The Van Buren press., 1899-01-14
To the General Assembly:

Inc CONSTITUTION requires tne gov
efnor 10 give TO the general assembly
from time to time, and at the close of
his official term. to the next general
assembly, information by message
concerning the condition and govern
ment of the state and recommend for
their consideration such measures as
he may deem expedient"
In compliance with that require
ment | submit for your consideration
the following:
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
Since the adjournment of the last
general assembly the war between the
United States and Spain was declared.
The president of the United States
called upon me to furnish two regl-
ments of infantry for service In this
war. AT the time of this call there
was no money in the state treasury
appropriated for military purposes,
and in order to meet the exigency |
called upon the different banks of the
state. through the bankers Assoeia-
ft1B. lOi n itdH VI NhhfsiRbN AfN'%y -
mobilize these two regiments. assnf-
ing them that If the United States
government should fail or refuse to re.
fund the same | would ask the genef
nj assembly to do So The banks very
promptly responded to my request
and furnished me with $4,000. In adj
dition to this Hon. Jacob Triebef.
United Suites district attorney, yolun-
farfly rendered to me $500 and Hon.
Nathan Adler. of Batesville. $50.
which amounts | accepted, giving the
same promise as to the banks. There
were other expenses necessarily IN
CURED after this amount was ex.
hausted which brought the total
amount to about $4,000 An Item
lied account of these expenditures,
with the proper vouchers. has been
fled with the war department; but no
part of the same has ever been paid.
In order to expedite this settlement
with the United States. In December
| sent my private secretary. Mr. Ar.
thur Neill to Washington, d. O., and
he remained there for some days ufg.
Ing settlement. bnt owing to the vol.
ume of business In the war department
II was impossible TO get this account
audited. but Mr.. Nell. was encouraged
to believe that the settlement would
he made by February |. II, however.
this settlement is not completed With
in n reasonable time before the prob
able adjournment of your body, | VIII
communicate the fact to you and ASK
that an appropriation be made by you
for the payment of all of these mon
evs advanced by the banks and indi-
yiduals. above mentioned The honor
and fair name of the state demand
that these moneys shall be refunded
before your adjournment
In this connection | am much
pleased to say that our young men
RESPONDED with great alaerity to the
call of the government. so that | was
enabled to furnish the full quota from
Arkansas among the first of all the
states Of the Union. and that the otil-
GERS and all of the men of both regl-
ments have conducted themselves
with great propriety and reflected
great credit upon the state While
none of our troops have been before
the enemy. they have suffered hard
ships aud disease in camp, where in
adequate provision was made Tor their
health and proper care of the sick,
with much less complaining than
might reasonably have been expected.
The First regiment was discharged
from service by the government on
October -. after nearly six months
service. The lecond regiment Is still
I'm service. and. as ! am well Informed,
Is giving great satisfaction TO the mill
tary authorities.
The legislature. not having made
any appropriation for the maintenance
of the state guard for yenrs, 1t Is
necessarily n poorly organized, poorly
equipped aud Ineffective organization,
and / was greatly crippled by this fact
in my effort to promptly respond to the
presidents call In fact. but for the
timely response of the bankers and in.
dlyiduals. above mentioned, the state
would have been In the humiliating at
titude of being unable to furnish the
troops called for. This emergency
convinced me of the wisdom Of an ap.
preparation for militia purposes, md
recommend an appropriation of $40,
90. for such purposes. II no neces-
SHY NHuuiN UilNf ioi lRN hFt ~ NNuA'i
remain in the treasury.
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
BY amendment No. to the constitu-
tion, which was adopted by the people
at the last general election. section 10,
of article II, is amended to read as fol
lows:
"The general assembly shall pass
laws to correct abuses and prevent un-
Just discrimination and excessive
charges by railroads. canals, and turn
pike companies for transporting
freight and passengers, and shall pro
vide for enforcing such laws by ade-
auate penalties and forfetures, and
shall provide for the creation Of such
. offices and commissions aud vest In
them such authority as shall be neces
sary 10 carry into effect the powers
hereby conferred"
BY this amendment il will he seer
that the duty of providing for what /.
commonly called a railroad commission
is imperatively cast upon you. l dc
rot doubt your perfect willingness and
desire to perform this duty. but ! wisi
TO impress upon you the ihlpoltduV'
Of 50 discharging IL that the act which
you may pass shall give full power
and authority TO accomplish the pur
pose intended by the amendment
There can be no desire upon the par
Of any good citizen to deal unjustl'
with the railroads or with any othei
species Of property in the state. but j
is certainly desirable that the laws
passed TO control. regulate and govern
them shall be fully efficient for IN,
purpose Intended. The people of tbs
sfafe hnre hnrne with more nntlencI