The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-01-26
HIS FAREWELL MESSAGE
SYNOPSIS of Recommendations to the
General Assembly by the
Retiring Governor.
RAILROAD COMMISSION NOT MENTIONED.
Il IL Urged Work on New state Cap'to'
Be Continued and Means Suggested OF
Raising Funds Therefor-Plea for Lib
rral Pensions for Needy Confederate
V.t.ruua

Veterans,
in his farewell message to the
general assembly Gov. Jones reviews
at length the affairs of state.
Attention is called to the fact that
through legislation the public debt or
the state has at last assumed definite
proportions, the auditors and treasur-
er's reports showing that the whole
Indebtedness Of the state is $1,271.'
900 of per cent funded bonds, due
III 1929, and $4,000 being principal
and interest of twenty-five 6 per cent
bonds of 1869 and 1870, which appear
from the records to exist and to be
outstanding, but which we're not pre-
sented and exchanged under act OF
May 1899. These $4,000 were due
January /, 1900, and may really not
be in existence.
It is recommended that the act pro
viding for a new state house be
amended so as to provide that the
building shall be constructed OF
marble, granite, brick and iron. To
provide means to complete the struct-
ure, it is recommended that the pro-
ceeds arising from the sale of lands
and fees paid to the commissioner OF
state lands, as provided in the act OF
April II, 1899, be still applied to
this purpose until the completion of
the building, and that a tax of three
fourths of one mill be levied and col
lected from year to year until COM
pletion of the structure. 1t is also
recommended that the surplus Of the
general sinking fund.-" levied under
act approved May 8, 1899, entitled,
IAN act to fund the debt Of Arkan'
sas and for other purposes" be ap.
propriated for this purpose Opposi.
ton is express to the proposed plan
of amending the state capitol act so
as to make the board Of commission
ers to consist Of the executive officers
of the state, on the ground that they
are already burdened with many
cares. 1t is urged that work should
be carried on and completed under
the sole management and control OF
the board of commissioners, aided by
the architect, and not let out by public
contract
As 10 the suit instituted in behalf
Of the state during the coal strike in
Sebastian circuit court, seeking to en-
Join certain coal companies from i'm.
porting into the state miners alleged
of bad character, which said cause
was removed to federal court by de.
PENDANTS, It Is recommended that an
appropriation Of 5000 be made to de.
fray the expense Of prosecuting the
same to final hearing.
An appropriation Of $40, or such
sum as the members may think nee.
essary to defray the cost Of placing
suitable inscription, including the
coat of arms Of the state, on monu.
ment erected at Temple, New Hamp.
shire, to the memory Of Gen. James
Miller, hero Of Lundy's Lane and first
governor OF the state OF Arkansas, Is
recommended
II is suggested that an act be pass.
ed requiring all gins and mills buy.
ing ard using seed cotton to be reg.
istered with the county clerk and to
keep records Of each bale ginned and
Its weight, and to report, under
oath, to the county clerk on Septem'
Der /, each year. the exact quantity
ginned in order that an accurate es
innate Of the crop can be made.
The recommendations contained
In former message as to county
convict farms are renewed, also the
need Of a reform school for juvenile
offenders.
As to the grand jury system It Is
recommended that an amendment to
the constitution be submitted abolish,
Ing the system and providing that all
crimes be prosecuted upon lnforma'
ton fled by the prosecuting attorney,
An urgent plea is made for liberal
pensions for ex.Confederate veterans,
II Is recommended that sufficient
appropriation be made for necessary
additions to the insane asylum, also
to establish textile school. the
maintenance OF course OF mining
engineering In connection with the
department Of geology and for erect.
Ing an engineering building ut the
utaU university.