MESSAGE SENT
TO CONGRESS
President’s Recommen
dations on National
Legislation.
AS TO CURRENCY QUESTION
Many Defects of Present System
Are Pointed Out by Chief
Executive.
NOT TIME FOR TARIFF
Postponement of Discussion of Re
vision of Schedules Until After
Presidential Election Urged—Ne
cessity for Improving Waterways of
the Country.
Washington, Dec. 3.—President Roose
velt in ills annual message d'als vigor
ously with matters of national impor
tance. Referring to the recent disturb
ance in financial circles lie points out
that tlie hoarding of money by the peo
ple, instead of keeping it in sound banks,
was the first cause of financial stringency
and a grave error. He pays a tribute to
the general honesty of the men engaged
In the banking business.
After quotations from his last annual
message which dealt with the necessity
of governmental regulations, the presi
dent asserts that his views have in no
way changed and declares it is tlie duty
of the national government to embody
in action tlie principles he then expressed.
Disclaiming any idea of advocating cen
tra.izaiion the president insists upon tlie
necessity for federal control of tiie rail
foads of tlie country through the inter
state commerce commission, and also
urges legislation looking to tlie proper
control of the great business concerns en
gaged in interstate business, this control
to be exercised for their own benefit and
prosperity no loss than for the protection
of investors and of the general public..
Wants Federal Control.
Declaring that modern industrial con
ditions are such that confbination is not
only necessary but inevitable, the presi
dent refers to Ids message of a year ago
poncerning necessary changes in the
antitrust laws. He goes on: "I ask for
full power to be given the federal
government, because no single state
can by legislation effectually cope
with these powerful corporations en
gaged in interstate commerce, and, while
doing them full Justice, exact from them
In return full justice to others. The con
ditions of railroad activity, the condi
tions of our immense interstate com
merce. are such as to make tiie central
government alone competent to exercise
full supervision and control.
I tie antitrust law should be made both
more efficient and more in harmony with
actual conditions. It should be so amend
od as to forbid only the kind of combina
tion wliioh does harm to the general pub
lic, such amendment to be accompanied
by. or to be an incident of. a grant of su
pervisory power to tlie government over
tneso big corporations engaged in inter
state business. This should be aceom
panietl by provision for the compulsory
publication of accounts and the subjec
;on ot books and papers to the inspec
tion of the government officials. A be
ginning has already been made for such
upcrvision by tiie establishment of tlie
bureau of corporations.
A"10nK tlie points to be aimed at
nouId be tiu, prohibition of unhealthy
competition, such as by rendering service
n actual loss for tlie purpose of crush
■m; out competition, the prevention of in
tuition of capital, and the prohibition of
win,01"? ,n!Uon s making exclusive trade
tr',‘ a condition of having any
h..t, ■ w 1 1 tse Reasonable agreements
ffn’ or combinations of, corporations
«« 1 ,be. Permitted, provided they are
IW t0 and approved by some
PPropriate government body.
..J c National llnnk Super*,'ision.
cornr'^ congress has tlie power to charter
ftiS0"8 to engage In interstate and
tk ® ™ commerce, and a general law can
exUH„ d llnder the provisions of which
...| „{f corporations could take out fed
ti,,' ««»#» and new federal corpora
vtsi(„, °t d H_e created- An essential pro
of nr, a°f such a law stlould be a method
or com *f'?‘nlng by some ^deral board
a fPr,?,SSL0n whether the applicant for
cembinafi charter was an association or
federal3?1°n witllln the restrictions of the
micht k aw' The supervision establislied
over mfi anal°g°us to that now exercised
trust ant °'Ja banks- At least, the anti
cific prohihm Uld b/ supplemented by spe
Wrif'm.n K1 of the methods which ex
sSBvleo inlaS shewn have been of most
tlojiu , „ enai*Hng monopolistic combina
ownrr- „C.ruSh out competition. Tile real
Pelled corporation should be com
Tlie rir-ht t ,usiness in their own name,
dons xhouto h °'d ?,tock in otlier corpora
etate onrr. . bereafter be denied to inter
file l,rr„1rltlon9' unless on approval by
prereouiaftn fwernment offlcials, and a
P'erec,, /government officials, and a
the listing te Sl>ch approval should be
lers Jit™11*1 tlle government of all
owners „ , 1 ule government of all
corporate stockholders, both by tlie
the ,orn‘l,?Wn',nK suoh stock and. by
owned ’■ 1 on *n w hich such stock is
Which* tha"i,ng attentlon to the benefits
confer imr. e*c*s'ation he urges would
confer u™ .“isiatlon he urges would
says: ‘Tlio the country- the president
-Tn country, the presiden
son. the avt*6 lvbo foar, from any rea
do well t„ .,nS!on of federal activity will
the national8hlani1110 hlstory »ot only of
food la,,. hanking act. but of the pure
tlon law -c notably the meat inspec
Interstate r n* y enacted. The benefit to
concerns fra “?n carrlprs and business
Would he a *" .. 6 'cslslutlon I advocate
“O equally marked.
