The Monticellonian., 1917-01-18


this state las been greatly abused In many
instances the require ents OF tho law as to
publications OF petitions in the county whore
the crime WAS committed have not been
observed pardons have been granted
through political influences before the CON
Ntcted parties ever left for the pentten-
tiary. and the merits OF the petitions for
pardon have not been carefully examined.
1 fully sympsthize with the heart racking
experience OF all governors, who earnestly
desire to temper Justice with mercy and tn
whose heserns the milk OF human kindness
flows In ever widening streams. yet the
governor. the chief executive OF the state.
charged with the solemn aud sacred duty
OK seeing that the laws OF the land are
properly enforced must remember that
Sovereign law. cur states collected will.
Should sit empress, erowning good repress-
Ing NJ"
Tn ORDER that the governor may not de-
vote the majer portion OF his time 70 con
stderatton OF applications for pRrdons and
tH order that every pardon may be acted
on strictly according 10 lis merita free from
pasticai influences. Connecticut. Illinois In
dtHSs Michigan. Minnesota. MssisriRpi Ne
rraska. Nevada. North Dakota Texas and
wyoming have created advisory pardon
boards which consider all applications for
pur1ons ard make their Teeomme dAtions
to tire governor. Ths governors OF the
states mentioned Invariably follow the rec
concentrations OF tho boards. and thus the
granting refusal 10 grant pardons Is
inarety peffuRetofy act their part
This means tremendous saving in the
{
vote TO the confederation OF weishty public
questions and At the time insures
thorough going consideration OF al appii-
cations fer pardans on their merits
Good Reads
Arkansas has no greater need than good
roads. not only for travel, but for the chea p
transportation Of farm products This year
state has golden opportunity to be-
gin a conf rshtnstve system OF road build
ing which Will eventually Rrtdiron our com
monweaith With a vast network Of improved
arNaH..~
shack1eford good roads bill passed hy the
last Congress, asa 900 is available lmme-
diately and viii he available until June
20 1917. The amount Arkansas should rs=
ceiye for Its 1917 appo rtionment Is tttf coo !.
/ for IalB. S74P GEO. and by continuing the
addition OF sum slightly increasing the
amount Tor the first yesr, $50 900 each
year for a period Of five years the RRsrs
rate sum Of s. Zoo 600 which also Includes
forest reserve fu% is. RtN have been receieed
at the end Of five years from the federal
government for upon the states roads
However. te receive this federal AID TIE
state will have to Appropriate Nbsrsliy for
the CAUSE OF good roads for the next five
years The 900 nov ayailsbls for Ark
znsas can be used unless the present
general assembly makes provision for a
Similar amount and authorizes ApprepriA-
tons 70 meet the government EIlotmsnts for
the next Two years II the state snow
visible sources from which the money can
he derived FOR three years. the requirements
y the federal government will have been
mt
Auto Tax Amendment
4 therefore recommend that the general
assembly amend the automobile tar law 80
a. to divert the entire lax into Il state fund
10 be used By tie advisory board OF the state
highways commission. which shall consist
o. the state highway engineer, the consult
ing state highway engineer. and one mem
Der TO he appointed ny tho governor for a
term Of two year,. all TO receive their act
uai travelling expenses and in addition there
to the member appointed by the governor
a per diem Of 10
st. Frencis Levee Road
The people OF Eastern Arkansas most
vitality concerned have been clamorinK for
years for elective rather than an ap=
pointive St Francis isvee board. More than
two years ago mass meeting OF represent
sttye citizens WAS called in Marion. in Crit
tendsn county. and, after fun and free dis
eussion Of the question, committee was
appointed 10 draft slectivs law bill
smsodyinE the ideas OF this COMMITTEES was
introduced by Senator Vann and by Repre-
sentative Robertson and passed by over
vhelming matoTities in both branches. but
was vetoed BY the governor too late to pass
X over his veto. II similar measure is
passsd by your honorable body shall
promptly sign It l believe in the interest of
economy that the present membership on
this board should be reduced from "a to Ia.
giving zach cesnty two directors and that
these directors should be elected by the
qualified electors residing in each county
who have owned land In the levss district
for six months prior TO the election of d.
feclofs Il Ia not right thAt the RXpsndl=
turs OF miiiions OF dollars for leves pur-
possr should be vested in political board
appointed BY the governor and Amenabis to
his will. matter who Is governor be-
cause this frequently means that the lazy
ing OF political tribute Is matter Of more
vital concern TO tho governor than the ievss-
Ing OF the Mississippi river and Its tribu-
tsries
Moral Reforms
No people can oysr rise higher than their
ideals hrkausas has been practically re
the degrading Influences OF the liquor traf-
fic by the passage OF state wide prohibi-
ton law and by the defeat In the recent cleo
ton In no unmistaksble terms Of Act No g.
which would have meant not the restoration
of local option. about which good people
differ, but the introduction of a saturnulfA
OF license and immortality such as he state
has never Witnessed. But heavy Interstate
shipments of liquor continue and / believe
this evil should be regulated by the passage
of a law. similar to Alabamas prohibiting
the publication of liquor Advertisements In
our nswspe pert and taxing every package o =
liauor coming into tho state The Webb
Kenyon bill. recently passed by Congress-
makes the police power OF a state full and
ptenary, and / believe Arkansas should take
advantage OF this fact to save tho boys Of
the rising generation from certain deEra-
dation tax Of say SO cent? per gallon on
every gallon OF whisky coming into the
state and of 80 cents per every case
of wine coming into the state would produce
substantial rsysnus, II enforced but I
urge the adoption OF this some similar
tax, not as revenue producer but primar-
lily extension of tho police power of
the state In checking dangerous and ne
far!ous traffic
Psbhc Utilities Commission
Practically every state bordering Arkansas
has public utilities commission having
Jurisdiction over railroads. street railways.
telegraph and telephone lines gas and cleo
trio com panies and all common carriers
operating within tho state This idea Of
properly controlling the rates franchises
an9Iff hon
competition OF public service corporations
has become popular that within the Last
decade So states have secured regulation of
all public utilities through such commits
sion.
ouch regulation could be ACCOMPLISHED
very effectively and economically IN Ark
ansas. 1t seems TO me. by simply enihrHtng
IN. Jurisdiction Of the reilroad conirni4.
sion 80 as to include the supervision Of
all public utilities. the only additional ar-
penss attached 20 buch a plan being thF
employment Of technical expert TO act
with the three members OF the railroad
commission. and perhaps an additional Sc
rotary such commission. II created
would not only reduce rates as Consumers
which are IN many Instances exorhitsHt
in Arkansas. especially In the case Of long
distance telephones. but could supply The
tax commission with valuable Information
on questions OF physical valuations SUCH
data n iudts pensable II the tax com
mission Is TO really perform It, functions
state boRrd OF equalization especially
II Il i given the power of -assesstueut I
rsspeetfuiiy recommend TO the general AZ
semhY that the railroad commission h. an=
larged as 70 jurisdiction supervision nd
membership 20 as 70 enable It TO control
all public utilities
Absent voters Law.
81 believe that justice to the great body
Of our commercial travellers, railroad men
and other citizens who frequently called
away from home By business and emergency
cases on election day justifies the passsss OF