The Harrison times., 1917-01-20

auAner OF mAI. Ne can provide for
needed accommodations and extensions N
connection with the Confederate Home. and
we can take steps 10 see that the fail pre-
rata allowed each veteran under the pres.
snt law Is 800 per year. Instead Of $50 AZ
at the present time. This pro rata Is fixed
BY the sise OF the tar rate and the mum.
bsr Of pensioners. I am informed BY prom
lnsnt and thoroughly reliable Confederate
veterans that there are many Instances Of
fraud in connection with our pension rolls.
which need purging: that this fraud arises
In most cases because there are some amont
the le.7S1 pensioners on our rolls who de-
serted the Confederate army or who left ths
army without any legitimate OF lawful eH-
ouss. and others who perjure Themselves
as being psupers. when, as matter Of fact
they are in good circumstances are now
on the pension rolls. Three years ago Ala
bSma created pension commission. which.
after an Investigation purged the pension
ron n that state Of about ens-third OF the
pensioners. ~ad | am frank 10 cay that II
the general assembly creates an honorary
commission. composed Of Confederat, prl-
diorS or their sons. 10 supervise the houS.
| will promptly sign the bill and Incur what
ever OF criticism may attach 10 the creation
Of new commission.
school for Girls.
There Is need for an Industrial school
for girls in Arkansas. Such a school could
two cottages on the site OF the present re-
form school and converting the present
building into class rooms, gymnasium and
administration rooms the girls TO be graded
according TO age and moral conditions. The
state charities board. especially II al least
two women were on the board. might very
properly have general control and super
vision selecting woman superintendent
The present reform school for boys is iJ-
Gated on very undesirable site where
there is little opportunity for gardening AID
marketing Industrial work. and another
location should be secured at once II ne
real reform Of the boys who are minated 10
TO be effected, for rocky and idle brains
certainly constitute the dsvil's workshop
Penitentiary Conditions
"Penitentisry conditions in Arkansas are
disgrace. Any prison system which ex-
cuses wrongdong and unflts wronsdoers
to discharge the ordinary duties OF c!tIGcn-
ship stands self-con demned always pro-
Vlded that men and women are capAbl4 OF
being bettered while in custody Of the
state While the appraisers biennial re-
port shows that the state penal us'ltd-
tions are worth il,Oss,602 and that or pa
raised on the Cummins and Tucker farms
this year were large. both in quantity and
value, and while generous allowance
may be made for the damage done by floods
In 1915 and 1915 which was estimated at
approximately S255,0GO yet from an eco
nemlc standpoint there seems to be lttle
excuse for the necessity Of Issuing de-
nciency proclamation OF about $4,000 to
pay the running expenses OF rich bottom
farms and no excuse for the purchase by
the board Of penitentiary commissioner
of tract OF uncleared woodland.
1T has been charged that the treatment
OF our convicts on the state farms is oftsn-
times inhumane, unsanitary and degrading;
that the food provided has been unwhole.
some; that both clothing and bedding of he
convicts Is sometimes filthy and unsan!.aIy.
and that they are oftentmes require to
wear their stripes for three Ts1tI at a tims.
without change, in spite Of the fact that
there Is an abundance of stripes AMI stripe
material at the wallis; that adequlte hes
pital and clinical facilities have not been
provided; that filters have not been installed
on at least one Of the farms to insure
palatable and pure drinking water; that
on the Cummins farm nightgowns soap
and sheets are scarce, and dirty ticks. fat
backs' and officers are plentiful. Not only
should a thorough investigation Of these
charges be made by a legislative commit
tee, but the commission for the investigation
OF our penal and charitable institutions II
created, should enter upon Its work zeal
Ously and begin with the state convict
farms
An Advisory Board
"In my opinion the pardoning power Of
this state has been greatly abused in many
instances the requirements Of the law as to
publications Of petitions in the county where
the crime was committed have not been
observed; pardons have been granted
through political influences before the con-
victed parties ever left for the peniten-
t!ary, and the merits Of the petitions for
pardon have not been carefully examined.
l fully sympathize with the heart -racking
experience Of all governors, who earnestly
desire to temper justice with mercy and in
IL
flows in overwhelming streams yet the
governor, as the chief executive Of the state,
charged with the solemn and sacred duty
OF seeing that the laws OF the land are
properly enforced must remember that
Sovereign law, our States ,lected WILL
Should sit empress, crowning good, repress-
ing ILL.,"
"In order that the governor may not de-
vote the major portion of his time TO a con-
sideration Of applications for pardons. and
In order that every pardon may be acted
or strictly according to its merits free from
pot ical influences, Connecticut, Illinois In
disSa. Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ne
brasha, Nevada, North Dakota, Texas and
Wyoming have created advisory pardon
boards which consider all applications for
pardons and make their recommendations
to the governor. The governors of the
states mentioned invariably follow the rec
concentrations OF the boards and thus the
granting or refusal to grant pardons Is
merely perfunctory act on their part
This means a tremendous saving in the
time OF the executive, which he can de-
vote to the consideration OF welghty public
questions and at the same time insures
thorough going consideration Of all appli-
cations for pardons on their merits.
Good Roads.
Arkansas has no greater need than good
roads not only for travel, but for the cheap
transportation OF farm products This year
our state has a golden opportunity to be-
gin comprehensive system OF road build
ing which will eventually gridiron our com
monweelth with n vast network OF improved
highways Under the provisions Of the
shackleford good roads bill passed by the
last Congress, $4,000 is available mme-
distely and will be available until June
30, 1917. The amount Arkansas should re-
ceive for Its 19l7 apportionment IS Sl66,000; :;
for 1918, $4,000 and by continuing the
addition of sum slightly increasing the
amount for the first year or $4,000 each
year for a period OF five years the aggre-
gate sum Of 81 200 900, which also includes
forest reserve funds will have been received
at the end OF five years from the federal
government for use upon the states roads.
However, to receive this federal aid the
state will have 10 appropriate literally for
tho cause OF good roads FOR the next five
years The $4,000 now available for Ark
hnses can not be used unless the present
general assembly makes provision for
similar amount, and authorizes appro pria-
tlons to meet tho government allotments for
the next two years II the state can show
visible sources from which the money can
be derived for three years, the requirements
by the federal government will have been
MT.
Auto Tax Amendment.
Il therefore recommend that the general
assembly amend the automobile tax law, so
as to divert the entire tax into a state fund,
to be used bN the advisory board Of the state
highways commission, which shall consist
o. the state highway engineer the consult