The Green Forest tribune., 1893-01-19
GOV. EAGLES MESSAGE.
ne strongly Recommends the Abolition Of Our
Convict Lease System

The biennial message of Gov James p. Eaele
was read before the General Assemblev last
| wednesday The main points touched upon are
| az follows:
| Ihe amendments to the election laws. as pro-
posed in the report of the secretary of stat ar.
| hartily indorsed. The establishment of a b,rc..
OF insurance, with asalaried chief is condemned
The proposed constitutional an. endment to re-
move the Limitation from AK alton for education,
al purposes does net meet with the COVER or.
| approval. Ihe practice of selling the lai d.
winch nave been forfeited by non payment Of
! taxes, and giving only quit-claim deeds to the
purchasers. is characterized as most unjust
Inc Titles to the State Bank lands are questioned
| 1he ecohhlct exlstlng between sw amp land grants
anu rHlroad claims is commented on as still
! uhsettieo. Titles have not vet been procur, q
ZOE the lanes to which the State is entitled by tie
sehooi indemnity act OF congress. An appeal
! mas peen taken to correct the ruling of the II n
] department at Washington by which local ape,t.
are enabled to dispose of the lands claimed by
the State under the swamp land act Attention
is called to the fact that there are no laws by
which the State can reapa benefit from her rjc
mineral lands. Emphasis is given to the impor
tance OF better public highways The ger arsl
assembly, is urged to send to the World Is FAR
an exhibit of the products of the State. The
death OF Maj John D. Adems is deplored aid
MS successor to the commissionship of minef.
manufactures, and agriculture is Mr. George
NJ. Chapline
me WORK Oh The geological survey is praised.
1he heiu WORK OF the survey has already been
done and nothing remains but to complete aid
publish the reports The appointment of a
State geologist and the necessary assistants for
one year only is recommended
The advantage of the Arkansas Industrial
University are set forth and the interest display
ed IN the work is characterized as most crafty
Ing. 1t is recommended that the agricultural
and mechanical departments Of that institution
be further developed and that new building be
erected for labratary and other purposes.
| apart from the main building The me dical de-
| partment 1s said to be credit to that institution
and to be increasing in Importance and useful
ness
Appropriations are recommended for the blind
anu the Dea1 Mute Institute, and both establish
ments are highly praised. he shortage of s.
W. Buchanan, ex-secretary and treasurer of the
insane asylum lis deplored and the attorney gem
eral is directed to bring suit against his bonds
men It's recommended that the State treasur-
er be appointed member of the board of trus-
tees the asylum and that he take charge of ard
be responsible for all it's moneys The work of
the burning board'' in facilitating settlement
with ex-State Treasurer W. E. Woodruff is
praised.
The convict question is examined at length
The present convict lease expires on May = ai Il
bids tor new lease We're advertised for la, t
spring None Of them were equal to the annual
revenue now received by the State from the ex-
isting lease, and they were all rejected 1t it
| fyprf I1I
done away with altogether. and that the State
assume control of her own convicts reap the
benefits of their labor, and insure their humane
treatment. 1t is also recommendthat new site
be selected fer State penitentary From the
table showing the ages Of the convicts it can be
seen that one-ffth of them are under 10 years of
age. 1t is urged that they be kept and worked
separate from the older and more harkened
criminals. There two white women, twelve
negro women, and five Indians inmates of the
penitentiary.
1t is set forth that Arkansas is not sufficiently
supplied with railroads. and that, therefore. it
would be unwise to pass.laws which would hin
de- their extention. The necessity for some
regulation in the granting of franchises to rail-
roads is conceded and it is urged that railroad
commission to consist Of three men be ap pointed
to assume this regulation.
1t is suggested that it might be good plan to
amend the criminal laws of the State so as to
increase the offense of petit larceny from SlO to
so, andthe penalty be made commensurate
with the crime. 1t is also suggested that fines
be substituted for Jail Imprisonment, which
when not paid could be worked out on the public
roads.
The appointment of State board of equiliza-
tion is discussed and it is urged that one be ap-
pointed. The suggestion is made that ths senate
would have plenty of time to do this and keep
up with the work of The honse. Ii is urged that
the persons appointed to serve on county board
of equilizat alton be compelled to serve or pay
penalty.
The rate Of IA mills for general purposes, the
same rate that has bee in vogue for the last Two
years, will be large enough to meet all demands
The State debt has been very materially rcdue, d
The status of the direct tax fund is as folio, s
Amount refunded up to August, 1891, sl5s, 272 IS;
amount disbursed sl0a SIS .9l balance in treaeu-
ry, October |, 1892 ss3.5s3.14
The thorough organization of the State militia
forces is not deemed advisable. t,nly encushis is
necessary to assist the civil powers in enforcing
the laws aud maintaining the dignity Of the
State il any exhigency that may arise
An appropriation Of $l5, COO to supplement the
fud raisei by citizens to be used by the W orldss
Fair board. is recommended; saa, 500 has been
paid out in pensions to ex-cenfederata soldi. rs
suitable appropriation is ursed for the use Of
State board OF health il. cas- OF epidemic.
1t is recommended that laws be passed to
check improper marriages, an that TO further
this purpose it be made next to impossible to obs
tain divorse.