ARKANSAS. 



43 



improving the Territorial prison, in the sum of 

 $20,000, most of which has been expended. 

 . The total amount of warrants issued during 

 the past two years is $208,784.04. 



" The assessment-rolls, as returned to me, for 

 1883, place the valuation of the property of 

 the Territory at $36,006,860.01. This was less- 

 ened by a compromise with the Atlantic and 

 Pacific Railroad Company in the counties of 

 Yavapai, Apache, and Mohave, where 391 miles 

 of railroad were assessed $5,982,505.25. A 

 settlement was had at the rate of $4,000 a mile, 

 $1,564,000, decreasing the amount of the as- 

 sessment-roll $4,418,505.25; this leaves $31,- 

 588,354.76 as the actual assessment. The re- 

 turns for the year 1884 give $30,227,765.97. 

 This would produce for an annual Territorial 

 revenue $75,569.41. The revenue from all 

 other sources, including licenses, fines, and pen- 

 alties, will make up for what goes delinquent. 

 This would then give us, for the two years, 

 the sum of $151,138.82 with which to pay an 

 expense of $208,784.04." 



He recommends an additional tax of twenty 

 cents on the $100. The Legislature granted 

 an increase of ten cents. 



Mormonism. The Governor, in his message 

 to the Legislature, says : 



Polygamous Mormonism has assumed such propor- 

 tions, and occupies that defiant attitude in the Terri- 

 tory, that justifies and demands the most stringent 

 legal remedies. I recommend such amendment to 

 the existing so-called "bigamy law" as will facili- 

 tate the impaneling of impartial jurors in the several 

 counties to serve on the trial of cases of bigamy and 

 polygamy. 1 would adopt the features of the " Ed- 

 munds Bill," excluding from juries as incompetent 

 any man who " believes it right to marry, have, live 

 with, or cohabit with more than one woman as a wife 

 at the same time." I would make general reputation, 

 cohabitation, and all other circumstances, which 

 would be admissible evidence in civil cases, compe- 

 tent to be considered by the jury in the trial of cases 

 for bigamy and polygamy. I would so increase the 

 penalty for these offenses as to make the punishment 

 both fine and imprisonment. I would, by positive en- 

 actment, make unlawful cohabitation with more than 

 one woman, without proof of any marriage ceremony, 

 prima facie evidence of a polygamous relation, and 

 declare the first or any other or subsequent wife a 

 competent witness for the prosecution ol the first or 

 any other marriage ceremony or polygamous relation. 

 In short, I would remove every obstruction that 

 shortens the arm of the judiciary in reaching this de- 

 fiant and infamous practice. 



Toward the close of 1884, five Mormons 

 were convicted and sentenced in the Territory 

 for polygamy. 



ARKANSAS. State Government. The following 

 were the State officers during the year : Gov- 

 ernor, Simon P. Hughes, Democrat ; Secretary 

 of State, E. B. Moore ; Treasurer, W. E. Wood- 

 ruff, Jr.; Auditor, A. W. Files; Attorney- 

 General, D. W. Jones ; Commissioner of State 

 Lands, Paul M. Cobbs; Superintendent of 

 Public Instruction, Wood E. Thompson. 



Legislative Session. The Legislature met in 

 January, and remained in session about three 

 months. Among the acts passed were the fol- 

 lowing: 



To make appropriations for the support of the Ar- 

 kansas Industrial University for the ensuing two 

 years. 



To restore to market certain internal improvement, 

 seminary, and saline lands heretofore sold on a credit. 

 ^ Making appropriations for the support of the execu- 

 tive, legislative, and judicial departments. 



Fixing the rate of taxation for the next two years at 

 2 mills for general purposes, 2 mills for public schools, 

 and $1 per capita tax. 



To fix the time for holding elections in cities of the 

 first class. 



To make persons charged with crimes and offenses 

 competent witnesses in the courts in the State. 



To protect the citizens of the State from stock- 

 drovers and speculators. 



To improve the State Capitol building, and to erect 

 an armory. 



Providing for the sale of the 16th section school- 

 lands. 



To forfeit railroad charters in the State. 



To build an additional wing to the State Lunatic 

 Asylum. 



To grant certain privileges to, and prescribing cer- 

 tain duties of, telegraph and telephone companies. 



To legalize marriages. 



To provide for the support of the Arkansas Deaf- 

 Mute Institute. 



To provide for the erection of new buildings within 

 the walls of the State Penitentiary. 



To erect an additional building for the Arkansas 

 School for the Blind. 



To erect an additional building for the Arkansas 

 Deaf-Mute Institute. 



For the better granting of titles. 



For the support and maintenance of the State 

 Lunatic Asylum. 



To fix the salaries of county and probate judges. 



To punish crime more effectually. 



To provide for the support of the Arkansas School 

 for the Blind. 



To prevent deception in the sale and use of bitters. 



To ascertain and register the outstanding bonded 

 indebtedness of the State. 



James K. Jones (Democrat) was elected 

 United States Senator for the full term, and 

 ex-Governor James H. Berry (Democrat) to fill 

 the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sen- 

 ator Garland, appointed Attorney- General of 

 the United States. Mr. Berry was the imme- 

 diate predecessor of Governor Hughes. 



Finances. On this subject, the Governor, in 

 his message to the Legislature at the beginning 

 of the year, says : 



The reports of the Auditor and Treasurer cover 

 the two years from Oct. 1, 1882, to Sept. 30, 1884. 

 From them it will be seen that, at the meeting of the 

 last General Assembly, the State was indebted in the 

 sum of $100,000, money borrowed the previous Sep- 

 tember ; that in March, 1883, $150,000 additional was 

 borrowed by the Finance Board. Both of these sums, 

 together with the interest thereon, have been paid. 

 In addition to the payments of the amounts above 

 named, the Treasurer has, within the last two years, 

 redeemed 258 (amounting to $258,000) of the 6 per 

 cent, bonds of the State, commonly called the Lough- 

 borough bonds. There is now in the treasury to the 

 credit of the sinking fund, about $275,000 in United 

 States currency. No money has been borrowed since 

 March, 1883, and no State scrip issued. The State 

 scrip is practically gone, the Loughborough bonds, 

 except 170 belonging to the permanent school fund 

 and 16 belonging to Washington County, have been 

 paid off. It is estimated by the Auditor that the col- 

 lection of the revenue for 1884 will place in the State 

 treasury, by the 20th of May, 1885, to the credit of 

 the sinking fund and of the general revenue fund, 



