Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-01-19
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
GoVernor-EIect James p. Clarke Gives the Assembly His Views on
 Needed Reforms.

oenleu that l, and those who are to be my as
 sociates in the administration of the state
 government for the ensuing term assume this responsibility under circumstances somewhat less favorable than any Of our predecessors since new era h public affairs was in augurated, now some twenty years since. A ollghting depression pervades all classes of our fellow citizens, and all the industries which go to make up the fabric of the commonwealth
 are demoralizea to a degree which will tax all our powers to suggest remedy for their re- storation to condition approximating their former prosperity. In this state of affairs it will become those into whose hands the people have placed official authority to employ 1t in an intelligent and conscientious effort to pro.
 mote the prosperity and happiness of the peo. pie as far as this may be possible under the changed conditions and systems made imper- Rtlve by our present surroundings.
 BETTER METHODS.
 Agriculture the corner stone of civilization or the ages, can no longer be relied upon solely to sustain the state in supplying employment for the body of her people and furnishing a basis for her commerce Changed and better methods in the prosecution of this industry and the development of the other boundless and valuable resources Of the state must be the means by which we are to establish the right of our state 10 take the front rank as one of the proudest and most prosperous of the union
 But the causes which have led up to this b4ooAl9 CoEtftl0n uI aHalrS nave not been con hned 1n their balefu effects to our section and our products alone The northwestern part of the country has suffered more greatly from these causes than NC have. The destruction, by the operation of unwise taxing laws, of the commercial value of their staple products, ad- ded to the hardships of an unfriendly climate the effects of which on the basis of their re- dueed income they were unable to properly protect themselves against, has induced many of the thrifty citizens of this section to seek homes In our state within the past few months. Those who have come among us, and the thou sands who ought to follow, should have the as- surance that it IS purpose to furnish to them in common with, and as a part of our selves, an enlightened and efficient govern ment and at minimum cost to the property and people of the state.
 NEW CONSTITUTION
 In my humble judgment the most advanced step that could be made in the direction of i'm proving our condition, on lines where laws can be effective in this behalf, is to call conven- ton to revise constitution. Whilst ac- knowledging the great debt of gratitude winch civilization owes to the master minds who framed our existing constitution and accord. Ing to them all the praise that could be due to those who had correctly apprehended the dangers of an occasion and successfully pro- Yided against them, yet venture to suggest that the conditions with which they dealt were of such unusual occurrence that society uhhCl pthCBtuL ana normal conditions must presently grow away from them. and has now so far grown away from them as to make it evident to all intelligent observers hat we are fettered with restrictions which are not com pensated by knowledge that through these inconvenience we escape dangers fraught with the most disastrous consequences The business of government is an intensely prae- tiosl affair, and there is but limited scope in It's operations for the display of merely senti- mental attachments There is no more reason why new and improved methods should not be introduced in 8 constitution than why sush improvements should not be incorporated in our statutory system. The people are no mere affected by law enacted in one form than In another. Whilst I maintain that it would be greatly to the interest Of the state to revise the constitution, I must not be under stood insisting that it is bad in all it's parts Such is not the case.
 On he contrary I assert it as my deliberate judgment that any constitution which does not contain many ot the provisions of the present will never meet the approval of the people Of the state. With all the good in the present constitution preserved, and there is no disposition 80 far as l am advised to dispense with anything of this character, there remain many particulars in which constitution must be changed if we would increase the strength and efficiency and reduce and cqualize s the burdens of maintaining the government Without attempting to set forth in detail all Of the changes which I would introduc1 in a re- visision of the constitution, I will extend the limits of this address only to enumerate few of those which appear to me 10 be among the most tmrcrtant.
 At tht time the present constitution was framed we stood iE the darkness and doubt Of The reconstruction period, and consulting the demands of personal liberty desperately as sailed. we moulded it's provision as if the gov ernment might at any time be taken from the bona iide citizens of the stule and turned Lack
 
 ing either in capacity or inclination to aiminis. ter 1t for the best interest of the whole people To provide against such I direful contingency provision was made to pOpularize every func- ton and prerogative of the government and to accomp. ish this it was required that frequent resorts to the people should be made to fill all , regular terms of office and to fill vacancies. TO escape another vicious effect of reconstruction measures, it became necessary to still further subject the people to harrassment and expense by holding separate elections for the election ef members of congress- At time of public peril the people will carry out the spirit of prudence which prompted the h,Iling of so many elections, but when normal state of affairs k assumed these frequent invitations to visit the ba lot box become trksCme, because thought to be unnecessary
 favor the election ot state and county officers for terms of four years instead ot two as at the present time. rhe people have in g practical way condemned our two year term of office by establishing custom, rarely departed from. ot re-e,ectiug, Of course for second term all our officers. As part of thu Hvoposi- tion to provide four year terms for such orl,srs would limit tae right to hold any giv D office to B single term.
 Being relieved ot the necessity of undergoing the expense incident to reelection, C in. cum bent would find the net revenue of of1ce- holding much increased and by removing from him the motive for | longer continuance in the public service consecutively. hls independence would be greatly promoted and I feel sure would manifest itself in more satisfactory discharge of his official duties, 1 know this would result in the cases of prosecuting attor news and sherifTs. In connection with this change in the length Of official terms, the ses- sions of the general assembly for legislative purposes ought to be held every four years, with short session intervening, Of not greater than thirty days duration unless under excep tional eireums stances, for the purpose of mak- ing al proprations and Investigating the ac counts ant affairs of state officers We could then provide ourselves with a com pact and harmonious code of laws spe sialiy adapted to wants and sit uation prepared for legislative sdop- a&.. A.. .,a~s,,,e -Iy;iIal i, fba i{pa ,f auch