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


demurrage on freight left in their care Owe
a certain time after delivery at place OF d'F-
tination. the railroads themselves ought 10 De
, liable to their patrons for the non-deliycry oi
all freight within reasonable time AFTER De
livery to them. l recommend, therefore. that
you enact suitable legislation on this matter
hat shall be free from constitutional defects,
so that the citizens)of the State may receive
Justice from the railroad
ENLARGEMENT OF POWERS OF RAILROAD
COMMISSION.
In accordance with the recommendation OF
the last Democratic Convention held In June,
| suggest that You pass law increasing the
power of the railroad commission 50 that In ad-
dition TO the better regulation and control of
the transportation of freight and passengers the
road bed bridges equipment. depots and all
other matters pertaining to or in connection
with railroads may be regulated and controlled
by the commission without the necessity Of
special legislation and delay in time
TO MUCH WORK ON STATE OFFICIALS
The Governor here suggests that too much
work Is imposed the State officials, declar-
ing that there should be seventy-fve men to
handle business of three and a half million
dollars instead of thirty -fve as at present.
CoNvIcTs AND GOOD ROADS.
After deploring the lease system, the Cover
nor recommends law forever abolishing the
lease system under any form, except directly
for the State Counties thereof, under
the duly appointed agents
l recommend that you put one-thrd of the
| aDle-bodled conNictS ana all OF the CrlppCS
on the State farm. Let them produce cotton
corn and other farm products and raise cattle
| and hogs sufficient to support themselves and
the remainder of the convicts while building
| roads for the State Then provide for coun-
ties to utilize the conviets 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
| That in layin govt such road district donations
may be received from the citizens adjacent
thereto for maintenance of conyicts or other
expenses
Then abolish the present pententiary board
and allow the Governor to appoint peniten-
| tiary board of managers, consisting of three
members. whose salaries will be nomore than
under the present system. Make the tenure
| of office of first long and short terms consist
! ing of two, four and six years, all subsequent
appointments to be made for six years. Abol-
| ish the office Of the Superintendent of the
| Penitentiary.
Let the member holding the long term be the
chairman. The next member selected for the
| purpose and to serve six years to be made the
Secretary, and the next member whose term
! shall be four years, be made the warden whose
duty it shall be, with the advice and consent
of the other two members, to select and ap-
! point his assistants. Make appropria-
| ton hich in your judgment, after in
| vestgation, will be sufficient for equipment of
| camps or other necessary expenditures for the
putting in operation and maintenance of the
system. Pass this bill in the early part Of the
| session.
I suggest that you make the Penltentiary
| Commission the Good Roads Commission and
make appropriation of SO. 900. 90 for two
! years maintenance of one Highway Chief En-
| gineer at 81 10000 per annum; ana two assist
ants each at 100000 per annum; and the re
naming $2,S00.Oo TO apply for transportation
and other legitimate expenses of the Engineer S
| office.
TAX COMMISSION.
| After discussing the principle and purposes
of taxation the Governor observes some conru-
nd QbuSpS In Our svStp I'm
| and recommends the creation of State Tax
Commission consisting of three members to be
| appointed by the Governor whose duty it shall
| be to take charge of the entire revenue system
| Of the State, supervise the administration of
| assessments and taxing laws instruct and over
see the work of local assessors direct proceed
| lngs. actions and prosecutions to be instituted
enforce the laws relative to the liability and
| punishment of public officials. corporations and
| others for failure to comply with the laws, in
Guiding local assessors or agents of corpora
| tons remove such officials for neglect Of duty,
require town, county and other public officers
| to report information as to the assessment or
property. investigate tax laws in other states In
| regard to the assessment and collection Of
| taxes, suggest legislation to the Legislature,
! to prevent evasions of assessment and taxation,
and otherwise secure just and equal taxation
and improvement in the revenue system OF this
| State. The Governor asks for appropriation
sufficient to pay the salaries and clerk hire OF
said commission together with travelling ex-
penses in visiting different towns and localities.
| u
| only pay for itself but will find and put on
| the tax book property escaping taxation
| from which a low rate of taxation would pay
| one fourth the expenses of the state government
| and greatly reduce the taxation to each indlvld-
ual citizen.
BANKING LAW.
The Governor discusses the need Of better
law for the government and regulation Of banks,
| and recommends such law will encourage
and upbuild the banking interests of the State
and protect at the same time those whose
! place their deposits In the bank. He asks that
| the office OF State Bank Examiner be created
whose duty 1t shall be to employ assistants
| sufficient TO adequately perform the service OF
investigating, directing taking charge Of
| when necessary, and In every other manner con-
| trolling the entire banking business OF the
state. That for the carrying out this system
OF regulation for the State banks there shall be
| levied tax each and every bank according
| to Its average annual deposits for the proceed
! ing year doing business under the laws Of the
| State and that the law to be enacted should
provide penalties against excessive loans to any
| persons corporations for reports under oatn
| by banks to the State Examiner and as TO the
banks condition with penalties for false state
ments; and additional protection all
stockholders should be liable to the depositors
and creditors to an amount equal to their
stockholdngs In addition to the stock sub
| scrbed by the stockholders.
OLD STATE CAPITOL.
| The Governor gives history of the old State
Capitol and recommends its preservation under
the direction of the State Historical Associa
ton.
ELEMoSYNARY INSTITUTION
| Suggestions are made concerning the over
crowded condition of the Insane Asylum ana
| recommending a hospital to accommodate
$50 patients
CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
The Governor pays tribute to the Confed-
erate veterans and declares that the Confeder-
ate pension roll should be roll of honor ana
the name of every Confederate soldier, citizen
of the State should be honored The Governor
calls attention to remedies that necessary
in the distribution of funds secured by taxa
ton for the care Of these veterans. declaring
that the rate Of taxation produces enough
money for the necessary relief Of all bu. that
too many get the pension roll who
ply able to live without It, that applicants
draw pensions who never served in the Con
federate army and that others often become
ell-to-do after they get the rolls and
tinue to draw support from this fund He
recommends a liberal appropriation for the
maintenance of the Soldiers Home.
ENFORCEMENT OF LAW.
The constitution OF this State In express Ian
guage imposes upon the Governor the duty to
see that the laws faithfully executed.
promise you that shall faithfully observe