The Carlisle independent., 1920-12-16
STATE CAPITAL NEWS

Little Rock, Dec. 13.-The legisla- ture will meet in regular session four weeks from today, January 10. The prospects are still bright that this will be one of the warmest ses- sions held in many year. There has been for several weeks an under current of popular opinion gradually conyerging toward torrent that will break upon the heads of the lawmak- CTS when they meet the second Mon day in January. However, this does not mean that the reactionaries will necessarily be in the saddle, but it cannot be denied that there will be efforts for the enactment of legisla- tion radically affecting many condi- tions that now exist.
 At this time it appears that the outstanding features will be efforts to repeal many of the special road laws passed by the sessions of 1919 and a movement for retrenchment in government expenses, which will be exercised chiefly in the abolition of existing commissions and offices. If there IS to be another outstanding feature of the session, it vii probably be the support of educational institu- tions and the adoption of measures which will strengthen the public school system of the state. As re- suit Of the recent legislative trip in the North, the agricultural schools will profit largely in the newer and broader vision which has come to the lawmakers. There is not an institu- tion of the state which will not seek increased revenues for it's support. The University, the State Normal, the agricultural schools and the elee- nlosynary institutions will all ask for an increased millage on the ground that present revenues are wholly in- adequate and must be increased or the institutions be seriously crippled, if not forced to suspend entirely. By the time the legislature meets, the people will have already initiated and filed 9 petition for an amendment to the constitution taking the limit off school taxation and leaving the amount to be levied entirely to the will of the voters in the several dis tricts The legislature will be, there fore, relieved of this problem, but there are others far more serious for consideration.
 Governor McRae enters upon his ad- ministration thoroughly committed to policy of retrenchment and reform. He will insist that the Highway Com mission and probably other commits sions be abolished as now constituted For most of these, if not all, he would substitute honorary commissions con- sisting of state officers or private cit izens who will agree to serve in such capacity He will also insist that un- necessary offices and agencies of va rious kinds be eliminated as a matter of economy.
 Various departments of state will have their usual recommendation for If 1t were possible to adopt all the state would have constructive pro- gram that would mean much for it's material development. For instance, the Agricultural Department will rec ommend strongly an act providing for a geological and soil survey, and the publication of the unpublished reports of Dr. Branner when he was state geologist, as well as bringing down his published reports to the present time, that the state may have the benefit of the most thorough geologi- cal research. The development of oil ard gas resources within the last few years will present another prob dem for consideration of the lawmak- CTS. Something must be done to en- courage the development of this pro- duct for experts assure us Arkansas is underlaid with an indeterminate wealth that only awaits the drill of the prospector to make it available. One provision would be that the log of every well must be filed with the department as a permanent record. An act was passed in 1917 requiring these logs to be filed with the county clerk, but there being no means to en- force 1t, no attention is being paid to 1t. It will also be recommended that some provision be made for the state to lease school lands and river beds, for gas and oil wells. At present three is no law under which this can be done. Should the state develop rich fields of oil and gas, this provis- ion might possibly become a source of immense revenue for the state.
 The state is awaiting with much in terest the inaugural address of Gov ernor McRae, in which he will outline his policies and program for the wei fare of the state.