The Forrest City times., 1897-01-22
GOV. JONES' MESSAGE.
Inaugural Address of Arkansas In-
 coming Governor.
He Deals Frankly and Concisely With Questions Of Interest to tho Common wealth Now Being Discussed in
 All Sections of the State.

me following are the more impor- tant subjects touched upon by Gov. Jones in his inaugural message to the thirty-hrst general assembly;
 l doubt whether, in the whole life tune of our state government. the rep resentatiyes of the people ever assem- Died together under conditions which render necessary the exercise of more wisdom To devise measures of relief for the people than those now confront ing you. It would serve no useful purpose to dwell upon the causes which have brought about such condi- tons. It is only necessary to know that they exist, and to adopt such measures within our power as will minimize their evil effects and make them more tolerable for the people to bear while they must be borne. We nave much cause for congratulating ourselves upon the fact that our state IS Tn no manner responsible for these conditions. By an overwhelming ma Jority at the ballOt-box we have attest ed our faith in the financial system adopted at the formation of our na- uonal government, the departure from which has, in my judgment, been the fruitful source of the principal evils from which we are now suffering. But majority of the American people ap- pears tby the election returns) to have differed with us, and as d matter of course, we must abide by the result as good citizens until we can again sub init the question to another trial, with the hope that more righteous and just judgment will then be awarded to us.
 It is useless and vain thing to wor- ry over matters which are beyond our control It is far better to
 Take Care of the Present
 and prepare as we'll as we can for the future. Our duty lies within our state, to advance it's material interests, pro- tect it's honor, remove causes for re- proach upon its good name, and enact such measures of legislation as will tend to develop it's resources and bring substantial prosperity and happiness to its people. Laws should operate equally and uniformly upon all classes of citizens and property alike. Where It is manifest that inequalities exist, either through existing laws, or through inadequate laws, or through the absence of necessary laws, there should be no delay in correcting the evils by the exercise of wise and judi cious Legislation for that purpose. Where it appears that the natural re- sources of the state are undeyeloped for want of sufficient system of leg islation authorizing the employment of agencies at hand. we should at once adopt sufficient system. Where the credit of the state is impaired, or it's honesty questioned, because no provis- ion is made for meeting it's just obli- gations to its citizens or others, the cause for such reproach should be re- moved as quickly as possible. Where any Of the provisions of
 Any Existing Law
 are such that fraud or injustice may be practiced. or may reasonably give grounds for accusation that they are practiced, all such grounds for accusa- ton should be removed by proper amendment of the law. And where corporations are exercising the privi- lege conferred upon them by the state in such manner as to injure or op- press the people. or any part of the people. an adequate law to prevent this. effectually and perpetually should be enacted.
 In fact, gentlemen. the people look to you for all the relief possible under existing circumstances. You are their representatives in their sovereign ca pacity. Except as limited by the con stitution all power is inherent in you, and in your hands for the time being the fortunes of the people are placed They have confidence that you will faithfully discharge the trust they have reposed in you, and in that confi- dence l have a full share. They have cast upon mo, as their governor. the duty Of recommending to you such leg islation as in my judgment win best promote their interests. 1 shall per form that duty, honestly and conscien- tiously. and leave to your better Judg ment the question whether my recom- mendations, in whole or in part, shall be adopted or rejected by you, firmly believing that your action in the mat ter will be guided by your consclences and hy a wisdom superior to my own.
 The Election Law.
 I recommend some amendments to our election law. In the first place, think it exceedingly unfortunate that our constitution requires the ballots of electors to be numbered. It destroys the secrecy of the ballot, for. although the same section (section 3, article 5, constitution,l provides that .'the eiec- ton officers shall be sworn or af- firmed not to disclose how any elector es.lr sI. so as witnesses in a judicial proceed ing, or proceeding to contest an elec- tion," and although the statute pro vides a severe penalty for a violation of this prohibition, still we know as matter of fact that it is constantly vio- lated with impunity, and that it is no difficult matter to ascertain how any elector has voted This should not be. There is considerable portion of our citizens whose employment places them in such a condition of dependence