The Harrison times., 1911-01-21

education only. The abandonment OF tne
preparatory department will doubtless de-
crease the attendance. but II Will increase
the strength of the university. Inc stale
university should not undertake 70 20 ;In, GGna.
mon school or high school work. Besides
this 1t is cheaper for the taxpayers an9
more convenient for the parents TO send
their children to school nearer nome untli
they are fully prepared for university WORK.
The levy of a special tax on all the prop
erty of the state has been recommended py
the Board Of Trustees for the maintenance
of the university. This plan has very many
advantages over the present manner OF Sc,
curing appropriations by the employment
of strong political lobby whenever tne
university is to get its allowance from the
legislature But as to the matters OF APP
proprations for the university or any other
of the institutions of the state, think there
should be more attention given.
District Agricultural Schools.
There are four of these institutions as
provided for by the last legislature anu
they are located as follows: The first as
trict school at Jonesboro, the second az
Russellvile, the third at Magnolia and the
fourth at Monticello.
Under the terms Of the bill, they were
located under competitive proposals and the
community offering the best inducements mas
received the permanent location. All OF
the schools, I believe are now in operation,
pected for the commencement.
Public Schools and Uniformity Of Text
Books.
1t is a pity-"and a pity that it is q
pity'-that we cannot, or have not, enacted
a comprehensive law for the selection, sale
and use Of textbooks for the children OF
this state. We are frequently advised that
uniformity is not best for u.s. That OF
course, depends upon whose uniformity Is
adopted If we permit our natural enemies,
the book trust, to specify the kind OF uni.
formity we shall have, 1t certainly VIII NOT
be best for us from the viewpoint OF cost.
II we listen 10 them in the lobbies around
our legislative halls. we will never have any
other kind. In my opinion this is one OF
the most urgent necessities for the common
schools Of the state, and in order that 1t
may receive the most careful consideration
at your hands, l recommend that you appoint
a competent joint committee for the express
purpose Of investigating all the laws OF other
states on the subject, and of drafting suit
able bill. and then to pass that bill in spite
Of all opposition.
The Antitrust Act.
In the trial of the rate case the counsel
for the state developed the fact that the
rates which were put in force by the rail
roads after they had secured their injunc.
tion from Judge Van Devanter were made
in concurrence by them and the rates were
the same upon all the competing lines within
the state, Thus it is seen that when freed
from control of the state by the injunction
of the federal court. competing lines of rail
road in the state combined in putting in
the freight rates which were in force in
the state until they were declared unreason'
able by the federal court.
Under the direction Of the Railroad Com
mission, the special counsel for the state
filed suit against the Iron Mountain Railroad
at Fort Smith under the antitrust act seek
ing to recover penalties from it for violation
Of said act in thus combining in establishing
freight rates. Before the case was reached
for trial, another case presenting the same
| issues which had been brought by the prose
cutting attorney in another portion of the
state reached the Supreme Court, and the
| Supreme Court held that the antitrust act
! did not cover such combination. There is
no form ct combination which can involve
so much financial burden on the people Of
the state as combination among the rail
roads in fixing freight rates 1t has been
! shown to have been in this case most dis
! sstrous one upon the people OF the state,
and il is unfortunate that the antitrust act
| did not cover this combination so that the
railroads could have been punished for SO
! combining in oppression of the people Of the
! state
I recommend that the antitrust act be
| amended so as to cover in the future such
unlawful combinations in the establishment
| Of freight rates.