The Green Forest tribune., 1913-01-24
all ins

III yOa TL they are
 provisit Ieir prompt
 It is aI aren't that the
 our agric. al schools has
 id Approp ltions for dorn
 other buildt Es heretofore
 the last administration ha
 the total aF1ount now necesst
 | erly provide for the rap p. y..L l of these institutions. It is manifest that in some cases the usefulness and l success of these schools depends upon l prompt provision being made by the l General Assembly for equipment and i the comfortable housing of students. Detailed and itemized information con- corning the subject will be furnished agriculture cannot be overestimated. | Throughout the nation there has recent | ly been an awakening to the impor- i tance of this subject. You will doubt | less be as liberal as the existing con 1 ditions of the general revenue fund will permit. It is contemplated that our l agricultural schools, with other edu- cational institutions, shall be placed on q special tax rate If this is done it | cannot become effective during the pres ent fiscal year, and it will still be nec- essary to provide for improvements re- | quired and for the deficits herein referred to from the general revenue fund.
 The appropriation heretofore made for a dormitory at the state normal was l known to be inadequate at the time the l same became effective. and it is now necessary to complete the building al- ready begun in order that it may be l used to provide in part for the rapidly i increasing number of pupils at the in stitution.
 The proper and liberal maintenance l of the University of Arkansas is sub ject which invites your earnest consid- eration. It's usefulness in the past may be greatly increased by proper legisla l tion and necessary reforms. No at 1 tempt is now made to discuss this sub- | nHf in dnf fn TC Nvad For la- l eial message.
 While institutions of learning main tained by religious organizations, and private schools are valuable part or | our educational system, the common schools maintained at public expense are it's foundation They are rightfully | entrenched in the confidence and affec- tions of the people. The most general | ly accepted test of civilization is the dissemination of intelligence among the masses. When free school has become | accessible to every student; when the | influence of the teacher has extended to every home, and to those who are l homeless; when our institutions Of l higher learning have been placed on a l permanent basis and freed from poll | tics. ignorance and crime will be d1min- | iShed, and the states title to a place among the foremost will become se- cure.
 The report of the board of charities l discIoses that a deficiency of fifteen thousand dollars exists in the appro- priation for the Confederate home. It will, Of course, be necessary to provide for this deficiency The inmates of this l institution are objects of love and ten der solicitude on the part of our entire citizenship. It is our pride and pleas ure to make provision for their com | fort. Many eX-Confederate soldiers l have suggested the advsability of Plac- 1 ing the home under a separate board to consist in part at least of veterans
 This suggestion is commended as 1 worthy of your consideration.
 The report of the Board of State l Charities, which has control of the Hos pitAY for Nervous Diseases, discloses a deficit of more than siXty-five thousand l dollars in the appropriation for that in
 stitution. comparison of the cost or
 maintaining this important and neces-
 sary institution with the cost of sim1-
 lar institutions in other states warrants
 the belief that it can be materially re-
 duced without impairing the efficiency
 of the service rendered, No valid req
 son appears for the payment of aFsal-
 ary of five thousand dollars pert an-
 num for the superintendent and also a | salary of thirty-five hundred dollars per
 year for the services of an expert
 alienist It would seem that this is un- | necessary. Of course, efficiency is al
 ways the first aim to be attained in the
 public service. It appears. however.
 that these expenditures are out of pro-
 portion to salaries generally paid.
 The reports of the Board of State '
 the Hospital for Diseases, the School
 for the Blind and of the Deaf-Mute
 Institute, containing valuable informa-
 tion and many recommendations, are
 available for your use. Many sugges-
 tions are therein submitted for your
 consideration. Legislation affecting
 these institutions and the Confederate home may better be presented in a sep
 arate message hereafter to be submit ted to you.
 Legislation for the St Francis levee
 district and for the University of Ar | kansas while perhaps not subordinate | in importance to some questions here | in discussed will be presented at an
 other time. It is not deemed advisable
 to confuse your deliberations with a | multiplicity of recommendations at one
 time.
 The more liberal maintenance of the | Arkansas National Guard with view te | improving it's efficiency, adviSability of | gradually establishing the kindergarten l in our common school system, the com plete survey of our public schools the | passage of an act providing for the | inspection of nursery stocks, and the | revision of our game laws are among
 other subjects which invite considera-
 tion and concerning which further sug- | gestions may hereafter be submitted. Estimates relating to certain institu- | tions are printed herewith as an appen-
 dix These estimates will require very careful consideration and for the most
 part should be greatly reduced
 There Is neither rivalry nor conflict
 between the Legislature and the gover-
 nor. Our functions are distinct and
 well defined In recommending legisla-
 tion, the executive performs consti- l tutional function. The present chief
 executive will keep constantly in mind
 the relative spheres of duty implied in
 the division of the powers of govern
 ment into three coordinate branches. i No attempt ought to be made, and there 1 fore none will be made to coerce your action or to influence it from any other standpoint than the high consideration of duty and public interest In approv- | ing or rejecting recommendations for | legislation by the executive, the Gen. eral Assembly is well within its right. i The policies and measures herein out l lined are. for the most part, the result
 of many months of patient labor No sense of vanity or pride in personal
 opinion should govern or be considered | in ~ratters of high public concern.
 Take these suggestions in the spirit l in which they are made Enact them
 into laws if, in your judgment, the pub | lie welfare requires. Modify them wherein you believe them to be defect
 i've. Reject them if, in yoir conscience,
 work together at all times for the ad- vancement of the state. The policy of
 this administration as manifested in the
 laws enacted will prove powerful fac
 prosperity of our people. Patriotism l and the progress of Arkansas prompt
 us to manifest spirit of justice 10 every interest. Fidelity to conscience
 attributes of meritorious public service. l Solutions of questions however impor- l tant and difficult, can never be far
 wrong when worked out in this spirit.
 nary circumstances, but gave warn ing that in his opinion the people at tho ,,olJc ;,, Novo,,,lo Sloo;Jo,3 {