On the1'^ , * ,,rre»ey Question.
;nt ,-.'nlSt °n of. the currency the
President r.i,?St on °r the currency the
hum incsaaiL attention to his last an
nual inattention to ills last
that on- „ "herein ho pointed
shotting Cnt aystem is defective
he°sahlf °f * ch«*«
•ssue a°sua isln.1'8 should be permitted tc
»peciflod proportion of their cap
out
e and
In that
ital in notes of a given kind, the issue to
be taxed at so high a rate as to drive the
notes back when not wanted in legiti
mate trade. This plan would not per
mit the issue of currency to give banks
additional profits, but to meet the emer
gency presented by times of stringency.
I do not say that this is the right sys
tem. 1 only advance it to emphasize
my belief that there is need for the adop
tion of some system which shall be au
tomatic and open to all sound banks,
so as to avoid all possibility of discrim
ination and favoritism. Such a plan
w’ould tend to prevent the spasms of high
money and speculation which now ob
tain in the New York market; for at
present there is too much currency at
certain seasons of the year, and its ac
cumulation at New York tempts bankers
to lend it at low rates for speculative
purposes: whereas at other times when
the crops are being moved there is ur
gent need for a large but temporary in
crease in the currency supply. It must
never be forgotten that this question
concerns business men generally quite
as much as bankers; especially is this
true of stockmen, farmers and business
men in the west; for at present at certain
seasons of the year the difference in in
terest rates between the east and west
is from six to ten per cent., whereas in
Canada the corresponding difference is
but two per cent. Any plan must, of
course, guard the interests of western
and southern bankers as carefully as It
guards the interests of New York or
Chicago bankers, and must be drawn
from the standpoints of the farmer and
the merchant no less than from the
standpoints of the city banker and the
country banker.”
Repents lloi'oitimendntlontt,
The president continues:
“I again urge on the congress the
need of immediate attention to this
matter. We need a greater elasticity
In our currency; provided, of course,
that we recognize the even greater
need of a safe and secure currency.
There must always be the most rigid
examination by the national authori
ties. Provision should be made for an
emergency currency. The emergency
issue should, of course, be made with
an effective guaranty, and upon condi
tions carefully prescribed by the gov
ernment. Such emergency issue must
be based on adequate securities ap
proved by the government, and must
be issued under a heavy tax. This
would permit currency being issued
when the demand for it was urgent,
while securing its retirement as the
demand fell off. It is worth in%’esti
gating to determine whether officers
and directors of national banks should
ever be allowed to loan to themselves.
Trust companies should be subject to
the same supervision as banks; legisla
tion to this effect should be enacted for
the District of Columbia and the terri
tories.”
Not Time for Tariff Discussion.
On the subject of the tariff the presi
dent declares himself in favor of post
poning all consideration of the ques
tion until after the presidential elec
tion. He says:
"Tlie income account of the nation is
in a most satisfactory condition. For
the six fiscal years ending with the
first of July last, the total expenditures
and revenues of the national govern
ment, exclusive of the postal revenues
and expenditures, were in round num
bers. revenues, $3,465,000,000, and ex
penditures. $3,275,000. The net ex
cess of income over expenditures, in
cluding in the latter the fifty millions
expended for the Panama canal, was
$190,000,000 for the six years, an
average of about $31,000,1X10 a year. Tills
represents an approximation between in
come and outgo which it would be hard
to improve. The satisfactory working of
tlie present tariff law has been chiefly
responsible for this excellent showing.
