The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1917-19??, 1918-06-22

~-~NJ~.N1~1~.~.~-~.~.NsN NsN~NN0NN1NSNsNNSNs~J~~
with this deluge of laws? The con-
scientious person must mostly engag go
himself in borrowing thru books tC
know what he lawfully may or may
not do. This excess of legislation
must cease. 1t has become an un-
| bearable menace to the ordinary right
of the citizen. 1t keeps legitimate
business in constant suspense. Pub
lie sentiment, which is fial arbitel
of all things in this country, must
end this stream of needless law. II
breeds lack of respect for good law
1t causes citizens to violate the law
without criminal intent, through ex-
cusable ignorance 1t clogs the courts
with frivolous cases. 1t causes the
state and counties heavy costs, be-
cause sensible juries will punish
violations of petty statutes.
Private Acts
The volume of private acts expand
ed into a flood at the last session
There were 1926 of them. They ranged
from sublime to ridiculous. Many OF
/ them were unnecessary, because OF
existing laws to the same effect. The
same act was repassed in several in
stances. The jurisdiction of the
courts should be uniform, but special
acts for special counties were passed,
with such powers, and so conflicting
with the jurisdiction of the existant
courts that litigants and witnesses
are in constante motion. The sig
nificant fact is apparent that statutes
of general and important character
are passed with limited application
in order to avoid opposition. Such
has become legislative habit. The
executive must, hereafter, inspect pub
lie and private acts with like care
and exercise the veto with discrim-
mating vigor. The prevention of bad
or useless legislation is the best ser
vice which can be rendered. My ap-
peal to our people is to forget all
small and trivil things that mature in
narrow minds, and for US to think and
TO act with wider Vision and With
larger purpose. Let us again set the
stage in Tennessee by the memories
and traditions of a noble past, and
people it with worthy actors, whose
minds may visualize and breath the
highest ideals of proud and historic
race, and so act our scene in the
drama of time that all future players
may exert themselves to higher parts.
Chief Issue
The chief issue in the mind of all,
insofar as public matters have re-
ceived any consideration, is the re-
formation of our fiscial system. to the
end that the revenues of the state may
meet it's fixed charges and legislative
appropriations without an annual de-
ficlte. 1t is apparent that the disas-
ter of early bankruptcy will ensue
unless the existing situation is cor
rected. The annual dificit in our ac-
count is now in excess of 100000.
This cannot continue. Everybody ad-
mits the necessity of relief. All pro-
iects of new expense must wait on
the improvement of our finances. 1t
is an affair of practical business
which must be entrusted to somebody
for solution. 1t cannot be settled on
paper Specious words will not ac-
complish it, The people must confide
in the sagacity and executive quali-
ties of some one to perform this. inn
portant service. 1t is their patriotic
duty to exercise the best judgement
in such selection. Any program which
might be offered for the recorganiza-
tion of our finances would be subject
to revision as the details of the COM
plex situation were unfolded. 1t will
require tact and diplomacy in the ex-
ecution of the task, because the gov
ernor must act in conjunction with
the General Assembly. 1t will require
courage and firm pur-
pose. The people must choose the
candidate with these qualities. The
plain fact is that the state is annually
spending more money than it is re-
ceiying. No private business with the
powers of the sovereign would find
itself in this situation. The necessary
expense of the state is limited and it
has the power to fix it's own income.
Any private organization which could
limit its expense and also prescribe
its receipts would flourish as the pro-
verbal bay tree. Why does the state
languish in arrears? The only answer
is that it's custodians have exercised
or bad Judgment, and
have been accordingly deficient in the
of their trust. 1t is
manifest that the state must spend
less or collec more, or do both to re-
lieve it's predicament. If it spends
less, then economy should be applied
where the least harm will result to
the valuable agencies of the govern
ment. If it collects more then the