Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-01-20
Governor Would Abolish
Corporation Commission

Little Rock, Ark.-Strict adherence
by the Arkansas Legislature to party
pledges, which, according to Gov
Thomas c. McRae, include abolish
ment of all useless offices and con-
solidation of many others, was urged
by the governor in his inaugural ad-
dress. The systems under which the
corporation commission, the State
board of control the highway commits
sion and the penitentiary commission
operate were severely arraigned by
the incoming governor and complete
adjustment of these bodies was de-
manded as part of the duty of the
legislators to their constituents.
The message was delivered to the
members of the General Assembly in
Joint session. and followed the final
message of Governor Brough in the
forenoon. The inaugural ceremonies
during the joint session also included
administration of the oaths of office
TO the governor and other constitu-
tional State officers.
The governors message also dealt
with the subject of pardons, the edu-
cational needs of the State, necessity
for laws governing agriculture, law en-
forcement and an executive budget
system.
The Arkansas Corporation Commits
sion was given a large share OF Gov
ernor McRae's address, and was de-
clared to furnish an incentive to ina
chine politics, to ring rule, to corrupt
political activity, to secret and i'm
proper influence in elections and ap
pointments."
Says Theory Vicious.
THE theory of a corporation COM
mission rule in this State is a vicious
one" the governor asserted. 1T rep
resents the bureaucratic form of
government. 1t is based on distrust of
the people 1t is the antithesis of home
rule It is opposed to the first card
inal principle OF the Democratic party.
Governor McRae recalled the abol-
ishment of the railroad commission
two years ago, and the substitution for
1t of the corporation commission. The
former, he said, spent s20, 450.02 from
April 1, 1917, to December 81, 1918,
and the corporation commission ex-
pended from April 1, 1919, to January
I, 1921, s63,15661. The commission,
he said has asked for 100000 for
maintenance during the next two
years.
The governor said he doubted the
need for a State railroad commission
since the extension of powers over
railroads of the Interstate Commerce
Commission and asserted his belief
that city councils, together with the
courts, If necessary, could handle all
problems of regulation of public util-
tiles. He insisted" that the Senate
refuse to confirm the recent appoint
ment of the three members of the cor
poration by Governor Brough, on the
ground that confirmation would be
out of harmony with the party pledge
to abolish the body.
A similar demand that the House
and Senate refuse to approve the APP
pointment of Fin Craig to the peniten-
tiary commission was made by Cover
nor McRae, whose program, as out
lined in the message, would provide
Tor abolishing the paid commission and
for creation of an honorary commits
sion to administer the affairs of the
;n1 FThic ic
sion, the governor said, should serve
without pay, and should supervise the
work of salaried men who were prac-
teal dirt" farmers as superintendent
of the two State farms. Such Sys-
TEN, he declared, would put the peni-
Tertiary on a paying basis, whereas it
now is being operated at loss and is
100000 in debt.
Not to Abuse Power.
The governor pledged himself not to
abuse the pardoning power of the chief
executive. reiterated that he would
consider no plea for executive elem
ency for convicts made through par
don attorneys, pardon brokers, or pro-
tessional politicians" and expressed
mis- opposition to the creation of a par
don board
The office of inheritance tax col
lector, the new executive declared,
should be abolished, and his duties
assigned to the office of the State Tax
Commission. The board OF control,
composed of three salaried commits
sioners, he said, should be abolished
and replaced by an honorary board.
Governor McRae said he admitted
the necessity for State highway de-
partment, but declared that to con
form with party pledges it would be
necessary to abolish the State High
way Commission, as it now exists. The
department, he said, was created sew
eral years ago and placed in the office
of the State land commissioner, posi-
ton then facing adjustment because
of lack of duties. The department