The spectator., 1921-01-25


 6y 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 abolishment of these bodies was de handed as part of the duty of the legislators to their constituents. a.
 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- cauonal needs of the State, necessity for laws governing agriculture, law en- forcement and an executive budget system. a.
 The Arkansas Corporation Commis- sion was given a large share of Gov srnor McRaes address, and was de- clared to furnish an incentive to ma chine politics, to ring rule, to corrupt political activity, to secret and i'm proper influence in elections and ap- continents"
 Says Theory Vicious.
 "The theory of a corporation com mission rule in this State is vicious one," the governor asserted Tt rep resents the bureaucratic form of government It is based on distrust of the people. It 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 $20,450.O2 from April 1, 1917, to December 31, 1918, and the corporation commission ex- pended from April l, 1919, to January 4, 1921, $63,15661. The commission, he said has asked for $120,000 for maintenance during the next two years.
 The governor said he doubted the need for 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 uth- ities. 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.
 similar demand that the House and Senate refuse to approve the ap- potntment of Fin Craig to the peniten- tiary commission was made by Cover nor McRae, whose program, as out lined in the message, wonld provide for abolishing the paid commission and for creation of an honorary commis- sion to administer the affairs of the State penal institutions. This commits sion, the governor said, should serve without pay, and should supervise the work of salaried men who were prac- tical dirt" farmers as superintendents of the two State farms. Such a sys- tenn, he declared would put the peni- tentiary on paying basis, whereas it now is being operated at loss and is $300,000 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 fessional politicians" and expressed his opposition to the creation of 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 commis 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 sev- eral years ago and placed in the office of the State land commissioner, posi- ton then facing abolishment because of lack of duties. The department, he declared, was associated with the land department merely to save the latter from abolishment.