The Green Forest tribune., 1911-01-20
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
 TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Banking Law.

Banking Law.
 If the last legislature had followed my suggestions and enacted good banking law several banks which have since failed would have st.ll been in existence. The depositors would not have lost their money, and conf- dences would have remained to greater degree in the banking institutions of the state.
 I would recommend the passage of a bank ing law that will encourage and upbuild the banking interests of the state and will also protect those who place their money in the office Of state bank examiner, whose duty 1 1t shall be to direct. take charge of when necessary, and otherwise control the entire banking business of the state Said exami- ner to be appointed by the governor.
 That for the payment of all expense neces- sary for the carrying out of this law, a tax be levied upon the banking interests of the state.
 Insurance Department.
 Under our present system of handling th> insurance matters of the state the auditor IS the insurance commissioner. The audi tors office is one of the busiest of all the state departments, and, in addition to keep ing the accounts of the state, he has the Confederate pensions and insurance matters to look after. With tine exception of an extra stenographer there is practically the same office force in his office as there was when the population of the state was e,half what it is now. The matters con nected with the enforcement of the laws
  such proportions that it is almost impossible for the auditor to give them the attention they should have. l believe you should provide for a deputy insurance commissioner to work in connection with the auditor, and under his supervision. and whose entire time should be given to looking after insur- ance matters. This would work to the ad- vantage of the state well to the ad- vantage of the insurance companies; would enable us to employ methods in hand ling such matters and to look into and ommend better laws; would relieve the au- ditor of a great deal of worl; that he does not now have time to attend to properly, and would. in this way give him more time to more efficiently perform his other duties 1 believe you should give this matter your careful consideration and provide for this deputy.
 Initiative, Referendum and Recall. The General Assembly of 1909 provided for the submission to the people of pro- | posed amendment to our constitution author | izing the invocation. when necessary, of the | initiative and referendum This proposed | amendment, No. 10. was voted on at the l September election, 1910. carried by constitutional majority, and will be so an n0unced by your body. To carry into effect | the provisions of this amendment, it will | be necessary fer you to pass all enabling act | setting forth in detail the manner of putting to practical usage the initiative and refer | endum. l recommend that this enabling act | set out fully the form of petition for both l the initiative and referendum: the form of l the sheet for securing signatures who may 1 sign said petition; the publication and dis | | initiated referred; the sample ballot; the l argument for and against; the canvass of the vote on tine measure; the duties of the | secretary ot state. the governor and other 1 officials together with such penalties for vio- i latlon Dt this act as you may deem just and proper. This act should carefully set | forth all these details that they may be 1 easily understood, and that future trouble 1 Ill connection with the same may be avoided l also recommend that you provide for the ] submission of an amendment to the conSti- l luton providing for the recall.
 A Better Revenue System
 | Prior to 1909, no department was charged l with the duty of supervising the admnistra> | tion of the revenue laws of the state. The l state had a Department of Mines Manufac- | lures and Agriculture an Auditing Depart l ment, School Department, Railroad Com mission, and various other departments, each l dependent upon taxation for it's support l 4 department to see to the enforcement of the taxing laws and to, study the revenue | system with the view of correcting existing evils was believed to be urgently demanded, and upon my recommendation the legislature of 1909 passed law creating Tax Com mission and imposing upon 1t the following | duties:
 l. The work of assessing railroads, tele- l graph, express and sleeping car companies. of the taxing laws of the state and of the local assessing and equ9!izing officers. he power to eQualize the assessments of the state as between counties and parts 1 counties, and as between the several classes of property subject to taxation, | 4 lie lnNSSilSdtlOn or conditions m thlS and other states with the view of finding l the causes of existing evils and the remedies that ought to be applied.
 The legislature adjourned without making provision for the maintenance of the com mission. Incidentally the Tax Commission law repealed the old law providing for the assessment of board consisting of the gov ernor, secretary of state and the auditor, of the property of the railroads, express, telegraph and nd, sleeping ,, car companies. were wiling to take the appointment members of the commission, assume the bur dens and responsibilities incident thereto | and wait until the meeting of the next legs- lature for pay for their services. On May 1 l8 1909, l appointed as members of the 9ommisslon' fIoI for the tfd term of two years, term of four years, Dr. A. E. Moore, of Faulkner County and for the term of six
 The commission at once oprap2ed and T1u.d'E took 1 up the work of assessing the railroads. In anaon ATgGYt fad l939' @ tb Dr. Moore resigned and L. M. Burge of Benton County.
 Game and Fish Laws.
 There still remains in the state of Ar | kansas some fish and game and it should be preserved both for the profit to ourselves and for the enjoyment of future generations | It IS in many instances being ruthlessly destroyed. We should learn lesson from the. destruction and practically the eXterni- numbers A few years since all of our wa ters were teeming with the finest of game fish: There were quail in all the fields and 1 squirrels in all the woods. In the more un- settled portions. deer and other large game 1 abounded. Today there are not so many fish l Tn our streams; quail are becoming scarce and there are fewer squirrels. It is seldom that we hear of a deer being killed We should should profit by the experience of the older were plenty of game fish in all of them but they were practically destroyed before the people woke up to the situation and passed We should at this time take the proper steps to protect the fish and game of Arkansas
 Railroad Demurrage Bill.
 If the railroads allowed to charge their cars over certain time after delivery at place of destination, the railroads them selves, ought to be liable to their patrons for the nondeivery of all freight within reasonable time after delivery to them. I trust that you will examine this subject care fully, and if you find there are any defects in the law We now have in connection with this matter which prevents the practical so that the citizens of the state may be fairly treated on this subject
 Graduated Tax on Incomes.
 I herewith transmit to you a copy of proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States providing for tax on incomes, which certified copy has been sent to me by the secretary of state at Wash. ington. As to the approval of this amend ment by you, l have to say that l am in y favor of all income tax which will lay graduated tax on incomes of citizens and ! corporations of the state for the support of l the state government l recommend that i you refer to the people amendment to | our state constitution providing for such. But l seriously question the move to levy l a tax on the incomes of the citizens of this state for the support of the federal gov l ernmaut. Such move may be fraught with 1 grave danger. I would therefore admonish you to examine with the closest scrutiny this amendment to the federal constitution be- fore you give it your sanction and approval.
 Levees and Drainage.
 l : The laws of nnr slale nermitting Ieyees