The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-07-27

1fulISt ana Snoulu De cleared ana put
into cultivation by the boys in the
state reformatory. This tract should
be thoroughly prospected, and its ca
liabilities and value fully ascertained
so that it may be developed and fully
utilized.
Other Matters of Importance.
This is only an outlien Of what
should be undertaken by the next
state administration in the, interest
of the economical expenditure of the
revenues that will be available dur
ing the biennial period of 1919-1920.
There are many other matters of
more or less Importance to which !
have not referred. It must not be
lost sight Of, my fellow citizens, that
the power to carry these and other
economic reforms into execution does
not rest entirely, or even in a strict
sense, at all, with the governor of
the state. He may recommend and
urge upon the legislature the adop-
tion of statutes, but if the members
of that body are not in harmony with
his views, to them is given the power
by the Constitution to refuse the re-
quested relief in whole or in part.
am certain that Tennessee will make
a long stride forward along the road
of efficient government when by
amendments to the Constitution the
governor shall be given the power to
veto certain items in an appropriation
bill, without being compelled to dis
approve an entire statute. However,
until that power shall be given him
it is necessary, and especially at this
critical time in our affairs, that men
of large views and patriotic purposes
be elected to the two houses of the
General Assembly.
The budget bill enacted by the leg
islature of 1917 was a notable achiev-
ment, and a long step toward the
elimination of all extravaganza in
public affairs. If / am governor !
shall submit to the legislature a
budget containing only necessary and
legitimate items of expense Of the
state government, and placed in such
budget with the fundamental idea
that every dollar derived from the
people in taxation must yield it's full
return.
State Institutions.
An effort is being made in this
campaign to create some sort of po-
litical Issue out Of the passage in 1915
of what is known as the Board of
Control statute. In my opinion the
management of the states charitable,
educational and penal institutions is
to be directed solely along enlight-
ened sociological lines, and simple
business methods, unmixed with the
questions Of supposed advantage to
political factions or their leaders. /
think there can be no doubt that the
statute in question must be amended
in some important particulars. Es-
peeially should the absolute power
over the management of these i'm
stitptions be vested in local author
tiles in direct touch with and con-
slant supervision over them. These
institutions are widely scattered and
are radically different in their OBJ
iects and purposes. It is manifest
that the reasons for the creation and
maintenance of charitable, education
al and penal institutions are so widely
at variance that it is doubtful if they
have anything whatever in common,
Therefore, instead of centralized
power, there should be a wise distri-
button of powers among those who
are charged with the actual admins
tration of the affairs of these insti-
buttons. This would result in dimin-
ishing the overhead expense, and in
my opinion, insure greater efficiency
in their operation.
Confederate Soldiers.
Tennessee has dealt more tenderly
and generously with her Confederate
1oldiers and their widows than has
any other southern state. This gen.
erous policy should be religiously adj
hered to. We honor ourselves in hon
oring them, and do them but simple
Justice in contributing literally to
their support in their declining years.
Schools.
One third of the gross revenue Of
the state is applied to public school
purposes. From an insignificant sum
in the beginning our annual expendi-
lures have grown until we now spend
the munifcent sum of over one and
one-quarter million dollars annually
on our public schools. Although our
public school system has greatly i'm
nroved in recent years, it is still far
from perfect, especially in the rural
communities. When it is remembered
that but a very small percent of our
population ever matriculate in high
school or college, the Importance Of
the primary school will appear. These
primary schools should be our chief
concern, for in them alone the edu-
cational training of the masses of
the voters who will shape the des-
tiny of the state must be given. The
boy must be prepared for the duties
of citizenship, and if the primary
school is neglected the loss falls heav-
'lv on the state as we'll as upon the
child. Having attended the common
schools, taught there, and served as
county superintendent of public in
struction, / am in full sympathy with
them. and if an opportunity is offered
me will use al 1.-The means at my COM
mand to improve them by supplying
better teachers with better pay, longer
terms and better equipment. No in
vestment will pay better dividend
than money expended for good
schools.
Agriculture.
The department of agriculture is
one of the most important branches
of the state government. Under the
present system great benefit has been
conferred upon the farmers and many
thousands Of dollars annually turned
into the treasury. Yet believe that
this department may be improved and
made more responsive to the needs
of the agricultural classes.