Nevertheless, there is an evident and con
stantly growing feeling among our peo
ple that the time is rapidly approaching
when our system of revenue legislation
must be revised.
"This country is definitely committed
to the protective system and any effort
to uproot it could not but cause wide
spread industrial disaster. In other
words, the principle of the present tar
iff law could not with wisdom be
changed. But in a country of such
phenomenal growth as ours it is prob
ably well that every dozen years or so
the tariff laws should be carefully
scrutinized so as to see that no ex
cessive or improper benefits are con
ferred thereby, that proper revenue, is
provided, and that our foreign trade is
encouraged. There must always be as
a minimum a tariff which will not only
allow for the collection of an ample
revenue but which will at least make
good the difference in cost of produc
tion here and abroad; that is, tlie dif
ference in the labor cost here and
abroad, for the well-being of the wage
worker must ever be a cardinal point
of American policy. Tlie sole consider
ation should be to see that the sum
total of changes represent the public
good. This means that the subject can
not with wisdom be dealt with in the
year preceding a presidential election,
because as a matter of fact experience
has conclusively shown that at such a
time it is impossible to get men to
tfei.t. it from the standpoint of the
public good. In my judgment the wise
time to deal with the matter is immedi
ately after such election."
Income ami Inheritance lax.
There has been no change In the
mind of the president concerning the
advisability of an income tax and an
inheritance tax. In the message he
says: •
"When our tax taws are revised the
question of an Income tax and an in
heritance tax should receive the care
ful attention of our legislators. In my
Judgment both of these taxes should be
part of our system of federal taxation.
1 speak diffidently about the income tax
because one scheme for an income tax
was declared unconstitutional by the
supreme court; while in addition it is
a difficult tax to administer in its prac
tical working. Nevertheless, a grad
uated income tax of the proper type
would be a desirable feature of federal
taxation, and it is to be hoped that one
may be devised which the supreme
court will declare constitutional. The
inheritance tax. however, is both a far
better method of taxation, and far more
Important for the purpose of having
tlie fortunes of the country bear in
proportion to their increase in size a
corresponding increase and burden of
taxation. The government has the ab
solute right to decide as to the terms
upon which a man shall receive the be
quest. or devise from another, and this
point in the devolution of property is
especially appropriate for the imposi
tion of a tax."
Due Enforcement of I.aw.
On the matter of the impartial en
foroement of the laws the message
says:
"A few years ago there was loud
complaint that the law could not be in
voked against wealthy offenders. There
is no such complaint now. The course
of the department of justice during the
last few years has been such as to
make it evident that no man stands
above the law, that no corporation is
so wealthy that it cannot be held to
account. Everything that can be done
under the existing law, and with the
existing state of public opinion, which
so profoundly influences both the
courts and juries, has been done. Hut
the laws themselves need strengthen
ing in more than one important point;
they should be made more definite, so
that no honest man can be led unwit
tingly to break them, and so that the
real wrongdoer can be readily punished.
"Tlie two great evils in the execution
of our criminal laws to-day are senti
mentally and technically. For the lat
ter the remedy must come from the
hands of the legislatures, the courts
and the lawyers. The other must de
pend for its cure upon the gradual
growth of a sound public opinion which
shall insist that regard for the law and
the demands of reason shall control all
other influences and emotions in the
jury box. Both of these evils must be
removed or public discontent with the
criminal law will continue."
Use of Injunction*.
Referring to the question of the use and
abuse of Injunctions the president de
clares:
"Instances of abuse in the granting of
injunctions in labor disputes continue to
occur, and the resentment in the minds
of those who feel that their rights are
being invaded and their liberty of action
and of speech unwarrantably restrained
continues to grow. Much of the attack
on the use of the process of injunction is
wholly without warrant; but ! am con
strained to express the belief that for
some of it there is warrant. This ques
tion is becoming more and more of prime
importance, and unless the courts will
themselves deal with it in effective man
ner, it is certain ultimately to demand
some sort of legislative action. I earnest
ly commend to the attention of the con
gress this matter, so that some way may
be devised which will limit the abuse of
injunctions and protect those rights which
from time to time it unwarrantably in
vades.”
