Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-01-19

when the candidates and questions are so m, merous as to preclude the possibility of oivina the matter of changing the constitution the at
 tentton it deserves, and as result roanv thousands of the voters express no opinioD upon the question, by oversight or from in- sufficient information as to it's nature
 For some years past the desirabllitv of ra vising the constitution has been mora or less discussed, and many q, our citizens refraned from entering mn
 on the task from motives founded on fears of q political character merely One class of our fellow citizens believed that if such 9 convention were held it would result in consolidating the state and national elections
 Changes have taken place in the policies nf tba national government which not only obviate this as an objection, but make the selection of the same day for holding our state and national elections desirable. and I trust it will be dous at the present session. I do this with the dis. tinet reservation that should the laws of the general government be so changed as to indi
 caJe a purpose to interfere with our state affairs under the pretext of supervising tho congressional elections. that We shall lose nc time in rdding ourselves of this means of on. pression by providing separate day for our state election. Another class of our fellow cit. zens expressed the belief that the .calling of a constitutional convention would result in placing limitations upon the right of suffrage
 think these have how become convinced that Ill ut5lFduiG blA4s bSlldi dEG HOW LA9 law of the state, and that any change would bs in the direction of relaxing rather than adding further restrictive provisions. So that these two controlling reasons which oper- ated to defeat the proposition to call conYeR- ton when submitted in 1887 have in the pro. cess of time become obselele and will not now be urged. The most effective reason which now remains IS that many of the fra- mers of our present constitution are still
 alive and are hOnored citizens, and officers fa many instances These have the veneration for the instrument prepared by them that is l usual with persons who are sharers of great
 work, and 1T is hard to bring them to the belief that any improvement can be made, and that the time will ever come when conditions will | be presented for which their work will not
 afford every remedy that is desirable. But
 with entire difference for those learned gentle l men, venture to suggest some compensatory l Improvements may be made. and after having
 made the effort the people, having the
 power to choose, will doubtless refuse to
 mako the exchange unless convinced that oet-
 ter results will follow.
 The cost of holding the cnnyentionfs the real | obstacle
 But upon investigation in practical way l this objection will loose much of its force.
 Under nearly every plan suggested for the l membership of the convention one hundred delegates seem to be the proper number. l This will be one member from each county, 1 two from each congressional district and
 thirteen from the state at large. It is thought that convention thus made up will be sufi- l eiently large 10 be representative of every interest and section of the state, and not toe l large to render effective and intelligent ser l vice 4 fixed compensation of S300 each. l which is ample when paid Tn money, as t will l be, to pay all expenses incident to attendance l upon the convention for any period that it's i labors are likely to continue. This is vastly 1i more than members of tho convention that framed the constitution 0E 1871 received The i service Is, in measure og # patriotic charae- ] ter, and will enlist in the membership our best and ablest men, and the mere place hunter viii ] avoid it's councils because of the limited
 income attached to 1t. Tbt5 matter will be no l loss to the state, since any person who would 1 be induced to seek an election to such body solely for the pay connected with 1t would not .F be likely to add strength to it's deliberations 1 when he took hls seat FfYr clerks, at about the same pay as that provided for the mem bers, would complete the expense of holding the convention, except q small fund 10 provide for contingent expenses The whole cost I need not exceed $35,0O0 if the work is under taken with view to the good Of the state. The best men in tho state have always. on former occasions of this character, given their 4 time to the service. and can see nothing in the present situation of affairs which will warrant the prediction that 8. convention held
 at this time will differ in this respect from ita I predecessors.
 After taking steps to reqise tho organic law,
 one other question of paramount importance I remains for your attention.
 I The time has arrived when the state can no I longer honorably refuse to make, prov sion for I the payment of the current interest on the disputed part of the state debt Nfth & satis- factory settlement effected with the general government. our debt in excess of that owned 1 by the state herself for the benefit of the ! school fund, Is about bl,CU0,O00 This fs too small au amount fora state of the pride and 1 resources of Arkansas 10 permit tO pass un- l honored at pay day. The debt can be refunded 1 without difficulty at an interest rate by which
 we can pay the current interest promptly 1 without any additional tax levy. It ought to 1 be done. The matters of difference between this state and the general government are | now undergoing investigation ;lt Washington
 There seems to be manifest purpose to do 1 justice to us, and I entertain the hope that upon full investigation it will be found that the United States owe us IS much as we ara now indebted to them. But at this time if can not be definitely ascertained inst whore the | balance will Me. Any fair and just settle ment, which takes into eonsifetAtion all | claims upon which we are eqtlitnbly entitled to insist, will be accepted by the state as sat- isfactory and final settlement of these ancient differences. and we will set about it in good faith to comply with any duty that may be i'm l posed upon ns in connection with the adjust ment.
 am sure that address a body honestly dis posed to limit public expenditures to strictly public purposes, and will only add the sur- gestion that in this work will lend any assfs- tance that may be in my power. IL may bs that the reductions can bo made without im- pairing the efficiency of the public service. and without dishonoring any inst obligation of the state. Of this you are made the judges The material interests of the state are in a badly demoralized condition, and the people not onlv i expect but demand, that the strictost economy shall mark all expenditure of public funds IL would be q proper and much appreciated recognition of the stlfngency of tho fiInes ana the consequent great sacrifice that the l people arc called upon to make when siipply- ing money to carry on the government, if the i session could be brought to close within the constitutional limit of sixty days This sug- gestion Is ventured with full knowledg that 1 1t relates to matter entirely subject to your control, and with which would not be nn. derstood as desiring to interfere further than 10 express the hope that you will find the public business in such a condition as to wars rant you in pursuing this course
 'ei5 respectfully, JAMES P. CLARK.