The Van Buren press., 1912-01-20
DOnaghey Fighting Bad Debts.
Arkansas, Executive is Sustained by
Supreme Court Judges.-AuditOr
Jube Saves Taxpayers Money.
Railroads are After the
Governor.

Little Rock, Jan. l6.-Gov
DOnaghey has won another fight
for the people through the declS
ion of the supreme court in the
claim of the Urgueart estate.
The case grew ont of the pur'
chase of the Urquhart land as q
s'ate farm and which has been
operated in connection with the
state penitentiary. At the time
of its purchase II years ago it
was agreed to pay interest on
part of the purchase price, and
later this was resisted, as was the
claim that part of the land III
cluded III the deed was in error
and had not been included IN the
tract sold by the Urquharts to the
state.
State Auditor Jobe refused TO
pay the interest when claimed,
and he was supported by Gov.
Donaghey. The Urquhart heirs
then sought 10 mandamus the
auditor and compel him to pay
the accumulated interest. The
lower court decided in favor of
/ the estate, but the state took an
appeal to the supreme court. The
| decision of last Monday means the
saving of several thousand dol.
| lars to the state. the supreme
court holding that although the
states agents bad contracted to
pay interest the state cannot leg
ally be forced to do so on its in
debtedness to citizen.
This decision is a great victory
for Auditor JObe and Gov. Doua.
ghey, and also scores a great tri-
umph for the taxpayers in the
protection Of their money.
The contentious over the i'm.
portant questions growing out Of
the purchase of the farm develop
ed into much bitterness at meet.
.ingS of the state peuitentiary
board, but they finally reached
the supreme court aud the state
has been sustained.
During the last session Of the
legislature the friends of the rs.
tate threatened to 60 before the
legislature aud secure the enact.
ment Of a law that would compel
the recognition of the deal made
10y former agents Of the state, but
the matter did not get before the
law makers.
The decision of the supreme
court enters INTO the ptesent CUB.
ernatOrial campaign, because the
matter is part Of the official rec.
ord of Gov. Douaghcy and upon
which he was bitterly assaied by
his enemies in the legislature and
throughout the state.
Gov, Donaghey has been &C.
cused Of disloyalty to friends, but
an analysis Of these claims always
shows that because he had the
courage to resist the demands Of
some people he in return is re.
ceiving their enmity.
"He is stubborn and won't do
AZ we wish him TO dO,N is the com.
mon remark that is heard when
an expression comes from the DO.
lilical enemies Of GOV. DOnaghcy.
and that's why the common pco.
pie love him-for the enemies he
has made.
Had Gov, Douaghcy listened
to the bchcst Of "big business ut
Little Rock he would today be
the idol ofa wealthy contingent
IN the capitol instead Of being the
mark for their yilupewtive shafts.
II he had remained silent ON the
question Of freight rates aud left
the farmers aud other shippers
without protection, he would not
today be fought by the railrond
iotcresta. As penalty he ia be.
Ing assatIcd by legal representa-.
tiycs ofraIroads in various coun.
ties, but this opposition will IN
time be turned to the benefit of
us well as that Of the tax.