The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1893-01-13
EAGLES MESSAGE.
A Lengthy Document in Which the
Chief Executive Makes Many
Healthy Recommendations.
DELIVERED WEDNESDAY, JAN. II, '93.

vened IN joint session to listen TO the last mes
sage OF the retiring governor, james i. Eagle
The Governor was not present in person be
ing confined to his bed seriously sick. The
message was presented and read by Private
Secretary a. W. Files.
After preliminary review of the various
reports Of the state officers and touching trib
ute TO the memory OF Major John u. Adams
the message says with reference 10
EDUCATIoXAL WORK:
/ cannot endorse the recommendation OF the
Superintendent OF Public Instruction which
calls for constitutional amendment toremove
the limitation from taxation for general educa-
tonal purposes. Taxes are now heavy, Two
mills for general purposes and local tax OF I'VE
mills that may be collected, is al the people
should he required TO pay
Poll tax is constitutional provision and leg
islative enactment cannot affect it, aud to
amend the constitution would oe expensive,
even il il were deemed expedient TO increase
the tax to -, as recommended.
We have now in the treasury 10 the credit OF
the permanent school fund, in bonds and cur
rency nearly $4,000. The law provides that
the interest on this amount shall be used In sGs-
tanning public schools. but no provision has
been made to pay this interest.
or this amount s1S0)0is in currency, OF which
s6l sos belongs to the sixteenth section fund.
The bonds belonging to this fund include
$4,000 in non -Holford per cent funding bonds
with matured coupons, amounting 10 SO, o9s
ana the remainder is in what is known as the .
per cent Loughbororough bonds.
| recommend that special certificates of
indebtedness or State bonds bearing per cent
interest. be issued, in lieu OF these bonds, cou-
pons anu currency, embracing the entire per
manent school fund.- with interest to begin at
the earliest time practicable. that the children
OF the present generation may obtain the ben
eft TO he derived therefrom.
Considerable space is devoted to statement
of the condition of state lands acquired from
the various sources and the Legislature is urged
TO take such steps as will lead to speedy set
tlement of the questionable titles thereto.
The message also calls attention TO the fact
that the state has no mining laws without
which she can reap no benefit from her rich
mineral lands and recommends the passage OF
suitable laws looking to the prompt develop
ment OF her vast mineral resources; earnestly
urges the General Assembly TO assist promptly
in making "a complete exhibit of the resources
OF the state at the Columbian Exposition;
praises and endorses the work Of the geological
survey and recommends that act 60, Of March
20, 1889, be 50 modified as to provide for the ap-
pointment Of a State Geologist and the nee
essary assistants for one year only that con
tgent fund OF 5000 be appropriated TO meet
the incidental expenses OF the work remaining
the end Of one year to the end that the entire
work may be completed.
REV. BCCHANAN's sHoaTAGE.
In speaking Of the shortage OF s. II. Buc-
hauan, secretary and treasurer of the board OF
trustees OF the lunatic asylum the Governor
says
THE statement OF the ex- Secretary and
Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, ). H. Buc-
hanan, hled with the Boards report is not
signed by Mr. Buchanan This statement and
the report of the Board each reveal the fact
that the treasurer is short in his accounts to
the amount OF s5)s3 80. ] have directed the
Attorney General to bring suit against Mr..
Buchanan and his securities for the total
shortage.
This distressing disclosure is calculated to
further shoe. our confidence in humanity and
TO further impress upon US the necessity for
watching more closely over the states interest.
l feel called upon to urge upon your honorable
body the Importance Of the closest investiga-
tion OF the accounts and expenditures in con
nection with this institution from it's estab-
hshment to the present time 1t may be that
the Board has been too conhdiuG in its Treas
urer for the same reason former Legislatures
may not have examined these accounts with
that influences and care that should charac-
terizc every Investigation.
/ recommend that the present laws he so
- member o. the Board OF Trustees and treas.
urer OF said board. and that lie be held respon-
sible for all moneys belonging TO this institu-
ton, under his bond and oath as State Treas
urer and that funds shall be drawn only as
required monthly 10 meet the running expenses
and upon orders signed by the President and at
least two members Of the Board. Members OF
the Board favor this recommendation. notwith-
standing they do not name it in their report
MEN.
Under an act entitled Am Act to facilitate
a full and inal settlement with ex-Treasurer
William f. Woodruff and for other purposes"
the Burning Board commenced us labor on the
twenty third day OF April 1891. and closed It on
the thirtietA day OF September of the same
year. This board III this particularly arduous
work. was deprived Of the efficient services Of
Secretary r. b. Oh sm a. he declined 10 serFe,
on account Of being one OF Mr. Woodrnhs
bonasmen. The prosecution OF this investiga
tion was made extremely laborlous, its progress
obstructed and much valuable time unneces
sarily consumed in examining presentations
made by Mr Bay The representative OF Mr.
woodruff and his bondamen for which he
claimed that NJ Woodruff should have credit
to which he was not entitled. The Board on
this work had tho most competent services OF
Hr J. Ii. Shoppach as clerk for the entire time
and that If air. l.. l.. Boone for a few weeks.
The appropriation to pay for clerical labor was
not sufficient aud was supplemented from
the Governors contigent fond. For fun ac-
count OF the work of the Burning Board IN this
connection refer you 20 tae Published report
u hich Was filed with tho GuVeracf september
40 1881 aud for further Information, To the
recent report OF the special Master in Chancery,
Col Thos. IL. Simms.
After consultation With Hon. W. F. Atkinson,
Attorney General. owing TO the amounts and
intricacies involved, Judge L. NJ. Rose was en-
gagged to assist the Attorney GenNal from the
introduction TO the completion of Wis suit.
For his services it was agreed that he should
be paid the sum OF $500, subject TO the
approval of the Legislature. ] rccommeni
that an appropriation be provided Cor the pay