Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1917-01-11


flows in ever widening steams. 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 enforc
ed must remember tina.
Sovereign law, our states collected
will.
Should sit empress, browning good.
depressing i'll
In order that the governor may not
devote the major portion of his time
to consideration of applGations 70:
pardons land the experience of every
governor is that fully - per cent. Of
his time is devoted to this nerve and
heart racking experience, to the ne
elect of the important financial prob
lems demaHling thought and research)
and in order that every pardon may
be acted on strictly according to its
merits. free from political influences.
several states-Connecticut. Illinois
Indiana. Michigan. Minnesota, Missis
sirpi. Nebraska Nevaia North Da-
kota, Texas and Wyoming-have
created advisory pardon boards which
consider all applications fc~ pardons
and make their recommendations to
the governor. The governors of the
states mentioned invariably follow tn"
recommendations of the board, AMI
thus the granting or refusal to grant
pardons is merely a perfunctory ac,
VI
mendous saving in the time of the
executive. which he can devote to the
consideration of weighty public ques-
tons and at the same time insures a
thorough Agoing consideration of all
applications 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 4
golden opportunity to begin COM
prehensive system of road building,
which will eventually gridiron our
commonwealth with a vast network
of improved highways. Under the
provisions of the Shackelford good
roads bill, passed by the last COLI
gress, $4,000 is available immediate
ly and will be available until June 30,
1917. The amount Arkansas should
receive for its 1917 apportionment IS
Si66.000 for 1918. $249,000. and by
continuing the addition of sum
slightly ind easing the amount for
the first year. or $4,000 each year for
a period of five years, the aggregate
sum of $1,500,000. 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 to
appropriate literally to the cause ot
good roads for next five years. The
$4,000 now available for Arkansas
cannot be used unless the present
general assembly makes provision for
a similar amount, and authorizes ap-
preparations to meet the government
allotments for the next two years. If
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
net.
| therefore, recommend that the
general assembly amend the automo-
bile tax law. so as to divert the en-
tire tax into state fund, to be used
by the advisory board of the state
highway commission, which shall con
sist of the state highway engineer,
the consulting state highway engineer,
and one member to be appointed b.
the governor for a term of two years
all TO receive their actual travelling
expenses, and in addition thereto. the
member appointed by the governor :.
pc. diem of s..
st. Francis Levee Board.
Closely coordinated with the ideal
of honest government and elimina-
ton of machine rule is the problem,
of taking the administration of orr
levees out of politics. The people OF
Eastern Arkansas most vitality con
cerned have been clamoring for years
fer an elective rather than an ar-
pointive St. Francis Levee board.
More than two years ago mass
meeting of representative citizens
was called in Marion. in Crittenden
county and. after full and free dis
cussion Of the question. committee
was appointed to DRAFT an election
law. A bill embcdying the ideas of
this committee was int! oduced in the
senate by Senator Vann in the house
by Representative Robertson and