The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-14


eminent Of The counties and Subdivisions
thereof. and more economical admins
tration of public affairs OF the territory.
These recommendations, coming from
the source they do, and endorsed as they
tare.are entitled 10 your thoughtful con-
Sideration. 1t is estimated that If enact
ed into laws the recommendations herein
would reduce the expense OF county gov
eminent at least one-half The recon-
mendations meet my hearty approva. I'd
/ hope 10 see the most. IL not all. OF them
enacted into laws. Your attention Is par
| ticuiarly invited 20 the rscommenda lion
70 abolish the Office OF township assessor
and township board OF equalization and
/ creatin the office OF county assessor and
charging the powers OF the county board
OF equalization IL will be readily seen
| that If this resolution was enacted into
| law il would be great saving OF expense
ard would insure more adequate and
| just assessment Of property throughout
| the territory.
| RECOMMENDATION
| 1t is earnestly recommended that
| Chapter 2S Of the session laws be emnd-
! ed as TO make the law effective. and -
| protect the game and fish within the ter
! ritory 1t Isl suggested that provision for
game warden. without salary except
| the penalties that might be collected
from persons violating the law. would
| be an easy solution of the question.
| The statute authorizing the district
| judges TO appoint attorneys to defend
pauper criminals and making the coun-
| " liable for tha fees should he repealed.
so far as the liability of the county is
concerned.
Chapter z. entitled Bank Depositors."
should be so amended as 10 require from
all private banking institutions in the
| territory sworn statement from the
president or cashier showing the finan-
cial condition of the bank. at ieas.
twice year, on the call of the governor.
ana proper penalties should be provided
TO make the provision effective.
Section 2900 of Article ., Chapter So Of
the statute should be amended so as to
require the payment into the territorial
treasury, in addition to the fees therein
prescribed. by every corporation grant
cd charter by the secretary of the ter-
ritory or a permit TO co business in the
territory. minimum fee OF s25, the
maximum to be determined by the
amount of the capital stock of the COM
pany, excepting from payment of this
fee charitable, benevolent, educational
and religious corporations.
That Chapter A be so amended as 10
compel Insurance companies to pay the
face value of policies in case of total
loss without regard TO the two-thirds
value clause.
Section 3142. Chapter AZ, prescribing
the amount of saloon license, should be
amended so as TO provide for the pay
inent or the same license into the terri
torial treasury by every retail and
wholesale liquor dealer in the territory.
That Chapter "a be so amended as 10
limit the number of notaries public in
each county and to provide for the paw
ment into the territorial treasury for
each noCary commission a fee OF So
That county commissioners should be
prohibited from changing township lines
or the lines of election precincts within
six months next preceding any general
election.
That taxes should all be paid in cash
and treasurers should be required 10 re-
deem warrants in the order of registra-
ton, and proper penalties should be pre-
scribed for violation OF the provision.
The provisions Of the election law of
the territory are not well adapted to the
conditions existing here. The statute
should be so amended as to be simpIified
ana made less expensive and cumber-
some. If a voter should indicate mis-
choice of candidates on the ballot by an
indelible pencil in place OF the rubber
stamp, there would be much less COM
i
ly necessary to suggest that the proviso
in Section 8, Chapter % OF the session
laws should be repealed
Your attention is called to the fact
that al least in two counties of the ter
ritory, the court house has been Destroy
ed by fires since the last election, the
records destroyed. and that in those
counties there are no jury lists. 1t is
earnestly urged that provision be made
for supplying this loss.
1t is further recommended that land
lord and tenant act. giving equal pro-
lection TO the landlord and tenant,
should be enacted.
There is no provision In our laws pro-
viding for the organization of new
counties. A well considered enactment
providing fer the organization of new
counties, providing the term OF Office.
and how the Offices shall be filled until
the ensuing general election, would avoid
much confusion and expense Greer
county was organized as county In
Oklahoma territory in May, 1896. This
was after the taxing period. as fixed by
the statute of the territory. but inme-
diately after the organization OF the
county, the officers proceeded to assess
the county for taxation for county and
territorial purposes for the year 1896, Ak
ing the value of the property as OF the
lst day or February, the period pre-
scribed by the statute. and complied
with the law as nearly as they were
able. Still there were irregularities IN
the assessment. which would probably
defeat the collection Of taxes by pro-
oeeding in court. and suit has been in
stituted TO enjoin the collection Of taxes:
but the principal plaintiffs in this suit
are non-residents of Greer county and
the territory Of Oklahoma, who Craze
stock IN that country. These parties did
not pay any taxes for the year 1895. nor
have they paid taxes on their property
for the year 1896. Most of the residents
OF Greer county have paid their taxes.
II is earnestly urged that a law be pass
ed providing for the re-assessing or cur
ing Of the defects that may have Occur
red in the listing and assessment of the
property FOR taxation in such cases as
the above.
That Chapter II should be 80 amended
as 20 make railroad companies failing 20
fence their right-of-way, liable for al
stock killed by the running OF trains.
without regard to the question OF negli-
gence in the management Of said trains
While j am opposed to class iegisla-
ton and discrimination by law against
any person or class OF persons. I beg
70 suggest for your careful consideration
Cie AdSt 'hdt tne statutes OF ne teTfi- |
tory do not properly define the nabili- |
ties and obligations OF certain corpora
tons doing business in the territory. ard |
the rights Of the people doing business I
with them A well considered act or /
this subject would meet my hearty ap-
prevail
II is futher suggested that the public |
service would be improved By a Law |
making il a r1isdemeanOr for any rail- /
road company 10 give or any public o. /
tcial. federal. territorial county or