Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-01-20


 two judges of election, of opposite politics, should assist in preparing ballots of the illiterate voter. in stead Of single judge-as now re- quired He cites another defect in the election law in the absence of al provision forbidding candidates for office or their friends to purchase vots by paying the poll tax of voters.
 The Governor $ heartily in favor of a State railway commission and recommends it's temporary creation until constitutional amendment for a permanent commission can be submitted to the eople In this connection he further suggests that the railroad companies in the State be taxed to meet the expenses and salaries of the commission, and he declares this arrangement to be em- inently just and in accordance with the decisions of the higher courts.
 The Governor urges the passage of an insolventlaw to give the debtor an opportunity to make terms with his creditors, in case it is found to their mutual interest to make a compromise. He follows this sug- gestion with the recommendation that a constitutional amendment be submitted to the people providing that no contract for a greater rate of interest than 6 per cent shall be enforced by the courts. He com tends that as Arkansas is an agri- cultural State per cent is as high a rate as the farmers can pay h connection with his highly safe and practical views on money, he rec ommends legislation to prevent the making of contracts for the payment of money specifically in gold and for the inspection, supervision and reg ulation of all banks and other places of public deposit over which State laws can extend.
 In speaking of the public debt of the State he suggests that Q sinking fund be provided to pay refunded bonds. and concurs with his prede- eessor as to disposition of the debt due the United States. With re- spect to interest on school fund due by the State he urges suitable legis- lation for payment of same. His suggestion concerning q reform school for boys is timely and hu- mane and will doubtless receive due consideration by the General Assem- bly,.
 Perhaps the topic of greatest tn- terest to the public and discussed by the Governor is the building of State railroads. His views in this connection are forceful and he poiu ts out a feasible plan. He suggests two trunk lines, one running north and south, and the other east and west, to be afterwards supplemented by branch lines tapping the interior. "This can be done, says he, Cat small expense, without fixing any future peeuniary liability upon the State. and without the necessity for creating additional public offices. In carrying out his scheme he rec ommends the appointment of a board composed of such executive State officers as may be deemed advisable, making them for that purpose a body polite, capable of suing and of being sued, and to provide for the initial financial wants of the board he recommends the loaning of $102, 1000 belonging to the swamp land and internal impro cement funds to be afterwards repaid out of the earnings of the railroads when built, and also advocates the use of at least 300 convicts for the purpose of construction, and the empowering the board to borrow money for the purchase of rails, rolling stock and other equipment. In conclusion, the Governor makes an appeal forindus- trial progress. Let us lift our State, he says, ''out ot the ruts in in which she has heretofore journeyed, and place her upon the highway of progress and prosperity where she of right belongs, and our children's children will rise up to call Us blessed.
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