Woodruff County news., 1903-01-22
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
ShoFt Synopsis of Chief Executive iS Bee mendations to GeneIaI
 Assembly.

Governor Davis message to the gem eral assembly was probably the most lengthy document of the kind ever prepared by chief executive of this state. He dwells at length on the va rious subjects discussed in political ranks.
 In the beginning he ask that too much time be not taken up with local measures. As to the management of the state .penitentiary Governor Davis recommends that the chief executive be empowered to not only appoint the superintendent, but to be given author fly to dismiss him for cause. Under the present system" says the governor, the chief executive of your state is burdened with the entire responsibil- ity of the management of this institu- tion, yet he is clothed with no author ity to remove any evil that may arise; and l say to you that where the re- ssponsibility rests: the law should be so framed as to afford a remedy" The lease system is condemned, and abro- gation of the Arkansas Brick x Manu- ttaedHring tasdts g Company IT. and Reeves con con that there shall be appropriated di- rectly out of the state treasury a sum suIncient to defray the running ex- that each and every dollar earned by the penitentiary he turned into the eral revenue fund, and that the mo2ey thus appropriated be paid out only on auditors warrants, just as any other appropriation is expended. Then you
 
 keeping and the state treasurer can then run treaSurer's office instead of pri- Tate banking institution Abolish the office of financial agent, let this board of seven members do the buying and let the clerk of the board see that the goods are delivered to the penitentiary accord ing to sample and as submitted to the board; and if you will do this. untold thousands will be saved to the state in the management of this institution. As it is, the penitentiary has become private snap. where men grow rich. and no accounting can be had of their transactions.
 Governor Davis discusses at length the differences that have arisen between himself and the board and Superin- tendent Hogins as to the penitentary affairs, contending that the states best interests cannot be subserved under the present system.
 AS to the purchase of convict farm, the chief executive takes issue with the other members of the board who voted to purchase the. Cummings place in 900; declares the place inaccessible, un- healthy, subject to overflow, and that it is not worth oyer one-third the agreed price. The legislature is urged to visit this farm and to finally dis approve of the purchase by the state.
 An appropriation for the purpose of Little Rock is recommended in prefer ence to building at some other point
 Liberal appropriations for the deaf mute and blind schools are urged.
 The message contains an itemized statement of the funds contributed and d1sbursed among the drouth sufferers In the counties of Stone, Izard Fulton Randolph, Baxter and Sharp. The to- tai sum loaned the state and expended under direction of the officers of the above counties was $7,536.43, and an appropriation to return this sum to the donors is requested.
 As to trust legislation, the governors recommendations are in link with his Well-known and repeatedly expressed views on this question.
 . He strongly favors fellow servant law, which will give the same protec- ton to employees of railroads as the law affords passengers who might be in- jured through negligence.
 He renews the urgent appeal made in fGrrAer message for the establish. ment of a reform school for juvenile offenders. and recommends that 1t be located on the site of the present pen itentiary.
 An additional appropriation is fa- yored for the Arkansas exhibit at St -4atc be<-sesss ccz, o;, ir1s; ;.,ectJI is recommended.
 On the state house matter. Governor Davis favors abandoning the idea of erecting building according to the plans of Architect Mann and former board and urges that a new building be erected the site of the old state house; or that ths present building bs geu1odeled.