The Brinkley argus., 1909-01-15

State cf Arksnsas nss~ hasevtsl sreepes1sy man aiI the so-ealled .'ccrporaslon cppeese1ea's that has ever been ever will De s0minieeesed to public service corpcsations in the State.
 I earnestly recommend that ycu pans such law ss win forever abolish this evil; law which VIII effectively prevent free sr.nspests- tion for ssuy purpose ssHc~pt f0 such ss ia pesfectly legitimate. end d~nnaAs the safne in' the bill.
 The Governor consumes four thousand words fin thorough discussion of the history. pro rrcss and present condition of the StNte Capit contract After rociting in detail the progress of the construction fin which hts big stick falls heavily upon the head of the runtrsrtors. Caldwell X Drske. the sS mmissir,ers In charse of the work and the architect. he says In part.
 So far have only pointed out matters whit will be most tangible in dirett'ng your attrn- ton to the subject and cause you to % Into fl more extended investigation Of the detnfls of the varied ard hidden factors in connection with the subject; l will proceed to discuss what action fin my judgment you should take.
 Fyrst Because of the exceedingly long ,or,,a Ii, thn progress of the building which cxisfrd between the time 1t contracted to Caldwell X Drake. August. 1903. and the time upon which work was suspended in July. l0O7 without approaching to the extent Of onc-hsIf completing it, when. under the con- tract 1t was to be completed by December 21 f0o5; and.
 rvery manner Inferior and not in accordance with that cf buildings of similar character md pnrposc as evidenced by every investiga- ton that hrs been made of 1t; and. 5
 Third Because 1t be shown that in sub stantially all transactions had in connection with the building since It's commencement un- d.r fhe present contract 1t hus been violated in both letter and spirit; and,
 Fourth Because the State has now large amount of money invested in the building. and Judging by the past promises of the. con tractors 1t cannot depend upon their c0inplet- ing If fin reasonable time. together with the tfy fOr
 For these and other reasons suggest that of the first things you do Is by cmcnr. rent resolution, to declare the contract of Caldwell & Drake annulled.
 I also recommend and suggest that you pass q bill removing the present Commission md Architect. cancclins the contract made with Caldwell A Drake in August. 1908, thereby confirming your joint resolution of annullment. and selecting a "Commission t0 be known as the Commission to Adjust the Controversy Between the State and Caldwell & Drake suggest inst this commission be composed of the two judges of the United states Court living fin Arkansas and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of this state Provide fin the Dill that upon Caldwell Drake filing with said Commission their agreement to abide it's decision and to accept It's report in full settlement and satisfaction of all their claims growing out of their contract to erect the Cnpitol ssid Commission shall proceed at once to consider every feature of the cOntro- versy between the State and the contractors and report to the General Assembly its con clusion in the matter. The bill should provide for the organization of the Commission and when organized 1t can. outline it's own method of procedure. While the Commission will in grect measure be n board of arbitration, its proceedings will nec- essarily take the form of -trial fin court eS 1t can only reach satisfactory result after hcarirg testimony on all disputed questions. And as 1t will be absolutely necessary thnt the State be represented before the Communication by counsel to present it's side of the case and to contest the claims and contentious of Cald- well X Drake. and the time of the Attorney General will be largely taken up with regular work of his ofnce. aud the rnilrcad rate eases that you authorize the Governor to appoint counsel to represent the State before the Com mission and let the bill provide an appropFiH- tion to cover this item and also the cxpcnses of the Commission and a stenographef.
 Then I recommend the passage of bill carrying with 1t m appropriation which in your Judgment will be neccssary for the com pction of the building rnd the tefraciug of the grounds. together with other matters of detail all in creditable manner. The same bill authorizing the Governor to appoint subject to the confirmation of the Senate, four cftizcBs of the State competent to carry out the work in all of its details to a speedy completion. ard the Governor to net with them fin the performance of this duty.
 That the said Commission be required to let contracts for all parts of the building now incomplete. to have any work now installed which may be unsafe torn out and replaced in a substantial manner; and that tn" said Con- mission be required to comply strictly with all other instructions provided by you in said bill.