The Prescott daily news., 1920-06-11

It pc passed, 1t will be possible for a
 county to initiate local or county laws,
 and the same as to cities and towns.
 Also, the people may invoke the refer
 endum locally, that is, counties and
 municipalities may hold up the opera
 ton of and call for vote upon any
 measure passed by the legislature. Under the operation of this amend
 ment the legislature would be required
 to attach the emergency clause on
 measures only where emergencies actu
 ally existed. It would require that the
 emergency be defined in the bill and
 then two-thirds of each House would
 have to vote affirmatively in order to
 retain the emergency clause
 l feel that should give some at
 tention to this amendment because it
 constitutes logical remedy against the | abuses of local legislation
 Constitution.
 No state has a better constitution
 that Arkansas. Such changes as are
 necessary should be effected through
 amendments. I remember very dis
 tinctly th espirit that pervaded the convention which drafted our present
 constitution. Then, as now, the ques-
 tions of finance and taxation were up-
 permost, and the framers of that in- strument devised it so as to throttle those who wanted to create multitude of useless offices to "harass the people and eat out their substance" The great purpose of the able and patriotic
 men who drew that instrument has been thwarted through various methods of evasion on the part of executiv
 and legislative departments, aided by some doubtful constructions by tn Supreme Court.
 If am elected governor, it will be my supreme desire to set an example of constitutional observance, and where possible I will influence the General Assembly to further that idea. Some notable violations of our con- stitution are to be found in the crea tion
 of additional obligations through "emer gency proclamations" by the governor
 the diverting of appropriated funds to
 other purposes than those set out in
 appropriation acts by the legislature, the shocking abuse of the emergency
 clause in the acts of the General As
 sembly, and the wholesale passage of
 local and special bills by the Legisla- ture without notice to the locality af fected.
 High Cost of Government.
 The Nations greatest problem today is taxation. Our own state is burdened
 with too much public expense. Citie and towns are grappling with the prob lem of funds I say to you, that it is the supreme duty of citizens and publi officials to look to the instituting O more efficient methods of governmen in public improvements. There shOul be reduction of these expenses. Tn continued rule of the politicians prom ises no relief.
 Useless Offices and Commissions There is a great deal of difference between theory and practice. The the ories of students of political science d
 not always work out. It is not neces
 sary to question the motives of all O those who would make of our stat government a laboratory of experimen
 tation, but it is glaring fact that som of the offices and commissions spring ing from this hotbed of experimenta tion are worse than useless.
 I favor the abolishment of the Cor poration Commission. The people have
 never asked for such function. I favor the abolishment of the Board of Control of State Charitable Institu tions, which costs many thousands
 dollars a year Nobody doubts tha this board is up to it's eyes in politics and obstructs, rather than promote the efficient operation of the state char itable institutions favor an honor
 ary board, one member from each Con- gressionaI district. Women should be ,o,,rocon tod on this hOa rd Ifs members