The Nevada County picayune., 1911-01-20

been leNeed ana Gralned mas been greatly improved In many cases lands of this class, after development. have increased in value more than 800 per cent The recent census shows the greatest increase in popu latIon in our state where levees and drain age districts have been formed and efficient work done. This work has only fairly. begun in Arkansas. There are yet millions of acres to be leyeed and drained. which, when done, will increase in value in the same proportion as above noted l am heartily In favor of still H8re vigorous and effective policy in connection with this work The lands yet uudralHed are among aHr greatest assets, and thg sooner we drain them the more wealth We VII create fer the state.
 County conviets.
 Again ! wish t7 rail your attention to the abuses AS well IS misHse of our laws on the county convict queStfen Some of the justices of the peace of the state have so far lost their sense af justice and decency that they have divesfed themselves of any semblanee of the Judiciary. and have entered into the save tralie a strictly business matter. They do this without respect to race. color or previous condition of servi- tude, and in spite of our present safeguards of the rights of our citizens. Ii is said that 1t matters not who the victim may be, just so he IS unable to protect himself from the pirate enabled by favorable conditions to seize and sell his services. It Is also said that many of this class of conyicts are made t9 serve sentence of more than year before the satisfaction of fine of a few dollars may be had. Or, that after once getting hold of them the peonage sys- tenn Is successfully carried out As remedy for this illegal and iuhuman system, l suggest that you pass a law prohibiting any convict for any ofense, serving over SIX months imprisonment on county farm, or any other compulsory servitude. over that length of tlme outside of the peniteatiary If anyone commits offense grave enough for him 10 be confined as convict more than SIX months, he should be sent to the penitehiary and not to county farm, where il appears there is no one 10 whether or not he is humanely treated
 Special Acts.
 Article ,. section 2t. of the constitution, provides In all cases where a general law can be made applicable no special law shall be enacted This section of the con stitution has been much abused by the passage ef special acts that l have heard more complaints because of it than from almost any other work of the legislature In fact. special legislation has been dennmi- hated the bane of the Arkansas legisla- ture.
 1 recommend that for the purpose of say. ing time hs well IS useless expense, tha. you appoint joint committee for the pur pose af carefully examining every proposed special act and that the committee recon mend the defeat of any such hin not in strict conformity with the spirit and quirement of the constitution.
 Laws for the Protection of Labor.
 Those engaged in work in mines. quarries, factories. on railroads and in other hazard ous occupations should be SafeeHarded by laws affording them the miSimum protection. Provision should he made for the use of every modern safety appliance in such work. Those engaged in such occupations are en- titled to this legislation and you should see that they get it. l believe. alsa, that you should enact law whereby the asst Enment by any wage earner in this state of his wages to be earned in the future would be made illegal.
 Employers Liability
 The best modern thought recognize. the dignity of labor. which may well be called the cornerstone of industrial life. To pro tect and guard those engaged in hazardous occupations against injury which by proper appliances can be, if not wholly al least partially, prevented. is we'll recognized duty of every employer without the inter coppcnsation to those who. without any fault oi their own, have lost their lives or which by the exercise of proper care. can be prevented, las long been reco guized by the laws of our state. Within the last de cade the General Assembly of this state has men. engaged in hazardous occupations. 10 recover compensation for injuries sustained for which al common law there could be no recovery he abolition of the fellow-serv ants rule has been step in the right dfrec- ton But ] am of the opinion that fke time has arrived to take another forward step and provide hy legislation for compulsory compensation for industrial accidents, re sardess of the rules uf the common law hha"h as assumption af risks and eoutrjbu- tory negligence. For the latter I wouid rec. commend h your honorable body the enact ment of law based on what is known IS comparative negligence. and in addition to these would recommend to your favorable consideration compulsory compenSatian law, providing in all eases of injury to an cmpl oYs' unleSs il Is rauscd by his own "lIlui act. colupcr satinn based on hIs earn. inEs- If the injury results in death n sum equal to the earnings If certaiu n1tubsr Of years should be paid 10 the family of port and a similar rrevis5 should be made Tor hum In case of permanent or temporarv a.,215Les At present the burden is placed entirely on the shoulders of the working. men those least able ta bear it.
 Temperance
 A vital question involving the interest of All the people of the state is the proper promotion of the cause of tennoranee ,tba question of state wide prohibition eame ba fore the last legislature by virtue of a plank m the Democratic platform calling for inc passage of bill submitting the matter to a vote ot the people. That legislature how. ever, did not pass such bill. but allowed the prohibition question to become 70 in. volved with other questions as to interfere regular business
 All of us know that for several sessions he 3t lhe 3fhef3i Assembly this question has been d}siHrtlnc faeter throughout the en tire tune the legislature was here Many "' those who favored or opposed legislation on thts question have allowed it to iniu. ehee lAet course on other matters If great Importance to the state goyeruutent ar to delay acton thereon. The question of re-u. "hhg ar Anpprr>SlHs the liquor traffic should be settled on it's own merits without regard 10 other questions that may come before yoa f9u should dc what you think is right and what you conseienti6usIy thinL ia best for Honr constituents and far the sfatp L'Ia9uX" .'9 10 this question. If you are satis 1eG that majority of your constituents and of the state want -siate-,yjtj, nr55il,i u"h' yaa should carry our ihcir wishes by passing safe law fa extend the effects of 'h' present prohibition laWs to tHe whole 1ta,t IT. however. you think it is wiSest and best and Inc desire ef eaur constituents that he people of tte whole s'ato should ln'mstFgs aetermihe by their votes whether or not iAe* wish the enactment of state. vide Fraatitl'u laV then you sA5ltd by The passase ot proper measure submit that question tD their vote ''''
 Education
 The people of this state pav aunuaHy for