The Green Forest tribune., 1912-06-14

be not done. the only other way to con duct the state on cash basis is to col feet such rates within the constitutional limit as will meet the expenditures au- thorized. If the legislature refuses to adopt the budget system and take up the present debt by ioan then an in imperative. This might be mitigated by temporarily suspending the capitol tax. It Is, of course, desirable to com plete the capitol, but the extension and adornment of the capitol grounds can well abate until the urgent and pressing demands growing out of the states debts have been provided for. I am not in favor of extending the area ot the capitol grounds until this has been done.
 "The states financial system does not appear to have been wisely admin istered at all times in the immediate past. It is of secondary importance to locate the blame, the primary consid- eration being to discover and apply the remedy. This subject must receive frank and courageous treatment To administer the state government on q script basis increases expenses. occasions great inconvenience and belittles the
 Economy.
 The importance of practicing econ omy is disclosed by the states financial condition It may become necessary with and consolidate others, so as to lessen expenses. No salaries should be increased until the deficit has been pro- vided for and a sound condition brought about in the states finances.
 Short Legislative Sessions.
 snort legislative sessions are a prac- tlcal means of economy. They cheapen the expense of the state government prevent eXtraVagant appropriations and unnecessary special legislation. I have no sympathy with prevanIng custom or denouncing the legislature. Dishon- esty and fraud are to be condemned and dDOilShed wherever TOnnd ENhinienpNy and fidelity should be commended in all public officers. The time has arrived when the character ana reputation of public men of merit should be upheld and defended. In no other way can the welfare of the state be so surely ad- vanced. It will give dignity and credit 10 our political and social institutions. NeVertheless much valuable time is usually wasted by the general assem- ply in the consideration of special legis- latlon: If the next legislature will con- iine ti11 its deliberations to appropriation pills, reforms in banking laws, the inn portant question of promoting good high ways, and the reorganization of the boards for the control of the peniten- t1ary, the university and the St Francis leVee system, the passage of a corrupt practices act, and needed reforms in our revenue law. it will respond to a we'll night universal demand. As a part of the law-making power. the governor S office will be eXerted to secure this end and to prevent the agitation of local measures
 Education.
 Gratifying. progress has been made in education in Arkansas during recent years. This cause is inseparablv con nected with the progress and develop ment of our state. Our common schools should be strengthened and improved. They form the foundation of our educa- tlonal system Through them the great majority of students Tn Arkansas re- celve training for citizenship and life all-important task of elevating the standard of service in our schools It IS Of primary importance that the men and women who engage in t.le cause of educatlon should have the necessary skill to perform their duties efficiently The mistakes of a bungIing artisan may be corrected, but he who errs in build ing human character commits an ire trievable mistake, The normal as the training school for our teac ITS. is a valuable and necessary part of our edu- cational system
 The benefits to agriculture caused by the extension of scientific learning cannot be oVerestimated. Arkansas is blessed with abundant and varied re- sources It's greatest promise lies in the advancement of agriculture. The conservation of soils. the Improvement ,1t of culture methods. the diversification Of crops and the reclamation of waste places will bring prosperity and con- tentment to those enga~e1 in the fun damental pursuits of agrculture Wheth- CT the present methods and patronae ee warrant the maintenance of four agri- cultural schools may he questioned we must give to the youth of the state the opportunity to acquire in our homo schools that love for lTfends and farms and homes which comes from well-t.i- rected efforts and ampIy rewarded toll
 The university is the crown anl glory of our e1uca tional system. What ever mistakes may have emharasea ] it's usefulness in the past. let us raise form it's mana%ement that it's usafulnoss may be eNten1e1. r. ueedelesS offices exist, let us abolish ttem If the pres ent methoa of choosing trustees has what more unse1fish end can I pursue than to abdicate the power of appoint ment ans secure fair provision for se- lectn% the university trustees?
 Make no mistake abont it. The en- cnrlng glory of state denends not so much on its accummat;ons of woaf.. as upon the character of it's institutions. Good schools attract desirable citizens. promote patriotisnl and intelli1ence and are among the chief factors of reform.
 Banking.
 Our banking laws, both state and national, are antiouated and subject our banks to financial and 0oliticaI comui- nations. Consideration should be de voted 10 the establishment of a more elastic svstem of banking designed to protect the public from panics.
 Highways.
 Our road laws should be carefully codified and revised. Considerable sums of money are now being collected hv taxation for road purposes. but our system of highways is lacking in per manence, and by reason of the inpro- vi1ent method bv which public road funds are expended it is duastfona ble if the benefits deriveG are adequate to the cost, The disiointc1 and uuhusiress- like method of constructing and rerafr- ing roads which ba building of highways If the e0nStitu- tion were amended to permit the ssu- ance of bonds at a low rate of interest and the proceeds applleT at once to the construction of permanent hielwavs. the increased value of property and the consequent development O. resources would meet the oblipat-ous when matur- ed. This subject is of far-reaching i'm portance Good roads are indispensable to industrial development. We are far behind many other sta tes in this regard.
 Pe1itent.a-y,
 '"The board for the control of peni- tentiarv affairs she Ild be reorrani2e l. The state officers WHO now compose the board have not sufl cient time to supervise it's affairs. The board shoul 1 be selected either by popular vote or by the general assembly. Power shoul he vested in the governor to remove for incompeteney, neglect or malicious nal. feasance in office
 Recent overflows of the Mississippi river and its tributar;es have devas- tated vast areas of fertile lands imper- ileN many lives and occasioned the loss of millions of dollars to the citizens of Arkarsas and of other states in the Mississippi valley. The extraordinary character of the presesr overflow in the central and lower valley Is probably at trioutahle in rart to the unusual and premature melting of ice anu snow dur ing the present season in the upper re- sions of the Missouri and the conse- 1ennSitS of bo w for ipfO ho Mississippi more than month in ad- vance of the usual me. The so-calle June rise of the Mississippi is phe- nomenon fre0uentlv observed but imper- fAotlv cOmprehenaed. Two months is usually required for the upper Missouri waters to reach the Mississippi The breaking and melting which generally harners in April began this wear con iLc.,-