The Mena weekly star., 1921-01-20
N'RAE DEMANDS FOLLOW PROGRAM
In Message Call for Abolition of Cor poratiOn and Penitentiary Commis- sion and State Board of Control.
 With General Policy of Economy.
From the Southwest American.


 control and drastic changes in several other branches of the states govern ment, together with a general policy o feconomy and efficiency, was recom- mended to a joint session of the legis- lature by Governor T. c. McRae in his inaugural message this afternoon in the house.
 lhe new governor lived up to the pledges he has made, meeting each is- sue of the gubernatorial campaign squarely and fairly and he received the closest attention from the mem bers of the house and senate and from he throngs that crowded the galleries lof the magnificent house chamber. At intervals his address was punctuated l ' applause and once or twice Speaker Joiner rapped for order when an es- ipecially telling point was made by the new executive.
 The inaugural address follows in full:
 Fellow citizens and gentlemen of the Forty-third General Assembly.
 "l shall not resort to many words in my address. 1 realize very keenly the limitations of sixty-day session of the legislature and there will be times when careful thought and decis- ye action should be considered of more importance than many words.
 'The cps r Aaich requires an in augural address by the governor is based upon good reasons. The poten- tial powers of the governor embrace command of the entire forces of the tate including the militia, and touches even the command over life and death in the matter of the power to pardon. | IL is but natural that the people ex- i pect some expression from an ex- ecutive yielding such powers. They want to know whether he stands ready to renew his personal promises, and whether he will lead the way to conscientious performance of party pledges Particularly do they want to know if he appreciates the nature and responsibility of his high office. The people also desire to make the govern or aware of the interest in the public's affairs. They have right to know if , he has spirit to fairness toward all men, under all conditions.
 "The people love to believe that their public servants have respect for the constitution, state and nation and for the laws. While his answers must be acted, it is not out of place that he should in the beginning, give them verbal assurance of his fidelity and i patriotism.
 ''It is a serious thing to be clothed iwith the power and the duty to act for the public. In this your obliga- tions are much as the same as mine. Right here I want to assure you gen tlemen of the General Assembly that l sympathize with the viewpoint of e,c1, f.x. u,-lx nlf <xE public career has been in the capacity difficulties that must confront you.
 "It is not going to be possible in ] one brief session for you to correct every condition susceptible of leg i.lative remedy. have stood for sim plified government, and l shall insist i hat we address ourselves first to those measures declared for by the platform of the majority party. l do not desire to ignore the minority party either, and I desire to point out that the two parties are agreed in the main upon issues to come before you.
 Party Obligations.
 This brings me a consideration of your obligations and mine to the de- mands of the organized democracy of Arkansas. In the platform adopted l ill convention last September it de- clared for law enforcement, more to aid education, prison reform, and care of juveniles, called for a square deal for labor, demanded more recognition for agriculture, insisted upon correc- tion of taxation evils, approved the pending constitutional amendments | and consolidation of boards and com ! .fc cf ncolacc Of fee. and the alarming abuses under recent Road Legislation were pointed out and a remedy suggested. l con- sider these demands constitute the most binding obligations. In this 1 | feel sure you will agree with me.
 Useless Offices.
 "To quote the language of the plat form:
 "We favor the enactment of legis- llation providing for the consolidation of offices, boards and commissions, where the duties of same are not in- Iconsistent and for elimination of use 1 less offices, boards and commissions provided: that these changes shall in- lciude the abolishment of the Corpor- ation Commission, the Board of Con- l rol. the Penitentiary Commission and l now cOHStilutcu.
 the state highway department, all, as
 From many stumps over this state I declared for similar reform, mak- ling this the paramount issue in my race for governor, and 1 was nomi- mated. Not one of my eight oppon- ents so far as l know, declared him self in favor of retaining any of these useless offices. Wherever and when ever the people have had opportunity to register their. opposition to these boards and commissions, they have done so. By every rule of representa- tive government, we are bound to ad- here to these demands.
 Pcnitentiary.
 You should acquaint yourselves with the seriousness of our peniten- iarv problem The state comptroller's report shows that the current indebt- edness of the state penitentiary will be approximately $300,000 on February 1, i1a21. that it tells it will require more than s150.000 to operate the peniten- tiary to July 1, 1921. This amazing Indebtedness of more than $450,000 makes prompt action imperative. This institution is operated upon a credit basis at present With no desire to make war upon persons, l must insist that confirmation of a recently ap
 fcontinHed ofi Page Ten.>