Among the recommendations made in
the message are for federal inspection of
railroads, the establishment of an em
ployers’ liability art. and for the exten
sion of the present eight-hour law by the
government.
In Industrial Dispute*.
The president favors compulsory in
vestigation by the national government
of industrial disputes, saying;
"Strikes and lockouts, with their at
tendant loss and suffering, continue to
increase. For the five years ending De
cember 31. 1905, tlie number of strikes
was greater than those in any previous
ten years and was double the number
tn the preceding live years. These fig
ures indicate the increasing need of
providing some machinery to deal with
this class of disturbances in the inter
est alike of the employer, the employe
and the general public. I renew my
previous recommendation that tlie con
gress favorably consider the matter of
creating the machinery for compulsory
investigation of such industrial contro
versies as are of sufficient magnitude
and of sufficient concern to tlie people
of the country as a whole to warrant
the federal government in taking action."
The recent strike of the telegraphers is
cited as an instance where such power
might profitably have been used.
Child l.alior Evil.
The necessity of checking tlie evil of
child labor is pointed out witli much di
rectness. On tlie relation between capital
and labor tlie president asserts that pub
lic opinion must lie aroused in condemna
tion of evil practices on both sides. Tlie
work of the department of agriculture is
given high praise and tlie importance of
the department pointed out. Cooperation
with farmers' associations is urged. The
necessity of a national system of inspec
tion and grading of grain, to correct evils
complained of. is also pointed out.
Aaticiial Abater Hlghwaya.
Showing the necessity for the develop
ment of the national water highways the
message says: “Our great river systems
should be developed as national water
highways: the Mississippi, with its trib
utaries. standing first In importance, and
the Columbia second, although there are
many others of importance on the Pacific,
the Atlantic and the gulf slopes. The na
tional government should undertake this
work, and I hope a beginning, will be
made in the present congress; and the
greatest of all our rivers, the Mississippi,
should receive especial attention, from
the great lakes to the mouth of the Mis
sissippi there should be a deep waterway,
with deep waterways leading from it to
tlie east and west. Sueh a waterway
would practically mean tlie extension of
our coast line into the very heart of our
country. It would be of incalculable ben
efit to our people.
"As an incident to creating the deep
waC way down the Mississippi, the gov
ernment should build along its whole
lower length levees which, taken to
gether with the control of the head
waters. will at once and forever put a
complete stop to all threat of floods in
the immensely fertile Delta region. The
territory lying adjacent to the Missis
sippi along Its lower course will there
by bee or.... one of the most prosperous
and populous, as it already i:. one of
the most fertile, farming regions In all
the -world."
“I hare appointed an inland waterways
commission to study and outline a com
prehensive scheme of development along
all the lines Indicated. Late* 1 shall lay
its report before the congress."
Public 1.units.
Extension of the work of irrigation and
the reclamation of waste lands is advo
cated. together with a revision of the
present land laws In the interest of the
actual home-maker. The unlawful fenc
ing of public lands for private grazing,
the president says, must be stopped, but
at the same time the necessity which oc
casioned it must be provided for. Several
plans are recommended.
Conservatism of the mineral wealth of
the country, and the necessity for the
preservation of the forests to prevent a
timber famine, are dwelt upon. Drastic
action by the congress Is urged.
Would ltepeul Duty on Wood Pulp.
The president declares in favor of the
repeal of the duty on wood pulp, at the
same time declaring that it should If
possible be accompanied by an agreement
with Canada that there should be no ex
port duty on Canadian pulp wood.
That the government should own and
lease mineral and oil lands Is the beliei
of the president.
Work on the Panama canal Is declared
to be proceeding in a satisfactory man
ner. and figures given to substantiate the
statement.
For Postal Savings Banks.
On the questions of postal savings
banks and the establishment of a parcels
post system the message says:
"I commend to the favorable considera
tion of the congress a postal savings
bank system as recommended by the
postmaster general.
