The Monticellonian., 1907-01-17
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
of HON. JTHN S. LITTLE, AN ABLE AND INTERESTING DOCUMENT FAXES OATH OF OFFICE
 AS GOVERNOR OF
 ARKANSAS.
POLICY OF NEW ADMINISTRATION ON NEEDED LEGISLATION AND APPRoPRI,
 ATIoNs OUTLINED.

MT. President. Mir Speaker, Senators aud Representatives I would not be worthy of the high office the duties of which l am about to assume, if I were not deeply affected by tlre con fdenee the people have reposed in tpe. just conception of the extent and Import anee of its dti9tes, with the fsitbshl dis charye of which the people are closely connec1ed. warns me of my own weakness and lends me tso crave in advance the faith fu assistance of you gentlemen. who have been called tu egislate for the present and future Interests of our State and to indulge the hope thdt nothing may occur to mar the harnf5ay of your proceedings, or to brsag dishdnor upon your respective bodies or your Siate. l desire now to pledge you thst you shall have my earnest co operation in every efoEt to maintain the honor 'oi the high station DO which you have been called by citizenship entitled te the nest loyal and faEthful service IL is nc reflection upon tbe good name of yonr membership 10 call your attention 10 the importgnee of this matter By the very natutS of your organization and dutfes the reputation of the whole body w4l be more or less affected by the dishohest or disreputabe conduct 6f any of it's members [nence il Is essential that each member should te if not only that Gtsh0nor shall not attach to him but that the good name of his fellows should be maintained and if any by their wanton condact prove unworthy to st with honorable Senators and Representatives. they ought te he dealt with ty their respective houses
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
 Many questions of interest Is the State .sefnand your attention. but none iF more important than educational interests. At our recent election. the people of the State showed commeudak Ie zeal for popular education by the adoption by an overwhelming majority of an amendment to dur constitution authorlzi1. gn increase in the fax levy for educational purposes. thns laying q broader foundation for the support of auf schools and 1he education of the children of our State
 STATE UNIFORMITY or TEXT BOOKS.
 One of the needed reforms of our school system is State uniformity Of books. This will not only prove | great financial saving To our people. but Nlil put q stop to the often needless and expensive chang ing of haoks and preHeut eonscaaSle~- speculation upen the people book Puf- chased for use in one sehool district ought te be eeod iii any other tlistrict in the -Statf. Provision sbgal1 also be made for supplying books free nj cost ta the dependent po6f. who are unable to buy them. that the doors 6 0i5r schools nay not be closed agains1 atE of cur child Yeu
 HIGH SCHOOLS
 There ls growing and pressing need fer high schools for the scHool population outside nf our cities and towns. that already accommodated steps should be taken looking To the establishment of these schools Ne may=not te =able now to provide for complete sTs1en.. but start should be made and coptiuued uutiI the children of our rural population can he given the benefits Of high school training. The strenst hening of schuoi districts by consolidation. and the authorizing of ths sf afniu iii connection with districts thus strengthened and enlarged under proper limitations and regulations. would go a long ssay toward solving The problem without overburdening iihe educational revenues. Agriculture and horticulture should be paTE of tlse course .cf sstudJ, jn these schools.
 TEXTILE SCHOOL.
 The time is now here when we should prepare for the manufacture of ou4 cotton pretiIets . l earnestly recomnrand the -estfibliShment of a textile school. arn thai provision be made not only for the gieehni- na training but Its practical application. It should be in effect a modern factory, where the practical and actual work can he done mad shoulc embrace the manufac- tuFe Qf saH textile fabrics. composed in whole in part. of cotton from the raw material to the highest finished product.
 THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
 Ii is a matter of congratulsrion riat ttlfs institution Is taxing ltS place <H II e greatest educational institutions of the South And the valuable work il 1s doing for the people of the State, can not be overes1&mHted IL is enjoying the largest attendance In its history The harvest is ripe and we ought by all means inspire our sons aud daughters to strive for Higher education would not disparsge the great work being done by the colleges and Sead emies in EGt State under the supervision of our ehGn:hes and private individuals. There is room and the demand is increasing, and crave the richest blessings upon their efforts and good work The University is oBf only State institution q: its class, and if ought to receive the lib- .eral support of 11e State. Not only its present but It's immediate future netds should be anticipated.
 RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
 .rhe subject of Transportation charges by railroads both of freight and pas senser rates and their regulation will b. hefon. you for consideration. The rail road companies. when they fail to do so should be required to charge no more or higher rate than is fair eNd reasonable. and equal facilities should be afforded to all shippers without favoritism or dis eri1ninat1on If the powers ef the rail road oeg!mission need enlargng and strengthening to enable them to compel the observance of these just and far regula- tions. you ought to confer it upon them by proper lea1Sls non.
 EMPLOYERS LIABILITY
 The State government owes 10 her labor ing people. employed in dangerous tions. to pass all proper and needful laws to secure them the best possible protection against loss of health and life to So cure to them or their families, in cases of death. the right to recover damages and proper compensation for all injuries re ees1ed. while in the discharge of their duties. such injuries not the result of their own negligence. but received the re sult of the negligence of their employers or fellow servants -
 THE NEW CAPITOL BUILDING. The State has already expended large sums of money in the construction of a new State Capitol building, which is now far adspneed toward completion There has beeh much contention throughout the State as to the advisability of the State embarking upon this great undertaking. but in my opinion the State has now reached point in its expenditures for this pf,e that it Is longer a question .her we believe the policy q wise che or not when adopted It now bee mes your duty and mine to take such action as wifi secure the completion of the building in accord with the contract, and secure tc the State the best results possible for the uopies aiready expended as well as that