The Brinkley argus., 1909-01-15
rAunoAps.

rcvesncr pcusehey begins 1l~cussicn cf she
 r,ilrcsd question with . plea Tor less snssbo
 ,t.u, against the railroads declaring them to
 he essential to the industrial development or
 the State Continuing with review of recent
 legislative bodies the Governor says: Finally 1t became an open serrct 'na' s.
 principsi railroads opcrating in Arkansas wers i,uvine 1rrfslarion favorable to themselves anu
 opprersive to their true friends. the .; clt,sens;
 These open secrets were subsequently, uevr."peu into newspaper statements. but the ciuinA came when the facts came out in court pro
 cepiings ,-,.,..,xo
 Now after the long history of iegisiative
 favars abnndanty bestowed on ihe rS',loNus ro .,.
 and at the first attempt to control them ny .ns State it Is but natural that after .einR Pei'eu ns they have been by both the pc"pie . ai,a i Legislaturcs, they would mutiny asHi"s' restraint. All trnfnc hauled from one point In the
 sfate to another point therein Is intrasta.c
 traflc: and if we have any state sna msy regulate the charges and otherwise supervise
 the conduct of public carriers
 To succeed in establishing . fair compcn- pen | satiou for the cost of construction. equipment | maintenance rnd operation of our railroads we
 must ascertain the following facts: .. ....,
 First What is the present vame or Such
 lines nnd their equipment?
 Second What afe the operating eAPe"seS properly chrrgeable to Arkansas!
 Third What the gross earnings or eacn
 line on It's Arknnsss busincssf ~
  purely intrastate trafic?
 rIfth. What are the gross earnings derived from trafYic originating and terminating pe- tween points in the State7
 sixth How to separate the freIgbt Hsnc 1 from the passenger tranic? ... Seventh To determine margin of pfoht
 th. railroads should have for their capitai
 E,rhth. In what manner and for what pur- | rosc inc earnings of the railroads have been expended. |, order tbat an intelligent and effective 1 solution of the question may be had. the Gov- ernor recommends that you pass piu mxn nnn l Ing an appropriation of not less than $4V,Vvv | for defrnying the legitimate expenses Incurred | by the State in making its defense of me l injunction sIts that you empower tne haI. l road Commission to secure sucn experts .l'u l agencies as 1t may ind necessary 70 s.cu.e 1 inc facts figures and evidence material 10 the defense of the cases. and empower tne
 Governor to appoint special counsel In tne
 fasI ENLARGEMENT OF POWERS OF RAILROAD | In accordance with the recommendation Of l the last Democratic Convention held In June.
 I suggest that you pass law increasing '.s l power of the Railroad Commission so that in addition to the better regulation and control or 1 the transportation of freight and passengers may be regulated and controlled by the com
 mission without --the necessity Of special iesis-
 lation and delay in time. CONNECTS AND GOOD ROADS. l After deploring the lease system the Govef- nor recommends law forever abolishins tho lease system under any form. except directly for the State or counties thereof, under the
 duly appointed agents.
 I recommend that you put oncthfrd of the
 ablc-bodfpd convicts and all of the cripples on the Stste farm. Let them produce cotfon corn and othcr farm products and raise cnttle and hogs sufficient to support thrmscives ano the remainder of the convicts while building roads for the State. Then provide for counties to utilize the convicts fin building roads and when making application for same to work within their territory, to receive not less .nan fifteen nor over fifty according to conditions. Then abolish the present Penitentiary Board pnd allow the Governor to appoint peniten- tiary Board of Managers. consisting of three members whose salaries will be no more than rndcr tp present system Make the tenure of office of first long and short terms consisting of two four and six ycnrs. all subsequent appointments to be made for six years Abo'- ish the office of the Superintendent of the Penitentiary.
 Lot the In-rnher holding the long tArm be the
 chairman The next member selected for the
 purpose ard to six years to be made tne
 secretary and the next member whose term
 shall be four years. be made the warden whose
 duty 1t shall be. with the advice and consent
 of the other two members. to select and ap- point his assistants. Make an appropriation which in your judgment. after investigation. will be sufficient for equipment of camps or
 other necessary expenditures Ter the pnttins in operation and maintenance ot the bystem-
 Pass this bill in the early part of the session. TAX COMMISSION
 After discussing the principle and purposes of taxation the Governor observes some confu- sion and abuses in our present revenue system and recommends the creation of a State Tax Commission The Governor asks for an appro-
 priation sufficient to pay the salaries and clerk hire of said commission together with travelling expenses.
 The Governor discusses the need of better law for the government and regulation of
 banks and recommends such a law will encourage and upbuiid the banking interests of the state md protect at the same time those whose place their deposits fin the bank. | He asks that the office of State Rank Examiner | he created That for the carrying out this | system of regulation for the State banks there l shall be levied tax each and every bank | according to its average annu.i deposits for | the preceding year doing business under the l laws of the State and thrt the law to be | enacted should provide penalties against exces- l sive loans to any persons corporations. for | reports under oath by banks to the State Ex- 1 anliner and to the banks condition with
 penalties for frise rts tements. 1 ELEEAooYMA1Y f1gT1TUTfoFS.
 Suggestions made concerning the over 1 crowded condition cf the Insane Asylum md
 recommending a new hospital to accommodate -26O patients
 CONFEDERATE yE9ERANs.
 Z The Governor pays | tribute ito the Confcd-s ! crate vetefans and declares thatsthes confed-r-
 ate pension roll should be. roll Of shoncr and