OPINIONS CONCERNING QUESTIONS OF STATE POLICY.
As to my opinions concerning questions of State policy, no intelligent citizen can be deceived or misled, for they are fully and fairly set forth in the two messages I have had the honor to transmit to the Legislature. The questions of prohibition and labor I have already discussed at some length. Other questions discussed in my messages may be briefly summarized.
In my first message to the Legislature I called the attention of that body to the enormous aggregate of our municipal indebtedness, then aggregating nearly $16,000,000, and now perhaps nearly $20,000,000. I cited the fact that while our State debt was very small, the debts of its local subdivisions were enormous, and I earnestly urged the passage of a law limiting and restricting the debt-creating and tax-levying authority of counties, cities, townships and school districts, to the end that the tax burdens of the people might be reduced.
Second—I urged a thorough revision of our laws touching the assessment and equalization of taxes, so as to secure, if possible, uniform values, and a material reduction of the percentage of taxation.
Third—I recommended reforms in our laws for the disposition of school lands, calling attention to the defects and shameful abuses of our present system, and urging that stringent legislation should be adopted to protect the school domain of the State from despoliation by speculators.
Fourth—I urged radical changes in our present system of managing the State charitable institutions, so that the vast sums of money annually expended for public charities should be disbursed under systematic, intelligent and constant supervision, with a rigid accountability.
Fifth—I earnestly recommended such changes in our insurance laws as were necessary to protect our citizens against wrongs and abuses clearly pointed out.
Sixth—I recommended important modifications in our present railroad law, and urged that railroad corporations should be prohibited from establishing rates that enable them to pay large dividends and interest on stock and bonds issued in amount double or three times the cost of the construction of their roads.
Seventh—I urged a thorough revision of our laws concerning public highways, calling attention to the fact that the present system of making and improving country roads was not only wasteful and unjust in its operation, but unsatisfactory in its results.
Eighth—I urged the necessity of protecting our vast stock interest against loss or damage from contagious diseases, or from the introduction of Texas cattle.
Ninth—I recommended a revision and codification of the entire body of our laws, suggesting that this work would enormously reduce the expense, delay and perplexities of litigation in our courts.
Tenth—I urged a revision of the fee-bills of many local officers, so that all might clearly understand how much the law allowed for such services as officers are required to perform.
Eleventh—I advised a repeal of our cowardly law which abolishes the death penalty by indirection.
Twelfth—I recommended a reduction of the legal rates of interest from 7 per cent. or not to exceed 12 per cent. by special contract, to 6 per cent. or not to exceed 10 per cent. by special contract.
Thirteenth—I urged the creation of a State Board of Pardons, so that the Governor, in exercising the gravest responsibility vested in him by the constitution, should have the benefit of the advice and counsel of a tribunal charged with the duty of investigating the facts and reasons urged for a pardon.
Fourteenth—I called attention to serious defects in the crimes act, and the law regulating the assessment of improvements by occupying claimants.
Fifteenth—I urged complete enrollment of the soldiers of the State, and a record of that enrollment, so that honorably-discharged Union soldiers might, on application to the Adjutant General, ascertain the post-office address of surviving comrades, whose testimony was necessary to establish just pension claims.
In my second message, I renewed the recommendations made touching all those subjects that had failed to receive legislative attention, and added the following additional recommendations:
First—The passage of a law providing regulations to govern the arbitration of disputes between employers and employés. I stated that such a law was, in my judgment, vitally important to the prosperity and happiness alike of employers and employed, as well as to the peace and order of civil society.
Second—In view of the fact that the State debt aggregated only $815,000, of which amount only $256,000 was held by individuals or corporations, I urged that it was neither wise nor just to impose upon the present generation of tax-payers the burden of paying our outstanding bonds on their maturity; that our bonds could readily be re-funded at not to exceed 3½ or 4 per cent.; that the present is paying for public buildings future generations will occupy, and that the future should provide for the payment of outstanding bonds.
Third—I recommended that a constitutional amendment should be submitted, striking the word “white” from section 1 of article 8 of our organic law. This limitation prevents colored men from serving in the militia. During the civil war the colored troops demonstrated the courage and patriotism of their race, and it should be, not their right alone, but their duty, to bear arms in any emergency calling for a military force.
Fourth—I suggested that the Legislature should demand the establishment of military posts along our southwestern frontier, in order to protect our borders against Indian raids, and give our citizens full assurance of protection.
Fifth—I urged that Memorial Day be made a legal holiday.
Several of the recommendations thus made were favorably acted on by the Legislature, and bills to carry all these suggestions into practical effect were introduced. Experience in the duties of the Executive office, and a closer observation of the practical workings of our laws and institutions, and of the needs of the people, have only confirmed and strengthened the opinions I expressed touching all these questions. And if I am reëlected, I shall regard it as a solemn duty to again urge favorable legislative action upon all the interests and subjects I have thus enumerated and discussed. Every recommendation made in either message was, I believe, practical and just, and I am convinced that affirmative action by the Legislature, touching one and all of these questions, would not only promote the best interests of the people, but be earnestly approved by them.