The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-26
OKLAHOMA AGAIN.
Inspector Picker Does not Give the City Of
ficials Good Character.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-Inspector Pick
ler of the interior department, now in
Guthrie, Oklahoma, has sent his report to
Secretary Noble under date of May IS, on
the situation in that city. In the course of
this report Inspector Picker says: "The
city council of Guthrie was very irregularly
chosen to begin with, and as the PEG
pie understood, for the purpose merely of
putting the machinery of the city in mo-
ton. At the time the council were chosen
grave responsibilities were forced upon
them and generally they have assumed and
settled them in a creditable manner. They
have preserved order, surveyed the town
and practically cleared the streets. In these
matters they are commended by all. They
have, however, assumed other powers
and undertaken to act in various matters
for which they are very generally and en-
phatically condemned. They have ap-
pointed an attorney at q salary of $500, and
an adviser of the council on arbitration at
a salary in excess of this; a board of five
arbitrators on settling the right of posses
sion to lots, some being members of the
council at so per day, charging each con-
testant $40 before the case could be heard,
and returning only the $40 to the party sue
ceeding and keeping the remainder. They
have granted or pretended to grant,
a franchise for ten years to a com
pany 10 supply the city with water, build
d bridge across a stream, grade the streets,
and in like manner have taken many such
steps against which the citizens loudly pro
test; and further they are now collecting
large taxes; an occupation tax OF So per
month; survey tax; recorders tax on lots,
etc. They have enacted harsh ordinances
for the violation of which severe penalties
are imposed.
They are recklessly spending money in
paying officials and are surveying towns on
lines other than those recommended at the
peoples meeting, in order to have their
own lots. Further, it is asserted that the
members of the council are among those
who came in on Sunday before the 22d,
and seized all Of the best lots, and that the
city government has in all matters pro
tected the interests of these men.
This charge has been made more
emphatic from the fact that the council has
instructed its board of arbitration that in
considering who is entitled to lot, the
board shall not take into consideration the
time of settling as before or after o'clock,
but that priority Of settiem, III on Mon
day the 22d, regardless of the hour, en-
titles the party to the lot This the people
consider is in direct conflict with the Presi-
dents proclamation. a petition was cir
culated yesterday asking the council to
call an election to divide the city into
wards and to make a registery of
voters and asking that the election
be held Monday, the 9th of May.
Everybody practically signed the pc
tition. Independently of this petition
the citizens held a large mass meeting
last evening. They were very much in
earnest and very determined. After
speeches by different persons, they passed
a resolution ousting the mayor and city
council and appointed a committee to so
notify them, and also passed a resolution
appointing committee of seven to call Il
city election, ignoring the present mayor
and council"
The inspector states that there We're
loud calls for his views; that he took the
stand and told them that in his judgment it
was mistake to not petition the mayor
and council to call an election, and it
would most likely result in two conflicting
city governments, and that they were en-
titled to sworn statement of the present
council as to all the moneys collected or
paid out; that the incoming administration
should limit the fees; that all officers and
boards should be economical, and that they
shoald be very careful in regard to grant
ing to individuals the valuable franchises
of the city without due consideration, and
that after heated discussion motion was
made to reconsider and was carried and a
committee appointed to present petitions to
the mayor requesting him to call a new
election. The meeting then adjourned in
good humor.