The Mena weekly star., 1911-06-08
HAL NORWOOD ON
DONAGHEY'S VETO
Attorney General Shows That His
Office, Which Has Been a Source
OF Profit TO State Has Been
Cut out OF Expense Fund.

Little Rock, June 6-The House
concurred with the Senate today in
a resolution directing Secretary
Hodges to forward to Secretary
Knox at Washington the resolution
ratlfying the Federal income tax
amendment. Secretary Hodges says
he will forward the resolution.
Bills were introduced for a con-
tlngent fund for the Attorney Gen.
eral and clerical help in the state
land Office, both of which were re-
Gently vetoed by the governor.
The state legal department is alb
solutely without a contingent fun.
Attorney General Norwood, in an
open letter to the members of the
legislature, shows the injustice in
Governor Donaghey's action in this
matter very strongly.
Following are extracts from the
attorney generals letter:
Il deem it my duty to briefly call
your attention to the absolute ne
cesslty OF an appropriation to meet
the expenses as mentioned in the
item that was disapporved. The
state cannot, any more than an in
.dividual, prosecute or defend suits
without an expense fund for that
purpose. There are now pending in
the courts a number of suits of
great Importance to the state.
Among those pending in the United
States Supreme Court is one of
Caldwell & Drake VS.. the State,
which is there on appeal from the
State Supreme Court. There is $685.
900 involved in this suit. The suit
also involves the validity of the
Acts of 1909, under which the capi-
tol contractors were discharged and
new capitol commission created.
Upon yesterday, the governor in
vetoing the Williams Amendment to
the Antitrust law, commends the
law in highest terms, and urges its
enforcement. However, the Anti
Trust law, without an appropriation
for its enforcement, is dead letter,
and the governor, with the same pen
that he commended the law, vetoed
the only appropriation that could
be used toward its enforcement.
while Hon. Robert l.. Rogers was
attorney general, the legislature ap-
propriated $1,000 for the exclusive
enforcement of the Antitrust law,
and by virtue of this appropriation
judgments were obtained amounting
to approximately 100000. While
Hon. W. T. Kirby was attorney gen.
eral there was no appropriation for
the enforcement of the law. The
result was no judgments were OBJ
tanned, and no suits were instituted
or prosecuted. Two years ago the
legislature appropriated $4,000 for
the attorney generals department,
for the purpose of paying expenses
in connection with all litigation. BY
reason of having this appropriation,
judgments were collected under the
Anti thrust law amounting to $70,-
900. Ore of the suits, and The nnc
On which the largest judgment was
obta ned. was brought by a prose-
c,Iing attorney, but without The
available appropriation the prose-
cutting attorney would have had to
advance money out of his own
pocket for necessary expenses in
preparing the case for trial or the
suit would not have amounted to
anything.
AS an illustration that it does take
money to conduct a law suit, / have
only TO refer you to the fact that
after an expenditure of S52,50000 in
the Rate Case, the Governor rec
Iommends an appropriation OF
twelve thousand five hundred ($i2,-
500 dollars. If it requires sixty
five thousand dollars for one case,
is ten thousand 100000 dollars an
extravagant appropriation for all
| expenses connected with all litiga-
ton for two years? ! have only TO
refer you to the fact that in 1905
| the Governor favored the 'Patter-
son Act which sought to appro-
pirate ten thousand 100000 dollars
| 10 pay counsel fees and other costs
connected with litigation that might
be had with the Capitol Contractors
the governor to appoint the Coun-
sci.
Furthermore. the ten thousand
$4,000 dollar appropriation FOL
this department, that the Governor
| has lust vetoed, not only covered
| costs. counsel fees. travelling ex-
penses, but all other contingent ex-
penses of the Attorney Generals
| department.
This department now has ne
funds for any purpose, except sal
aries, a telephone and stamps. Tht
appropriation that the Legislature
undertook to provide for this Office
was a very small per cent of thu
funds that were turned into th'
State Treasury by reason OF thu
appropriation made two years ago.