The Harrison times., 1917-01-20

vital copeern 20 the governor than the leyee-
ing Of the Mississippi river ana It's "'0'
tAries.
NO people can ever rise higher than thet
IDEALS Arkansas has been practically re-
deemed. regsnerated and dlsenthraned rom
the degrading Influences Of the liquor s
nc By the passage OF a statewide prohlo''
tion law and BY the defeat In the recent cleo
tion in no unmlstaksble terms Of Act NO,
which would have meant not tina restoraueh
Of local option about which good peops
differ, but the Introduction OF a satafhAhe
OF license and immortality such as the stats
has never witnessed. But heavy interstats
Shipments OF liquor continue. and oeHeW
this evil should be regulated by the passage
OF law. similar 10 AlRbamA's, prohibiting
the publication Of liquor Advertisements IN
our newspapers, and taxing every package oi
liquor coming into the state. Ths "eoo-
Kenyon bill. recently passed BY Congress-
makes the police power OF a st..e full and
plenary, and j believe Arkansas should taRe
advantass OF this fact to save the boys OF
the rising generation from a certain desra-
dalton. tax OF. say. 50 cents per gallon on
every gallon OF vhiskeys coming into the
state and OF 50 cents per case on every case
Of wine coming into the state would produce
q substantial revenue, II enforced, but
urge the adoption OF this or some similar
tax not as a revenue producer. but prlmar-
lily as an eItenslon Of the police power Of
farious traffic.
Public Utilities Commission.
Practically every state bordering Arkansas
has a public utilities commission having
Jurisdiction over railroads. street railways
telegrs phi and telephone lines gas and elec-
tric companies, and all common carriers
operating within the state The idea OF
properly controlling the rates franchises,
reserve capital bond issues. and terms OF
competition Of public service corporations
has become so popular that within the last
decs de 3s states have secured regulation Of
all public utilities through such commits
sion.
Such regulation could be accomplished
very effectively and economically in Ark
ansas. II seems to me, by simply enlarging
the Jurisdiction OF the railroad commits
sion so as to include the supervision Of
all public utilities the only additional ex-
psnse attached to Buch a plan being tho
en- ployment OF a technical expert to act
with the three members OF the railroad
commission. and perhaps additional seq
rotary. Such commission, II created,
would not only reduce rates as consumers,
which are in many instances eNorbitant
In Arkansas, especially In the case Of long
distance telephones but could supply tho
tax commission with valuable information
on questions OF physical valuations Such
data Is Indispensable II the tax COM
mission is to really perform its functions
II It Is given the power Of rs-assessment
respectfully recommend to the general as
sembly that the railroad commission be en-
larged as to Jurisdiction supervision and
membership, as TO enable It to control
all public utilities.
Absent Voters Law.
'T believe that justice TO the great body
81 our commercial travellers, railroad men
and other citizens who are frequently called
away from home by business and emergency
Eases on election day justifies the passage OF
a law permitting all bona fide citizens OF
The State, holding poll tax receipts to vote
in all State and national elections provided
the law is guarded by adequate provisions
requiring absolute Identification. Under tho
present conditions hundreds Of our best
citizens are virtually dsfranchised by con-
ditions over which they have no control
and thousands are put to great and
warranted expense on election day by being
compelled 10 return to their legal residences.
Colorado, Iowa Kansas Michigan, MsntE-
sofa Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota
Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washing.
ton, Wisconsin and Wyoming have absent
voters laws some even permitting voting 7
out OF the State and by mail. and these
laws have been invariably upheld by the
courts.
New Constitution.
"I am convinced that Arkansas needs
new governmental garments and that the
patchwork OF the initiative and referendum
will no longer suffice 10 make some OF our.
'hreadbare political necessities presentabe.
The constitution Of 1874 was framed by 4
able patriotic men ut time when recon ]
struction rule had Just been overthrown
and 48 years Of eventful history have dem
onstrated that many OF the wise provisional
of this constitution are eminently wise and
that our fathers bulded more wisely than
they knew. When the stage was set for
the drama enacted in the old state house at
Little Rock on July IA, 1874, one idea was
Lppermost in the minds Of the noble guar
dians OF the ark Of the covenant Of political
redemption; one ideal was nearest their
hearts The restraining hand of the peo-
pie must be laid upon their serva1Ys; lar
ceny OF public funds must forever be made
impossible; the domination Of the execu-
tive over the legislative and judicial de-
partments Of State must be terminated Linn
its upon the power Of taxation must be IRON
clad and the right to contract Interest,"
bearing debts by counties and municipah-
ties must be denied So the natural result
was a constitution with many restrictions
upon the exercise Of governmental power
BY the various instrumentalites Of govern
ment.
'T believe there are men in Arkansas to-
day able enough and patriotic enough to
write a constitution embodying all the good
portions Of the old constitution and incor-
poratng other provisions needful and appro-
pirate to existing conditions, which would
be an honor to the trainers and a blessed
boon TO posterity.
81 therefore respectfully recommend 10
the general assembly the passage Of an act1|
or a Joint resolution authorizing the callinsJ
of a constitutional convention, either next
summer or during the spring of 1918, pro-
vidlng for It's submission to the people for
ratification or rejection, fixing representa-
ton, the qualifications and compensation of
members
Conclusion.
Gentlemen of the assembly, l have pre-
sented TO you in very imperfect way my
views on some Of the important problems
which are now clamoring for solution In Ark
ansas have resorted to subterfugs,
evasion or mental reservation, believing that
the people OF Arkansas In this crisis in
history expect clean, honorable methods to
be pursued, without resort to political in
trigue big sticks and midnight caucuses.
knowing you personally, l have an abiding
faith in your patriotism and sense Of fair
ness and, whether agree or disagree on
public questions l feel sure that as your
governor I will receive fair and honorable
treatment at your hands and that our asso-
citation will be both pleasant and profitable.
Arkansas expects much Of u.s. for thors
Is much TO bo done. Wearing our
sciences as our kings and clad in tho armor
OF truth and civic righteousness, let US en-
ter upon the duties OF our high offices with
clearness OF purpose, vgor OF action, and
honesty Of conviction. Then when our de-
lIberatons shall have ended not only in this
beautiful capitol, which will stand through
the years as an enduring monument to thu
n atesty OF our great and growing common
wealth, but in tho legislative hall OF life,
we will be permitted an entrance into tho
great legislative hall above, that house
not built with hands, eternal In the hsav-
ems"