioned upon an appeal.
That will be done.
CHILD PROTECTION AMENQMENI
At the l,aat session, there was created the General Assembly Committee on Schools.
Though its report was not unanimous, while varying views were expressed, t.her~ was unanlml ty on one significant point, that la,. the need for a child protection amendment in our State Const Itut Ion.
The right of freedom of choice of one's associates is 1n
violation of no laws -- state or federal -- It Is the foundation atone of all society and Is the base upon which progress, happiness, goodorder and good feeling among all p~oples are built.
You and I must now look to the education of Georgia youth. We must intelligently preserve and protect the educational process consistent with the will of .the mothers and fathers of Georgia and the best interests of their children.
We cannot abandon public education -- no one wants this -no one has ever proposed that be done.
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All Georgians know that in other states the Federal Courts have struck down segregation laws in each instance where the same have been litigated.
All Georgians know that the Federal Courts are moving swiftly against Southern thought and culture and that they are 'doing so with a viciousness peculiar only to tyranny and dictatorship.
Legal defenses that were enacted by the General Assembly -two, three, four or five years ago -- are not presently enough in light of developments to afford all possible protection to the people.
The people of Georgia are entitled to be masters of their own fate, and have the inh~rent right, yes, the God-given right, to determine their own d~stiny.
We know not what the future holds -- but anticipating that worse will come to worse -- we must provide a new plate of armor, gird ourselves against the sweeping and insidious onslaught of forced integration in Georgia schools.
As Governor of this State, and in league with the overwhelming majority of the people of Georgia, I propose that this historic General Assembly take the necessary action to afford to the parents and children of this State a new protection.
The administration at this session will present for your consideration a child protection amendment desjgned to guarantee every Georgia child his God-given right to freedom of association and under no circumstances could he or she be forced to attend a school wherein intolerable conditions exist.
0
Dark clouds hover.
The storm gathers in all its pent up fury.
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Georgians know no fear.
For many times before, they have been put to the torch, to the test and to the trial.
Each time they did not flag.
Each time they did not fail.
They went on with their work.
They did their duty.
We do so now -- for we have sacred principles to: maintain and rights to defend, for which we are duty bound to do our best no matter what the cost or sacrifice may be.
We are determined, as Georgia mothers and fathers have been determined down through the ~nnals of our time -- to do our best to do our very best 'for .the children of Georgia.
Confident in our mission -- strong in our purpose -- and dedicated in our faith, we lift up our eyes in prayer to an Almighty Providence.
We beseech Him to lead our steps along those sacred trails carved out by our ancestors.
We ask only this:
That we may refresh the golden memory of our heritage.
. . . that we may keep unblemished our blood-soaked
obligation to those stout hearts that beat in a rising and thunderous crescendo out of Georgia's glorious past.
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