The Forrest City times., 1892-02-19
Items From the Capital.
LITTLE ROCK, ARK Feb. l5, 1892 ,.o,n Tho Times' succiaI Corresponcent.

| really opened, but in Little Rock the pol
 itical probabilities are weighed and dis
 cussed by the leading politicians aud the
 pulse of the state is felt as frequently as
 possible. The state central committee of
 the Democratic party has been called by
 Chairman J. E.. Williams to meet here
 March 10, for the purpose of fixing the time and place for holding the state con yention. The National Democratic con vention will meet June 2l, and the state
 convention must be called at least five days before that time so that our delegates
 may reach Chicago.
 The democratic candidates for state of- fees will have about three months in
 which to make their canvass, provided the central committee decides to give them the longest possible time.
 There will be, as usual, several candl- dates for governor-all good men and each one anxious to serve the people. Gov. Eagle will not be candidate. He has made a satisfactory executive officer
 and will retire in 1893 with an unimpcach- able record. In the midst of all his official duties he finds time to attend the Second Baptist church regularly, and frequently he breaches to the poor sinners, exhortiug them to turn to God. He is good man
 as well as good governor.
 There is vast difference between the work of the governor before the war and the governor of today. The chief duties of the former were to entertain his friends and constituents and grant a few pardons. Now the governor is so busily engaged with other duties that he hardly has time to consider pardons. Gov. Eagle, after working all day, finds that If he considers certain petitions for executive clemency at all he must pack them home and do the work at night. Even with this extra la b0r these pardon cases accumulate on his desk until they have to be numbered so as to take their turn in regular order. AL most every legislature since 1874 has ad- ded to the duties of the governor. He is chairman of the board of election can vassers, also of the board of commission CTS of the school fund, the state debt board, the board of pcnitentiary commis- sioners, the printing board, the board of railroad commissioners, which assesses and fixes the tax on railroads, the board of trustees of the Arkansas University, the board of municipal corporation, the board of examiners of state scrip, the board of Confederate pensions and disburser of the direct tax, commonly known as the cotton tax, lately returned to the citizens of the state by the United States government There Is really more work on these boards than one man can justly perform. Then, too, the governor is expected to be at his office at least eight hours each day. In Europe such dignitarics can only be ap- preached by those especially permitted to do SO. But the freedom of our American institutions gives the humblest citizen the right to visit the governor and grasp his hand with friendly shake. There is no soldery to stand guard at the door of his office and the governors chair of state is not too high to be touched by the weakest child of nature.
 The secretary of state has about as much board work as the governor, but his other duties arc not so manifold and the
 assistance provided by law in the way of
 clerks gives him more hours for leisure. Hon. B. B. Chism, who has ably filled the office for nearly two terms, will not be candidate for reelection. He is too
 good a democrat to attempt to break the
 unwritten law of the Democratic party against the third term.
 State Treasurer Morrow is struggling with his office like an overloaded mule on an uphill pull When he assumed con trol of the office he found an almost de
  vestigation to determine If possible what disposition ex-Treasurer Woodruff had made of the funds. There is still no money in the treasury and the Outstand- ing warrants for current expenses have in creased to seventy-ive thousand dollars. It was supposed that just as soon as the liquor licenses were paid in on the first of the present year the collectors would send the states part direct to the treasury. and if they had done so there would be no need of issuing warrants of indebtedness now. But on examining the law on the subject it was discovered that the sheriffs and collectors are only required to make quarterly settlements with the county court. The first quarter will end May 31. Then the county clerks must certify to the
 auditor of state the amount due from the
 sheriff. The auditor charges the collector
 or sheriff with these amounts and the lat ter may hold the whisky revenue as he
 does the taxes collected from other sources,
 until he makes his final settlement with
 the state. MT. Morrow has written to
 every collector in the state where whisky
 Is sold asking them to 'please send the
 liquor license" Some of them have
 failed to respond, while others have sent in
 only part of the funds, and one sheriff
 who was expected to forward ten thous-
 and dollars was bold enough to reply, ''Go
 to h-l; I'll send it when d-n please"
 The executive committee of the State Press association met here last week and
 prepared an excellent programme and at
 the same time decided to hold the next
 meeting of the association at Camden
 May 17. Doubtless every editor of the
 state will (steal away attend as well as
 many of the leading politicians. The gener-
 ous people of Camden will give the editors
 hearty welcome and it is not improbable
 large increase of the democratic majority
 of the state.
 Powell Clayton has not yet unfOlded his
 plans for the coming contest. Those best
 informed believe that he will fight in
 front with the peoples party while his
 negro forces bring up the rear and at-
 tempt to strike decisive blow on election
 day.
 The campaign for county offices in this
 (PulaskD county has already begun. Sev- eral candidates have made their announce
 ments subject to the action of the Demo cratic party. Now Is the time of harvest
 for the saloons and ward politicians
 There are sixty-nine saloons in Little
 Rock and Argenta, and they all delight in selling campaign grog; and the candidate who left his pocket book at home because
 of its emptiness finds cold comfort in mak- ing race---he had better stay at home
 with his depleted purse. Those who have
 money can have a good time in the race
 and be flattered by the ward heelers, who