“I further commend to the congress the
consideration of the postmaster general's
recommendation for an extension of the
parcel post, especially on the rural
routes. These recommendations have
been drawn up to benefit the farmer and
the country storekeeper: otherwise I
should not favor them, for I believe that
it Is good policy for our government to do
everything possible to aid the small town
and the country district. It Is desirable
that the country merchant should not be
crushed out.”
Some form of local self-government
for Alaska is asked of the congress,
and that the rights of citizenship be
conferred upon the people of Porto
Rico.
Campaign Contributions.
The president says: "It is well to
provide that corporations shall not con
tribute to presidential or national cam
paigns, and furthermore to provide for
the ptiblictaion of both contributions
and expenditures. The need for col
lecting large campaign funds would
vanish if congress provided an appro
priation for the proper and legitimate
expenses of each of the great national
parties, an appropriation ample enough
to meet the necessity for thorough or
ganization and machinery, which re
quires a large expenditure of money.
Then the stipulation should be made
that no party receiving campaign funds
from the treasury should accept more
than a fixed amount from any indi
vidual subscriber or donor; and the
necessary publicity for receipts and ex
penditures could without difficulty be
provided."
The extension of the Ocean Mail act
of 1S91 is recommended as an aid to
American shipping. A subsidy for
Pacific steamers, the president thinks,
is necessary.
That the army in the past has been
niggardly provided for and should be
more generously dealt with is dwelt
upon at length, together with recom
mendations for future legislation.
Yearly additions to the navy are
recommended and in the president's
judgment the country should build four
battleships this year.
Benson for Pacific Cruise.
Concerning the dispatch of the fleet
to the Pacific, the president believes it
should be shifted between the. two
oceans every year or two as a means of
teaching officers and men how to handle
the vessels in a time of war.
Although the results of The Hague
conference are declared not to have
been up to expectations, a degree of
good is said to have resulted, notably a
provision by which the powers taking
part in the conference agreed not to
have recourse to armed force for the
collection of debts owed to their citi
zens by foreign countries.
The expectation of the government
is declared to be to turn over Cuba to
a government chosen by the people of
tlie Island within the coming year.
German Tariff Agreement.
Concerning tiie tariff agreement en
tered into with Germany, its object is
declared to have been the prevention of
a tariff war between the United States
and that country. The work of the
commission which made the agreement
is praised.
The president asks for authority to
remit to China all indemnity in excess
of the sum of $11,6.r>u,492.69 and inter
est at four per cent.
In conclusion the message congratu
lates tlie country on its present cor
dial relations with all countries, par
ticularly tlie sister republics to the
south.
HAD HER PLANS WELL LAID.
William Was Not Likely to Take Vira
Away in a Hurry.
Vira, the Morses’ sable cook, an
nounced to her mistress that she in
tended to be married the next week,
says the Youth’s Companion. Mrs,
Morse was filled with regret. “O Vira.”
she cried, "I was afraid William would
persuade you at last! You said you'd
never leave us.”
“Why, I isn’t gwine to leabe you,
honey,” and Vira patted the shoulder
of her young mistress in a comforting
way. “Is jes’ nachelly marrying dat
Willum now to keep him from pester
ing me. He’s been roun' too much
lately, an’ yet if I cas’ him off. he'll
get into mixtrious comp’ny. I’s mar
rying dat boy to sabe him.”
"Yes,” said Mrs. Morse, somewhat
reassured by Vira’s tone, tut slightly
bewildered, nevertheless, “I know it
will be a fine thing for him, Vira, but
won’t he want to take you away?”
"Whar he get de money?” inquired
Vira, returning to her work of beating
eggs with renewed vigor. “I’s sabed
de money fo’ his honeymoon trip, and
I’s got his plans all laid out fo’ him.
He’s got a ticket out to Californy an’
to bring my ole farder back eas’;an’
den I’s gwine send him down souf fo’
my sister, an’ den up in Canady fo’
my brudder, an’ when he gets da
fam’ly all rounded up, an’ has to sup
po t ’em mostly, you t’nk he’s gwine
be in a hurry to hab me to suppo’t,
honey ?”
