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.