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

! g. nlly its conclusion in the matter. The Com
mission can hear both sides OF the c0ntroVer-
~ and the confidence Of the people in its in
pgrty will be great that It's recommends
lions will be accepted as tnal ana sausIae-
tory No objection whatever to these gentlemen
| lcting a Commission can be urged because
they are members Of the judiciary, since they
ere net to act unless Caldwell Drake agree
to abide their action, thus removing every
possibility of litigation in Court over the mat
! ter or course no one would desire to do the
work of this Commission. but these Judges
are citizens OF Arkansas, aud we can hope that
i their patriotism will cause them TO fenuer the
! state the service. If this Commission shan
| report that the state owes Caldwell Drake
one dollar or one hundred thousand dol
| lars | shall favor its immediate payment IL
the Commission reports that they have been over
paid, we can only do what we can to get our
money back. The Commission can easily make
the investigation and report in twenty Gays.
The bill should provide for the organization OF
the Commission, and when organized 1t can
outline its method Of procedure. Each
member should be authorized to administer
paths TO witnesses and false testimony gwen
at its hearing should be made punishable az
In other cases of perjury. While the Commls-
sion will in a great measure be boaru OF ar
bitration, its proceedings will necessarily take
the form Of a trial in Court, as 1t can only
reach satisfactory result after hearing tes.
tmony all disputed questions Ana as II
viii be absolutely necessary that the otats ue
represented before the Commission by counsei
to present its side of the case and to contest
the claims and contentious OF CaldweH ~ DRAKE,
be largely taken up with regular work OF mis-
office, and the railroad rate cases are pehulns
In the Federal Court, l recommend that you
authorize the Governor to appoint couhsel u
represent the State before the Commission ana
let the bill provide an appropriation 10 COVE
this item and also the expenses OF tho Commls-
| sion and a stenogrepher. 1t is perhaps uhheces-
sary to say that l have never directly OF IN
directly mentioned any of the matters herein re-
ferred to either of the gentlemen that l Suggest
for members Of the Commission.
urhpy, nd he a
rying with it an appropriation which In your
Judgment will be necessary for the completion
of the building and the terracing OF the
grounds, together with other matters OF detaii,
all in a creditable manner. The same Dill
authorizing the Governor to appoint, subject TO
the confirmation of the Senate, four citizens OF
the State, competent to carry out the work III
all Of its details to speedy completion, ana
the Governor to act with them In the perform
ance of this duty
That the said Commission be required to let
contracts for all parts of the building now In
complete. to have any work now installed
which may be unsafe torn out and replaced In
a substantial manner; and that the said Com
mission be required TO comply strictly with all
other instructions provided by you In SAID
bill.
recommend also that you authorize the Com
mission to acquire for the State the two blocke
of ground between Victory aud High and be-
tween Fourth and Sixth streets in Little Rock,
that lie Immediately in front of the capitol.
The Commission can be authorized to purchase
the ground if 1t can be done at reasonable
price, and IL not. then condemnation pro
ceedings can be instituted.
My for suggesting to you the acquire
ment OF this additional property around the
Capitol Is that great building can never be
made to look well with surroundings that are
narrow. contracted confined And especially
in this the slope OF the ground upon
which these two blocks located. would
give to the Capitol magnificent appearance;
would provide for walks. drives and ter
races in front together with trees. fountains
and statuary necessary for the adornment of
grounds in front Of such structure. and which
can never be had without this space. eventual
" the other two remaining blocks directly In
front OF the Capitol and lying north and south
of these two, should also be acquired to per
feet the carrying out Of plans for landscape
architecture finally to be completed. but con
sidering the great demand now on the state
for funds for many purposes. 1t would prob
ably be best for us to wait awhile until we
are able to pay for them.
FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE.
| The message treats ON the subject of nre
and life insurance extolng their purpose bur
doubling that existing rates in Arkansas are
equitable and reasonable. 1t calls attention to
| the fact that In France adequate are protection
costs only six cents hundred dollars; In
Great Britain nine cents. and in the whole
of the United States fifty one cents on the hun
dred dollars. In the State OF Indiana II costs
| only only 81 cents while in Arkansas It costs
s1.44. The Governor discusses the question
| fully and suggests that both hre and NE In
aurance be intelgently considered by the Less-
lature, and an Insurance Commission OF three
members be created and maintained at the ex-
pense of the companies writing insurance In the
| State. standard form Of building construe-
ton for the entire State is also asked Tor.
which when complied with will entite the
owner to certain standard rate OF insurance.
THE 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARKANSAS.
The year 1911 win be the 18th anniversary OF
| the admission of the State of Arkansas to the
Union and l suggest that you consider a prop
| err celebration Of this very important epoch In
the history OF our Commonwealth. In that
year our Legislature will again meat and you
tahn 10 nrny iatn 80
| to meet In the New Capitol. suggest that
fby concurrent resolution otherwise, you des-
ignate day during that session on which the
| citizens Of the entire State may come together
at the New Capitol in commemoration and cele-
bration OF this event.
PREVENTION AND CURE OF TuBERoULo-
The Governor discusses the need Of a sank
tarium for tuberculosis and laws for the pre-
vention Of the disease. Other states maintain
costly Institutions of this character and Mr..
Donaghey contends that the economic loss to
the State every year through thousands OF peo-
| pie going out OF the state should be checked.
The State has higher duty than to provide
place where its sick may be cured. He rec
ommends an appropriation of $50. 900 for the
construction of sanitarium large tract
of land and $4,000 for Its maintenance for
two years.
ACTING GOVERNOR PINDALL's SALARY.
| Only few days after the Inducing into Of
dce of Gov. John s. Little in January. 1907.
he was stricken with an illness from which he
has not yet recovered. He succeeded by
| Hon. John |. Moore then President OF the
Senate who held the Office OF Acting Governor
until May 18th, 1907. on that date Hon. X.
| q. Pindall having been elected President pro
tempore Of the Senate, succeeded Acting Cover
nor John |. Moore and has acted In that
| pacity up to this time.
| AS stated to me, the various transactions
concerning the salary and emoluments of the Of
| hce have been follows: The Legislature OF
| 1907, In session and In the hope that Gov. Lit
tie would soon recover and return to his duties.
passed a bill directing that all the salary and
emOuments of the office be paid to him during
the term of his Illness. About the same time
| it increased the Governors contingent fund.
100000. obviously with the view that from
snch Increase there would he enough to pay tho
| Acting Governors salary together with such
other expenses is usually incurred and al
| lowed to that offce, until the recovery of Gov
ernor Mttla. Acting Governor Pindsll drew
| from this fund for such purpose until II was
exhausted. Still Governor Little had not re-
| covered and he md hlA family dene ending ha