Left a Generous Will. ,
Signor Eugenio Padova's tradespeo
ple will bless his memory. He was a
rich Italian gentleman who lived for
many years in Paris, and has just
died, leaving an original but generous
will. He bequeaths $600 to be divided
among all the barbers who ever
shaved him at a hair-dresser’s where
he went regularly. Every waiter who
served him in the restaurants in which
he was accustomed to dine gets a
legacy. He leaves money also to the
clerks of the shops of which he was
a regular customer, and to the serv
ants of the clubs to which he belonged.
State Capital Notes
May Be Deficit.
Accordingto present indications, the
appropriation of $70,000 made by the
last legislature for the payment of as
sessors over the state, will not be j
enough to meet the demand until the |
end of next year, to which time the
appropriation was meant to pay the
salaries of all assessors. Nothing de
finite can be told regarding the matter
as yet, but it is believed by those who
have investigated, that there will be a
deficit. The possible amount of such
a deficit is only a matter of conjec
ture at present. It is thought,how
ever, that it will not be large. As
slated, the legislature, appropriated the
sum of $70,000 with which the asses
sors were to be paid ror two years. It
now appears, after investigation, that
$35,000 has already been paid out this
year, with the assessors of two coun
ties, Searcy and White, still to be
paid. As shown by these figures, just
one-half of the appropriation has been
paid out, and when the two counties
are settled with, more than one-half
of the amount appropriated will have
been paid out for the first year, leav
ing the small end of the appropriation
to tide over next year. However, the
amount needed next year may be
smaller than the one this year, owing
to the fact that the assessors next year
will not be paid for assessing real
estate owned by non-residents or un
known parties. This year the asses
sors are paid $1 per township for as
sessing such real estate, but the sec
ond year they are given nothing for
that work. For that reason the
amount needed to pay assessors next
year may be smaller, and the differ
ence enough to make up for the extra
funds needed, this year.
Pindall Pardons Eight.
Acting Governor X. O. Pindall Tues
day pardoned two men from the pen
itentiary and six others from fines
made against them. The six were
fined on the charge of running horses
on a public highway. William Gil
bert, sentenced during the August
term, 190G, of the Lincoln County Cir
cuit Court, for 21 years, on the charge
of murder in the second degree, was
one of those pardoned. Gilbert shot
and killed a man, who was alleged
to have assaulted a member of Gil
bert's family and to have been in
the act of following up the assault by
entering Gilbert's yard, in spite of Gil
bert’s warning to him to stay out.
Otto Hannan, sentenced during the
March term, 1907, of the Benton Coun
ty Circuit Court, for one year, on the
charge of grand larceny, was the other
pardoned from the penitentiary. He
was charged with stealing a bicycle.
Linton McGee, Jack Hinton, Taylor
McCain, Charley McCain, Theodore
Wade and Charley Groff, fined $23
each by. Justice of the Peace Josh
Pisher of Franklin county, August 30,
1907, on the charge of running horses
on a public highway, were the others
pardoned.
Has Offered Reward.
Acting Governor X. O. Pindall has
issued a proclamation, offering a re
ward of $200 for the body of Clarence
L. Bush, one of the three men who
were shot to death at Clio Monday
night. This offer is added to a $50
reward, which was authorized by the
relatives of the dead man Wednesday.
Governor I'indall declares that he will
use all of the authority invested in
him as chief executive to bring about
the recovery of Bush's body, and to
maintain order at Clio, and have the
laws obeyed. He said he had not
thoroughly investigated the matter as
yet, and could not state what action
he would take, but he assured the
friends of Bush that if Bush's body is
not found it would be no fault of the
8tate of Arkansas.
To Meet With Governors.
Acting Governor X. O. Pindall has
received a letter from President Theo
dore Roosevelt inviting him to meet
with the governors of other states, and
others at a conference at the White
House, May 13, 14 and 15, for the pur
pose of considering questions incident
to the conserving of the natural re
sources of the country, and asking the
governor to select three citizens of
Arkansas to accompany him and at
tend the conference as assistants or
advisers. The object of the meeting
is to discuss the natural resources of
the country, inquire how long they
are likely to last, and to suggest
means of preventing their exhaustion.
