The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-26
THE GUTHRIE TROUBLE.
THE YOUNG CITY OF OKLAHOMA
HAS ITS "BooDLERs," TOO.
While tho City Government Does Some
Good Work, It Has Assumed other
Powers to which II Has
No Right.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-Inspoctor Pack
Ter. Of the Interior Department. now in
Guthrie. Oklahoma. has cent a report TO
Secretary Noble, under date Of May Is, Of
the situation Ia that city. In the course
Of his report, Inspector Packler says For
abou, ten days thero has been steadily
increasing feeling here among the people
against thc City Council Of Guthrie. This
council was very irrcgularly chosen. TO be-
gin with, and, as the people understood,
for the purpose merely OF putting the ma.
chincry Of the city in motion. The Mayor
was selected by a committee OF seven
chosen by a mass meeting, and n com.
mitlee Of one from each State and
Territory became the council. Al
the time the council was chosen il
consisted Of over thirty members
but now numbers about fifteen. Grave
responsibilities were forced upon them.
aud generally they have assumed aud set
tied them In crcdiiablo manner. They
have preserved order, surveyed the town
aud practically cleared the streets. In
these matters they are commended by oil.
frhcy have. however, assumed other pow.
tefs for which they are very generally and
very omphatically condemned. They have
appointed an attorney at salary
oi 1880 per wear and an adviser
OF the Council on arbitration at
n salary In excess Of this; n board
OF five arbitrators on settling the right Of
possession TO lots, some being members Of
tho Council at $40 per day, charging each
contestant $40 before his ease could bo
heard and returning only the $40 10 the
party succeeding aud keeping the remain
der. Sometimes there have been Eve or
six contestants for the Sno lots. They
have granted or pretended 10 grant fran.
chisc fof ten years 20 a company 10 supply
the city with water, build n bridge across
the stream and tgrnde the streets, aud In
like manner have taken many such stcps,
ngainst which the citizens loudly protest.
And, further, they are now collecting
taxcs--an occupation tax Of S. per month,
survey tax, a recorders tax on lots etc.
They have enacted harsh ordinances, for
violation OF which severe penalties are i'm.
posed. They are rccklessly spending
money In paying officials, and are survey.
ing the town on lines other than those
recommended at the peoples meeting In
order 10 save their own lots.
Further, Il Is asserted that the members
OF the council are among those Who came
In on Sunday before the 22d, and seized
all the best lots, and that the city govern.
mcnt has In all matters protected tho In
torcsis Of these men. This charge has
been made more emphatic from the fact
that the City Council has instructed its
board Of arbitration that In considering
who Is entitled TO lot tho board shall not
take into consideration the time Of settling
us before or after 4 o'clock, but
treat tho priority Of settlement on
Monday, the I'D, regardless Of tho
hour, entitled the party 20 tho
LOT. This the people considered In direct
conflict with the Presidents proclamation.
In the last few days the council has
selected two other boards Of arbitration Of
fiyc each. nj compensation Of s. per dav
each, as claimed by some, and nj $40 per
day rs claimed by Others. The council
has transacted much oi liz business with