The Green Forest tribune., 1917-01-19

opinion, II fig simply question of time until county superintendency will be uni versally adopted by the counties of Arkansas voluntarily. so why postpone giving theo, the benefits which both theory and practice demonstrate will flow from it.
 Control of Charitable Institutions.
 "Of all the institutions of the State. none lies nearer the hearts of the whole people than the so-called charitable institutions those for the of the blind. the deaf and dumb and the insane. l have purpose y omitted the care of the feeble and needy Confederate soldiers, because they should not be treated as objects of charity. They are entitled to the gratitude and liberal support of the rising generation who ad- mire the heroism of the who placed their bodies living walls between their honest convictions as to the great doctrine of states rights and those who were equal ly as honestly opposed to them. In another part of my messa ge I shall discuss ths sep arate control of the Confederate Home. All of these institutions should ever be held high above all partisan and political influ- ence and should never become spols in the hands of any man set of men and should be dealt with and considered solely with view to the proper care of those who come within their walls Patriotism. pure and simple, and humanity in its tenderest phases
 Believing strongly in the merit and eff ciency of the honorary board system, 1 re- spectfully recommend to the general assem- bly that the present salaried charity board be abolished and, in lieu thereof there be created an honorary poard or seven mem- bers. two of whom shall always be females from each Congressional district, who EAaH receive a per diem of s and actual travelling expenses. these members to be ap- pointed by the governor for term of six years, beginning April 1 after their ap- pointment; provided that of the first board two shaf serve two years, two four years and three for six years their appointments to be confirmed by the joint assembly of tho two houses. The board should elect paid secretary, not a member of the board, at a salary not exceeding S2,20e per annlm, who should have other employment dur Ing his term of service; superintendent for terms not exceeding four years, his salary to be fixed by the board, who, with the board, should have supervision over the steward to the kind, quality and quantity of the supplies to be purchased. and who Is to be held to strict accountability for the administration of the institution.
 Confederate Veterans.
 "I heartily endorse the present 2 mills Confederate pension tax and wish that rle financial condition of the state was such that this tax could be increased by quarter of mill. We provide for needed accommodations and extensions in connection with the Confederate Home. and we can take steps to see that the full pro rata allowed each veteran under the pres ent law Is S1o0 per year, instead of sso as at the present time. This pro rata is fixed by the size of the tax rate and the num- Der Of pensioners. I am informed by prom inent and thoroughly reliable Confederate veterans that there many instances of fraud in connection with pension rolls, which need pusging that this fraud arises In most cases because there are some among tho le,7e1 pensioners rolls who de- serted the Confederate army or who left tho army without any legitimate Or lawful cuse' and others who perjure themselves as being paupers. when, matter of fact, they are in good circumstances are now on the pension~rolls Three years ago Ala bama created a pension commission, which tipratt ttfr f,a roll in that state of about one-third of the pensioners. and l frank to say that n the general assembly creates an honorary commission, composed of Confederate scl- dlers or their sons, to supervise the Homs, l will promptly sign the bill and incur what ever Of criticism may attach to the creation of a new commission.
 School for Girls.
 sThere is heed for an industrial school for girls in Arkansas. Such school could be established on modest scale by building two cottages 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 if at least two women were the board. might very properly have general control and super vision, selecting a woman superintendent The present reform school for boys is lo- cated on a very undesirable site where there IS little opportunity for gardening al d marketing industrial work. and another location should be secured at once, if he real reform or the boys who are inmated IS to be effected, for rocky and idle brains certainly constitute the devils workshop ,
 Penitentiary Conditions.
 Penltentiary conditions in Arkansas are disgrace Any prison system which ex- cuses wrongdong and units wrongdoers to discharge the ordinary duties of citIEcn- snip stands selt-condemned, always pro- vlded that men and women capable of |. being bettered while In custody of the state. While the appraisers biennial re- port shows that the state penal ust.tu- tions are worth Sl,Os9,6o2 and that CT .ps raised on the Cummins and Tucker tarnls thls year were large, both in quantity and value. and while @ generous allowance may be made for the damage done by floods in 1915 and 1916 which was estimated at appro&imatey SZo5,OOO, yet from an eco homie standpoint there seems to be little excuse for the necessity of issuing a de- hciency proclamation of about s45,OOO to pay the running expenses of rich bottom farms and no excuse for the purchase by the board of penitentlary commissioners Of a tract of uncleared woodland
 Tt has been charged that the treatment Of our convicts on the state farms is often- times nhumane, unsanitary and degradinx: that the food provided has been unwhole- some; that both clothing and bedding af he convicts is sometimes filthy and unsanieaiy and that they are oftentimes requirei to wear their stripes for three xs .,s5 at lime without q change in spite of the fact that there Is an abundance of stripes aul stripe material at "the walls": that adequ1ta .Irs- pital and clinical facilities have not been provided. that filters hfye not been installed on at least one of fhe farms to insure palatable and pure Drinking water; that on the Cummins faIn nightgowns. soap and sheets are searceV and dirty ticks fiat backs" and officers a a{e plentiful. Not only should thorough Investigation of these cdarGes be fnnde Fy H legislative commit :ee. but the commissiot for the investigation