Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-03-10
THE ARKANSAS
SETTLEMENT.

SETTLEMENT
 With a great deal of labor and no less patience, we have waded through Gov Jones voluminous veto message to the Legislature, which purports to be the reasons for his disapproval of the concurrent reso- lution passed by the Senate and House ratifying the settlement of the differences between the Federal Government and the State of Ark ansas made by Government Com missioners and James P Clarke, late Governor of this State. What Gov. Jones veto message lacks in strength and forcible reasoning it makes up in verbosity and vol uminousness. 1t is longer that the Presidents message, if it lacks the latter's originality. MeKinley's in- auguaal address takes up three col umns in the Gazetfe; while Jones maiden veto message consumes ten of the valuable (2) columns of that newspaper. Out of these ten col umns, seven are devoted to the re- port of the Federal Commissioners and the speeches of Senators Jones and Berry delivered when the set clement occupied the attention of Congress, while the other three are consumed by Gov. Jones in setting forth his supposed reasons for his disapproval of the settlement.
 Gov. Jones makes the matter as clear as mud, and we admi t, after reading his lengthy message of words, words, words, J that we do not know as much about the subJect now as we did before.
 From his maiden effort in writing veto messages we do not suspect that future chronielers of the his tory of this State will write Gov. Jones down as an author noted for his terseness and clearness of ex- pression, or distinguished for his brevity.
 The major part of the message is devoted to what Senator Berry, who recommended the acceptance of the settlement, had to say about it and the Iron Mountain railway when the matter was up in the Sem ate. Such an opportunity of point ing out an apparent inconsistency in the record of Arkansas junior Senator, the Governor could not let pass.
 The milk in the eoeoanut is that Jones wants Berry's place, and therefore the filings" of the former at the latter in his message. Hay ing been elected Governor of Ark ansas by reasonable party senti- ment, and at time when the peo- pie were carried away with emo tionalism, this ex-eorporation law yer now seeks to ride into the Sen ate Chamber by pandering to the unreasonable prejudices that exist against the Iron Mountain railway and pulling Senator Berry down in an endeavor to show that he is un- der the influence of the aforesaid railroad corporation. But it won t work The people have more res pect for and confidence in the intel- ligence and judgment of Senator Berry than they have in Gov Jones, therefore his filings at the Sen ator will fall impotent and harmless at his feet.
 The State Senate manifested it's feelings in the premises by prompt ly repassing the resolution over the Governors veto, and even the dilia- tory and tillibustering parliamentary tactics of the Governors Senatorial following was hardly sufficient to prevent a disrespectful haste in the passage thereof.
 Now the matter goes to the House, where it comes up for con sideration Tuesday, and let us hope for the honor and credit of the State that it will pass that body with the necessary majority as earley as it did in the Senate.