The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1909-01-21

THAT in all cases where a general law can
Je made applicable, no special law snal Oe
| rnacted
| This section of the Constitution is frequently
Violated by the passage Of special acts ana
in mir Cling e'ith tie people have heard NOR
! .o1inl. iAt because of il than from almost any
/ other work of the Legislature, In my oplh-
ion such acts are seldom necessary aud urge
upon this honorable body an observance oil tnls
| constitutional provision.
The proper Safeguard should be thrown
around the aborer when engaged In the duties
Of lis daily life You should examine care
| fully as to the safety given him in factories
sufficient in all respects.
suggest also that, If you hive the con
sttutionul authority, you amend sr antitrust
| laws SO there can be doubt as TO their eA-
| emption o. Farmers Unions and other labor
organizations from the penalties preserlpeu
therein
am informed that among coal miners ana e.
other labor organizations of this state, there Is
| frequently collected 10y employers certain iees
for various alleged purposes. suggest ID
| order to correct this evil, that you pass Jaw
preventing the collection of fees for any pur-
pose where the party paying the bills cannot
be represented in the disbursement OF the
money after it has been collected.
TEMPERANCE LAWS
| In the matter of laws for the regulation of
the liquor traffic there are two eontendng prop
ositions-local option, as we now have II, ana
| Statewide prohibition; and on these issues our
last Democratic State Convention, composed OF
members fresh from the people together with
many of the leaders of the temperance cause lii
the State, adopted resolution providing that
| the will Of the people on this question De
ascertained by taking a vote during the veal
1909; and that when their will be ascertained
that it be carried into effect. l recommend
that you carry out this expression OF the peo-
pies will on this question.
ITEMIZED CAMPAIGN EXPENSES.
Npn Sbp pt he
in political contests a most careful constdera-
ton, and pass such laws as, in your judgment,
win place all candidates upon an equal footing
with respect to campaign expenses
suggest that you require the publication of
sworn itemized statement of all expenses of
all candidates and party committees in all pri-
mary, special and general elections In TINS
State.
VETERINARY LAWS,
The Governor calls attention to the presence
and practice of flake" veterinary doctors and
recommends a suitable law similar to that OF
Missouri, covering such ofenses.
JUDICIARY.
The message pays "A tribute tC the Supreme
Court Of the State and commends the last
Legislature for increasing the salary of its
members to the constitutional limit of $4,000.
This salary raise, however Is not effective
until the expiration of their respective terms
and the work has SO increased that the Cover
nor recommends appropriation for two more
stenographers to relieve them of much of their
present drudgery. He also recommends that
|
increased to $1,000 per annum.
TREASURES AND AUDITORS SALARY.
Since the State Treasurer Is paid less In Ar
kansas than In any other state according TO
the amount of work, responsibility, etc, as wen
as the fact that the office requires a man who
can give bond in the sum of 5000, 900, the
Governor recommends an increase In his salary
to the constitutional limit of $1,000
The same increase is also recommended Tor
the State Auditor. The duties of this once
are constantly increasing and while others
have enjoyed salary raises the State Auditor
has never been given one. The Governor says
the State demands good men and must pay
for them.
1t is impossible to have high form of self
government unless the ballot is sacredly pro-
tected. Every qualified elector should have
the right to cast his vote without interference
or intimidation, and to have 1t counted as cast:
and believing that absolute fairness requires
the party in power to hold itself aloof from
even Il suspicion Of taking Illegal or unfair adj
vantage OF any weaker party, revision OF both
the primary and general election laws should
be had so that it will be impossible for any
party or interest to influence the elector i'm
properly take Illegal or unfair advantage OF
him In casting or counting the ballot or certify
ing the returns. l a Democrat. and ex-
pect to remain so long as / live, but II is my
desire for my party to manage the affairs OF
this State to maintain the principles or
honor and integrity for which we stand. Hon
or and honesty should not De placed second 10
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
I recommend that you submit to the people a
constitutional amendment providing for the
Initiative and Referendum. regard such step
"A most Just protection for Democratic consti-
tuency The sovereign people should have
the right to demand any law they want through
the Initiative, and annul any act by use OF
the Referendum; and the servants of the people
should never be backward in granting them the
privilege to exercise this prerogative
FREE PASSES.
In my opinion. the free pass has cost the
State Of Arkansas more in material prosperity
than all the so-called corporation oppression
that has even been ever Will be administered
TO public service corporations In the State:
carnes lily recommend that you pass such
II law as will forever abolish this evil; a law
which will effectively prevent free transporta-
ton for any purpose except for such as Is
perfectly legitimate, and defining the same In
the bill.
STATE CAPITOL.
The Governor consumes four thousand words
In a thorough discussion of the history pro-
gees and present c"noltiou of the Safe Capt.
tol contract He goes exclusively into de-
tails and undertakes 20 show why the enter
prise has become involved In dispute. He says
the New State Capitol Is The greatest work of
architecture ever undertaken in the history Of
| Arkansas and that in Its class as a matter OF
fact II is the only structure that has been I'M
dertaken After reciting In detail the progress
Of the construction In which his big stick
| faAsheavily upon the head of the contractors.
| Caldwell n Drake, the COMMISSIONERS IN charge
Of the work, and the architect, he says:
So far, have only pointed out matters which
Will be most tangible in directing your at
tention to the subject and cause you to go
| into a more extended investigation of the de
| tails Of the varied and hidden factors in con
nection with the subject; 50 l will proceed to
discuss what action In my judgment you should
take to insure speedy completion Of the work
which has been long delayed and at this
| time Is much needed
| LIST. Because of the exceedingly long period
| in the progress of the building which existed
| between the time IT contracted to Cald-
| well & Drake. August, 1903, and the time
| upon which work suspended in July. 1907,
| without approaching to the extent of one-haif
| completing 1t, when. under the contract, 1t was
| to be completed by December y, 1905, and,
| End. Because of the construction being In
| every manner inferior and not in accordance
| with that of buildings of similar character
| and purpose as evidenced by every investigation
| that has been made Of 1t, and,
| 3rd. Because II can be shown that In sub
| stantially all transactions had in connection
with the building since its commencement un-
| der the present contract II has been violated
| In both letter and spirit.