Governor Pindall is in hearty accord
with the suggestions of the president
and will aid him in carrying out his
wishes.
Received Large Turnip.
The agricultural bureau recently re
ceived an unusually large turnip, which
was presented to that department by
L. L. Henry of Prescott. The turnip
is 28 inches in circumference, and is
a decided curiosity
Farmers Ask For Special Session.
Acting Governor X. O. Pindall haa
just received a communication from
the Farmers’ Local Union, No. 1451, of
Cross county, in which he is request
ed to call a special session of the leg
islature for the purpose of having that
body pass such a law as will protect
the cotton growers and dealers of the
State in that they will be enabled to
hold their cotton for the price fixed
by the National Union. In his reply,
Governor Pindall stated that there was
no one more thoroughly in accord or
sympathy with the needs and purposes
of the farmers and cotton growers of
the State, and that he would like very
much to aid them in their present ef
forts, but that he could not call the
legislature together for the simple pur
pose of submitting such a general prop
osition to that body. He stated that
no definite bill or measure had been
offered, and without such it would not
be a practical thing to do to call the
legislature together in special session.
He did state, however, in his commu
nication, that, should the farmers’ un
ion “direct the kind of a bill which will
give necessary relief, I will certainly
include the same in any call that I
may make for an extra session of the
legislature.”
May Lose Appropriation.
Maj. R. B. Keating of McCrory, in
command of the First Battalion, First
Regiment Arkansas National Guard,
was in the city Thursday. He came to
Little Rock to consult the officials at
National Guard headquarters regarding
the question of securing winter uni
forms for the guard. Maj. Keating
contends that unless the guard is pro
vided with these uniforms it is liable
not to receive its share of the annual
appropriation made by the government
for the national guards of the various
states. According to the Dick bill, Maj.
Keating says, no part of this appropria
tion can go to any national guard or
ganization that is not fully armed and
equipped, and that without winter uni
forms the members of the Arkansas
National Guard cannot be said to be
fully equipped. Maj. Keating was un
able to see any of the officials at
headquarters, and returned to his home
without obtaining the information ha
desired.
Will Help Enforce Law.
Acting Governor X. O. Pindall will
aid in enforcing the new anti-drum
ming law which was passed by the
last session of the legislature for the
relief of Hot Springs. The governor
outlined his policy in regard to the
enforcement of the new law, when he
refused a pardon to A. J. Pearrow, a
cripple, who was arrested in Hot
Springs, charged with drumming, and
fined in the City Court. The anti
drumming law was placed on the
statute books of the state for the pur
pose of the protection of many un
fortunate people who visit the Valley
of Vapors for bodily benefit. It is al
leged that many physicians, seeking
to prey upon this class of people, em
ployed drummers or “steerers” whose
business it was to direct their victims
to certain boarding houses, blinds, as
it were, to their real business.
Increases Stock.
The Midland Valley Railroad Com
pany of Fort Smith Tuesday filed with
the secretary of state a certificate of
notice that that company desired to
amend its charter, increasing its capi
tal stock to $10,000,000. The capital
stock was originally $1,860,000, but
has been slowly increased to $9,000,
000. The increase is made, says the
certificate, in order to allow the com
pany to purchase new' equipment to
cost $1,500,000.
Three Pardoned.
• Acting Governor X. O. Plndall grant*
ed three pardons Saturday as follows:
To J. S. Starling, convicted at the Oc*
tober term of the Lawrence County
Circuit Court of the charge of grand
larceny, sentenced to one year; hum
Bloomer, convicted at the March term
of the Chicot County Court of the
charge of assault with intent to kill
sentenced to five years; J. F. Grady,
convicted at the August term of the
Logan County Circuit Court of the
charge of seduction, sentenced to one
year. The pardon w'as granted in
order to restore citizenship.
State Capitol Quiet.
There wras no business whatever
transacted at the state house or in the
courts Thursday. The most of the of
fices were closed during the day, and
a few that were kept open transacted
no business. Nearly all of the officials
spent Thanksgiving at home, several
being out of the city. Those that re
mained in Little Rock spent the day at
their homes, and in accordance with
custom made no attempt to transact
business at their offices.