The Van Buren press., 1903-08-15
Extra Session Imperative

taugle into which the action of the
governor by his omnibus veto has
thrown the affairs Of the Deaf.
Mute Institute and the Branch
Normal Of Pine Bluff. And the
governor has stated ON several
occasions that he will not call the
Legislature back. He has said
further that an Arkansas banker
has promised to lend him the
necessary $4,000 to maintain the
school. The fact that he insisted
upon Auditor y. c. Monroe issuing
and Treasurer II. G. Upton paying
the warrants and accepting the
mdemuifylug bond already made.
seems 70 show a weakness in that
position. Now that those officers
ARE absolutely immovable, the
public is anXiously awaiting
developments.
$50 far as we are concerned, the
whole thing is finally settled" said
Deputy State Auditor CoIQuitt,
who has represented the auditor
in this matter, speaking for himself
aud the treasurer. "We shall
positively not take another step
until the supreme court has passed
upon that law and declared it valid.
That is our ultimatum. 1t is a
regretable condition, but we have
not brought it about, and we must
act as we think the law directs.
We are responsible for our acts,
and are supposed to know what
the law is under which we disburse
the peoples money.
"There was only one chance of
the Deaf. Mute bill being law, and
that was the fact that it was IN the
governors Office on May II and
II, eight days before the expiration
Of the twenty-day limit laid down
by tho supreme court IN the Con.
federate roster case, The governor
said that that did not constitute a
presentation. how ever, so that one
hope is gone Off being declared
a law. The engrossed copy Of the
bill shows by the endorsement of
Senator Byron Price, chairman of
the committee ON enrolled bills,
that it was delivered to the Cover.
nor May %. 1t is endorsed, ZAP.
proved by the governor at 1910
a. m, May 23' The enrolled blll
shows that it was approved by the
governor at 1910 a. m. May %, but
there is nothing to show when it
was delivered to him or how it
came into his possession. The en-.
rolled bill has never been signed
by either of the presiding officers
Of the senate or house. This being
the case, the attGney.general ad.
yised this Office that the decision
Of the supreme court required the
signature of the two presiding
officers to the bill. He also advised
us on June 3 to issue 40 warrant
on the treasury on this fund until
compelled to do so byporcmpiory
maudamus. SO it certainly looks
very dubious. "As for the Branch
Normal at Pine Bluff, that ap.
preparation bill ia certainly dead
beyond recall. There il no ey.
idcnce that the bill was ever in the
governors Office or possession be.
fore it was delivered by the com.
Imitlee ON the morning Of May %,
This means that the school has no
funds with which to conduct it's
seSsi ous for the next two years,
except three.elcventhS Of the S2j.
600 MOrreIl fund received annually
from the government IT has been
requiring an appropriation Of
about $4,000 year in addition to
this amount to run the school, so
II appears that if il * run ut all,
all expenses must be cut down to
a minimum
SO the anomalous condition
comes about that there are two Of
the states educational institutions,
one of them for the instruction Of
the deaf, who are deprived Of IN.
slructiOn in the ordinary schools,
closed down fOrtwo years because
there il no power 10 force the
executive to call an extra session
of the legislature TO cure the
defect And this with the treasury
oycrllowIug with gold, one aud
thrcc.Quarter millions, or more
than half II million for the disbursc.
ment Of which there is no law on
the statutes Of the state, Every
county IN the state will feel Il deep
interest in this, as the little deaf
children come from all parts of
Arkansas, Deputy Secretary Of
State Ludwig, who hasa little deaf
daughter says be will be one Of
1000 men who will pat mp 500
each, either lend or give II to the
state, for the purpose of contuu
ing the school 1t isa most un.
usual proceeding, however, that
the people of the state should be
forced to come to the rcScnc of the
state IN this manner, when It's
treasury was never before NO
plcthorIc, But 'tIs II fearful and
wonderful administration upon