The Harrison times., 1915-01-16
Coz. HAYS Message to the
Fortieth General ASSEMBLY

Our revenue laws could be greatly
! improved. Under existing laws, il is
| almost impossible to secure fair and
! just valuation of all the property in
the state. 1t is much easier to reach
| those who are less able to pay taxes
| than il is those who have been more
| fortunate in aCCumulating this worlds
| treasures, 1t / unfortunate that
! those who are most able to bear the
! burdens of taxation are less willing to
! do so, and, as result OF same, we still
| have the tax dodger. II is true that
valuations have greatly increased, but
! not to a sufficient degree to meet the
| demands necessary in raising revenue
| sufficient for the running Of the state
| government without Increasing the
! rate OF taxation.
call your attention to this mat
! ter for your most serious cOnsidera-
! ton. when we realize that according
! 70 the federal census the property of
| the state Is valued at approximately
| one billion and n half dollars, with an
| assessed valuation OF approximately
! four hundred and fifty million dollars,
| we can readily see that there is some
| thing wrong. The rate Of taxation
! that IS being paid at this time is as
| nigh as 1t should be, and | would op-
! pose the Increasing Of same but If the
| property OF the state could be cquit-
| ably assessed we would have, at the
/
enue 60 relieve the state Of its indebt-
! edness and make larger appropriations
| Tor our educational and charitable in
| stltutions and run on a cash basis.
am also opposed TO n bond issue
! or TO the state borrowing money. ! be-
lieve that, with the proper practice Of
| economy and with the increased val
uatlons OF the property and other
sources OF revenue, we can pay the
states Indebtedness and soon be on n
cash basis, aS indicated above,
The liquor question is one that Is
not only attracting the attention OF
the citizenship Of Arkansas, but OF the
entire nation, This question is se-
rlouS one. II has played its part the
results Of which are apparent TO cv-
cry one, and It's day IS doomed in our
entire country. II has corrupted in
measure the politics Of the country and
legislation, The evil effects Of this
| trafiic cannot be told in words, It has
ruined and destroyed manhood, has
brought poverty to homes, has caused
| many hcortachcs and done more TO
/ dscrodit disOrgani2o and rctard the
moral upllft Of mankind than all other
evils combined, An investigation Of
| the records Of those who are confined
| in our state prison those who are CON
demncd TO die I'm the electric chair or
those convicted OF any other crime,
viii disclose the fact that the greater
the use Of intoxicating liquors You
VIII also nnd that this one evil Is re-
Sponsible for large per cent Of those
who are confined I'm the Institutions
OF nervous diseases, The liquor trafic
Is absolutely productive, except Of
diseases, Tho liquor traflc is abso-
lutely non-productivc except OF diss-
patton, II produces no wealth except
TO the few who are engaged In the
tratllc, II does not induce immIgra-
ton or capital to come 20 our state
The galc Of same only amounts 10 tho
Few dollars revenue paid by those as
privilege to engage In this business
on the other hand the millions OF dol
| lars spent In this manner can hardly
be estimated, which, II spent In moro
! Legitimate and moral channels would
raise the standard OF our citizenship
give US n greater and noblcr people
enable many to provide better for
their families In the way OF food
clothing, and to better educate their
children and make happier homes,
! would rccommcnd, In Wow Of all
these conditions, that You cnact
such legislation M viii submit this
question TO the voters OF the state nt
the general election TO be held In 1915
! This VIII be four years since the auoga
ton has been submitted, Should YOU
do this, | viii give a0mo my onolal
approval
such n bill, I would recommend that
you amend what In known ns the Go.
Ing Act 80 that the lIconsc for the slI
OF intoxicating llquora could be obtain
ed only In towns or cities Of over one
thousand white adult inhabitants and
also amend Same In such way az win
eliminate the enormous amount OF in
tcrminoblc legislation
II ~ unfortunate and dcplOrNblo that
proscnt conditions have arisen with
reference 10 the management Of our
charitable instltutlona | regret these
conditions probably moro than any
one In view Of the position that I now
| occupy II has been my cndcAvor for
n year since I learned that friction exa
listed between the hoard ana como of
the suporIntcndcuts, TO bring about
peace bctwccn the factions. have
Cshuustod all OF my resources In my
effort along these liuoa but the noy7
table came and we have u condition
now that certainly does not reflect
credit upon the state,
Tho board saw proper IN the con-
slwetlon Of power plant at the Hose
pltnl Tor Nervous Diseases, TO create n
dohcit This was done without my
knowledge or consent and the hrst |
know OF II was when the members ~
the board came 20 me In body 90 as
certain n ! could grant any relief I
informed them that HH this had been
NNI' WIS lNN 'Il'NN w N'lt NNNn w
the way of Issuing proclamation un.
der the law authorizing SUCH uH puaHs
cd by the General Assembly OF 1918
AZ my own Instance ! employed Hon
John a. llurkott uH expert accountant
ia audit the accounts Of ihiH instltuH
tiun and HE report has been filed with
me- to which ! invite your most ehrnz
est investigation Ills report shows
that there rs n deficit at this time of
Sl9,G72.gg, which was covered out ~
the appropriations made for other pur-
poses ] lnpdc no contract with Mr.
llurkott with reference 20 paying him
for thiH service, | stated To- MIN that
II the legislature dld not see proper
60 remunvrbte him, I would do SO out
OF my own salary I submit this mat
iptr FOR your confederation, I would
especially recommend that you givc
To- the report uf Mr. llurRptt your mont
careful confederation, ana that YOU
mako auun further inyoHtlEution ~
those Institutions nH In your Judgment
you may deem proper
I would recommend that YOU teFmiu
nate ull positions of truHteaH, Heorotas
rloH stewards, olou and that you cree
Uto cummiaHlun of three members
WhoHu duty N HhUll ho to devote their
entire tmu ana attention 10 the rum
ulnr pt these Institutions I believe I'M
thlH way they uHn hu run more sue
puHarullN, satisfactorily and economic
ally Under the present syHtrm the
amount appropriated FOR mileage and
DOR diem of tho tTUHipvH. HuiuFy Df tho