Washington telegraph., 1909-01-22

ers of the State 5e destined to be of grea
economic value n | recommend that nov
before the interes / of great corpora bodie
make 1t too diffie ii for It to be dune, y0l
investigate the sub lei in all of its details ant
pass such law III in your judgment will bt
adequate for the fuHure protection of the State
best interests.
SURVEY, DRAINAEE, WATERWoRKs AMI
GAME LAWS.
Governor Donaghty praises the work of the
geological survey fnd suggests that plans fol
the drainage of Ihe overflow and lowlands
of our State be authorized. He would have
the gas and oil Conditions investigated and a
report made ON the adapmbllty of our eiays
He believes any laws enacted for better
system of levees and drainage would be adYanc-
ing the material iRterestJ and healthful eondi-
tions of the State, and worthy of most careful
consideration and more vigorous policy inaug-
urated. He also Recommends that you make
suitable investigation of the Fish and Game
laws and pass bill which will be for the
best interests of all the people, He also sug-
gests that you memorlalize congress ana espe-
cially our Representatives, TO spare no pains
in working for and passing some measure for
the Improvement of our Upland waterways.
.ABoLISHMENT oF STATE LAND OFFICE
The Governor recommends the adjustment
of the State Land Office, declaring 1t to be
only n Legislative office and asserting that the
State has suffered from the disposition of its
lands at the prices received He, therefore,
suggests that further sales be prohibited at
once, and the lands held available only for
actual settlers who desire to donate or home
stead them.
RAILROADS.
Governor Donaghey begins discussion of the
railroad question with plea for less antago-
nism against the railroads, declaring them to
be essential to the industrial development of
the State. Continuing with a review of recent
legislative bodies. the Governor says;
Finally it became open secret that the
principal railr@ds operating in Arkansas were
buying legislation favorable to themselves ana
oppressive to their true friends, the citizens
These open secrets were subsequently developed
into newspaper statements but the climax
came when the facts came out in court pro
eeedngs.
Now, after the long history of legislative
fayors abundmtIy bestowed on the railroads,
and at the firt attempt to control them by the
State, 1t is but natural that after being pelted
as they have been by both the people and
Legislatures, they would mutiny against
restraint
All traffic hauled from one point in the
State to andher point therein is intrastate
traffic. and II have any State sovereignty
at all we hive jurisdiction over it. and may
regulate the charges and otherwise supervise
the conduct public carriers.
To succeed in establishing fair compen-
sation for th cost of construction, equipment,
maintenance md operation Of our railroads, we
must aseertah the following facts:
First. Whit is the present value of such
lines and thdr equipment?
Second. What are the operating expenses
properly chageable to Arkansas?
Inlf0. WAt are tue gross earnings OF eacn
line on its Arkansas business?
Fourth. What is the cost of carrying the
purely intrasnt trailer
Fifth. whttre the gross earnings derived
from traffic orlginating and terminating be-
tween pointsin the State?
Sixth. HR to separate the freight traffic
from the passenger tfaiie2
Seventh. 10 determine margin of profit |
the railroad should have for their capital |
Eighth. i what manner and for what pur
pose the emings of the railroads have been |
expended,
In order thst an Intelligent and effective |
solution oftheSquestion may be had, the Gov
ernor recdmends that you pass a bill max |
ing an aIropriation of not less than $40 900 |
for defrang the legitimate expenses incurred |
by the SITE in making its defense of the
injunctioasuitsi that you empower the Rail
road Comissi& to secure such experts and
he and ' evidences gssi material sfsotc to
7SSsaAs = - - HaSssDi &c &c
ENLAReEMENy a, POWERS OF RAILRoAr
couussIoN.
In accordance wei the recommendation Of |
the last Democratic Convention held in June,
| suggest that you ass law increasing the
power Of the Railpad Commission so that in |
addition to the betfr regulation and control of
the Transportation Of freight and passengers
may be regut ted md controlled by the com
mission without th necessity of special legis- !
lation and delay time
coNy1crs AND GOOD ROADS.
After deploring the lease system the Cover
nor recommends a law forever abolishing the
lease system under any form. except directly
for the State or Counties thereof, under the
duly appointed agents
| recommend that you put one-thlrd OF the
ablc-bodled convicts and all Of the cripples on
the State firm Let them produce cotton,
corn and other farm products and raise cattle
and hogs sufficient to support themselves ana
the remainder Of the convicts while building
roads for the State. Then provide for counties
to utilize the convicts In building roads and
when making application for same to WORK
within their territory, to receive not less than
fifteen nor over fifty according TO conditions
Then obo1ieb the present Penitcutary Board
and allow tbe Governor to appoint a peniten-
tiary Board Of Managers, consisting or three
members, whose salaries Will be no more than
under te present system. Make the tenure OF
office of frst long and short terms consisting
Of two four and six years, all SUBSEQUENT
appointments to be made for SIX years Abol-
ish the office Of the superintendent OF the
Penitentlary. =,
LET tbe member holding the long tsrm be the
chairman The next member selected for the
purpose and to serve six years TO be thaae the
secretary and the next member whose term
shall he fonr years be made the warden whose
duty If shall be- with the advice and consent
1 of the other tyyo members to select and ap-
! point bis assistants. Make an appropriation
| which In vour Judgment, after investigation
will be suficient for equipment of camps or
other necessary expenditures Tor me putting
| In operation and maintenance OF the system
Pass this lin in the early part of the session
TAX COMMISSION.
| Of tav.t mo Governor observes some confu
Sion and abuses in our present revenue system
and recommends the creation of State Tax
Commission. The Governor asks for an appr9- ,
priation suaicient to pay the salaries and CLERK
hire of said commission together with travelling
expenses.
\ The Governor discusses the need OF a oetter
! law tb Government and regulation of
banks and recommends such law as will
] ILL lanLl II