The Green Forest tribune., 1907-01-18
TAXATION AND EXPENDITURES.

The citizens and property holders of the State should not be required to bear any burdens not necessary for the support of the Government. honestly and economically administered. and this burden should be made to bear on all alike. according to their wealth. The great difficulty is to se- cure fair and uniform valuation of the property of the citizen and corporation. It Is an injustice to the honest taxpayer who makes a fair statement of his property to the assessor to permit other property own CTS to assess their property at a greatly reduced valuation, and others to escape entirely
 Our people are complaining at the rate of taxation, and the rate is advertised to the world when the fact is, that with a fair and full assessment of the real and personal property of the State at its actual value, the present rate of taxation could be reduced one-half and produce as much rev enues as we now receive. To permit appropriations beyond the revenue pro- vided can not be thought of, and any material increase in the burdens of taxation upon the people for the general fund should not be made. This leaves but one proper course to be pursued, that of strict economy and careful pruning of the appropriations. The necessity for the maintenance of the University, the Deaf Mule anu bilHu 1uSllluteS, dUu Iue CdTe and support of the Asylum and Reform school must be provided for out of our general revenue fund. The home for the Confederate soldiers and widows must also be cared for out of the general revenue fund. The pension fund and school taxes. constitute separate and distinct funds and these taxes should be sufficient to meet the purposes for which they are intended One being for the support of common schools for the direct benefit of all the children of the State, and the other for the noble pur- pose of supporting the worthy and depen- dent Confederate soldiers, they should re- ceive your generous and faithful consid- eration.
 EXCISE AND PRIVILEGE TAXES.
 I would suggest as one of the means of increasing the general revenue of tbe State, the increase of the license tax on liquor dealers, and the levy of a privilege tax upon corporations doing business in the State. This will work no hardship on corporations, and place a part of the taxes where they should be.
 Corporations after procuring their char ter pay no annual tax for the privilege they enjoy under their charter. This tax might be levied on a percent basis upon the cap ital stock or by the levy of a direct sum so apportioned as to be uniform in it's oper- ations.
 PRIMARY ELECTION LAWS.
 The primary election for the nemina- tion of party candidates, having become the settled policy of the Democratic party in the State, should be required to be held as a legal election on uniform day throughout the State, and all the safe guards necessary to secure the full and fair expression of the voters participating therein should be provided. The same pro- hibitions against fraud and corrupt prac- tices should be provided, with like penalties, as for the general election. The primary is the forum of the party people. where the vote of each has the same power, and legislation should be provided to secure the full and fair expression of the will of the voters participating therein provision for contesting such elections should also be enacted.
 BUCKET SHOPS.
 These places maintained for the purpose of gambling in agricultural products are but adjuncts to the great gambling ex- changes of the country and not only mate rially and iniuriously affect the markets oi farm products but demoraliZe many of our people.
 They should be suppressed by effective penal legislation
 vAGRANT LAWS.
 I recommend to you the importance ot strengthening our vagrant laws. and au thoriZng cities and counties to place those convicted of vagraney upon public improve ments. If the concentration of the vic ious and indolent into our cities and towns can be prevented by a rigid enforcement oi the laws of vagrancy, and the low and dis reputable saloon dives. which permit then to congregate and drink and gamble unti armed for the most revoting crimes, ar, closed then we will see loafers and crimi nals betake themselves to honest labor ol leave the State. There is no excuse for In dolence and vagrancy when employment a fair wages can be had anywhere in tn, State
 CRIMINAL ASSAULTS UPON WOMEN.
 These crimes can not be tolerated in any civilized country, and every possible effort ought to be made to prevent them Tt this end I recommend. that the entering of any dwelling place at any time for tho purpose or with the intent to commit thu crime of rape upon any person being ol dwelling there, be punishable by death, al the discretion of the jury trying the case And that all assaults with intent to com init the crime of rape be subject to likt punishment and that for the trial ani punishment of these crimes, the judges o the different Circuit Courts be empowered to call a special term immediately and tt empanel special grand and petit juries fol the indictment and trial of persons charged with such offenses: and In case of conviction that ten days shall be allowed to present the bill of exceptions to the Judges of tht Supreme Court for allowance, and no appea shall be had except by the concurrence o at least three of the Judges of said court When allowed. said cases shall have pre- cedence over other business, and be brought to speedy decision under such rules as said court may prescribe. * Wha our people demand is the prompt an( certain punishment of those who by force and violence. either commit or attemp to commit the heinous crime of violating the person of our women To this they art entitled and our laws should afford then this speedy and certain remedy.
 THE PEOPLE RULE.
 It is a matter of reorganization to wit ness the active moral sentiment of the peo pie as evidenced by the heavy vote in favol of the extended application of our loca option or temperance laws. This is one O. the beneficial results of local self-govern ment, permitting the people to control theil local affairs in matters affecting the peace and morality in their respective localities and more than this the determination oi the people to see that these laws are ob served and faithfully executed, is every wsere evident. With this sentiment I mos heartily agree.
 have no sympathy for those wht not only undertake to defy the law, bu also seek to make livelihood by it's sys tematic and wiilful violation.
 We have a great State and great future Is before us, and the best guarantee fol the present and future security ant happiness of the people can be found ir the honest and faithful enforcement of tht laws of the land.
 Those of us selected to serve the peo pie, should follow their mandates and exc cute their will. The welfare and happiness of all our people should be the governing