The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-01-21
RENFROw's MESSAGE.
Read Before n Joint Session o
the Iegielnture>
Public Insfi utiops Treated mt Length
Free Homes Considered of Great
Importance Railroad Legls-
tAtion-- Appropriations
about Taxes.

territorial legislature is published in
full as follows:
To the fourth legislative assembly OF the
Territory of Oklahoma:
In compliance with the provisions OF
the statute OF the territory directing the
governor at the commencement of each
session of the legislature, to communi-
cate by message such information as ha
may possess relative to the conditions OF
the territory. and to recommend such
measures as he may deem expedient, the
Following is respectfully submitted:
Oklahoma Is most fortunately located;
the soil is so fertile and diversified that
the cotton Of the southern and the ce-
reals OF the central states are produced
In equal abundance. This happy loca-
ton Is In part responsible for the slight
effect, here felt, OF the financial distress
that now prevails In so many parts OF
the county. Many OF the people are poor
and have had, and are now having, a
hard struggle against the conditions that
necessarily exist in the settlement OF a
new commonwealth. However, an ex-
animation OF the expenditures OF the
poor fund, made IN the various counties.
shows that a remarkable small percent
age OF the inhabitants are subjects OF
public charity. The people OF Oklahoma
are intelligent. courageous, energetic
and frugal. You gentlemen are to be
congratulated on being chosen to legs-
date on behalf of such a people. You,
also, coming fresh from among the peo-
pie, are acquainted with their condition
and familiar with their needs. Still, 1t
will not be out of place for me to sug-
gest that much is expected of the fourth
legislative assembly. Many abuses ex-
ist that can be remedied by proper legis-
aation.
The evil most apparent is high taxes.
Complaint comes from every county,
city and school district in the territory
thai the exeactions of the tax-gatherer
are no in keeping with the condition OF
the people. This condition is not only
hurdensome to the people but it drives
capital from the territory and is a bar
against other coming In.
You. gentlemen. doubtless recognize
the existence of this evil and will remedy
1t by wholesome legislation. The short
period of sixty days limited for your sit
ting is hardly sufficient to perform the
labor expected at your hands, still be-
lieve that each of you appreciates the
responsible duties of your position and
will enter upon the discharge of your
duties with an earnest desire and deter
mination to accomplish the most pos
'sibie good within the time given.
| trust that the relations between the
executive and legislature may be mos,
pleasant and friendly and | assure you
1t will be my pleasure, as 1t is my duty
20 heartily cooperate with you In the
'enactmelt of all legislation that promises
good to uie territory.
Detailed Information as to the condi-
ton of the territorial government and
the various departments thereof, as well
as the respective territorial institutions
is given in the several reports herewith
transmitted.
AUDIAOR'S REPORT.
The report of the auditor for the two
&1n0r to
to attached, marked Exhibit A." From
this report 1t will be seen that the re-
ceipts from the three-mlll levy authoriz-
ed by statute, is sufficient to pay the
general expenses Of the territorial gov
ernment Your careful consideration Il
invited to the remedies suggested in thi.
report for this condition, as well as the
recommendation for the separation OF
the office of auditor and superintendent
of public instruction. 1t Is a fact worthy
of public notice that the expenses of the
territorial government In Oklahoma
with the single exception of Alaska. are
not half so great as In any one of all the
other territories
1t will be seen that the indebtedness
consists Of 900 of bonded debt, Great
ed for the university normal school and
agricultural college; s163 ,0739S OF gen.
eral fund warrant Indebtedness, 1858 .4C
normal school warrant indebtedness and
kO,63U.Zo library luHu WARRANT ulheDteu-
ness outstanding. This Indebtedness
Including the bonds, draws interest at
per cent and the bonds mature in 1903
and the warrant Indebtedness Is subject
to payment whenever the revenues OF
the territory are sufficient for that pur-
pose. Under the rule adopted by the
treasurer, the warrants are paid in the
order OF their registaton. The receipts
derived from the use OF school lands. to-
Eether with the one-mill levy for 1886
Tor the normal school and territorial uni
versity will l.nuidate the debt of these
institutions during 1897. The three-mill
levy now being collected on the valua-
tisn of 1896, s24,S15. IN, will yield a reve-
pue of about $4,000. About so per cent
Of this amount viii be paid promptly in
to the territorial treasury and applied to
the extinguishment of that amount OF
the floating debt reducing the same
about 5000 This is comparatively a
very small indebtedness for a territory
with the resources of Oklahoma, and
compared with other territories, is mere
ly a trifle. calculation win show that
the entire Indebtedness will be about 54
cents per captta
TREAsURER's REPORT.
I herewith submit the IhiId biennta
report of the territorial treasurer mark.
ed exhibit b." A perusal Of this re,
MORT will disclose the fact that the tcta
for the biennial period ending Novem.
ber 80, 1896, was 1878, 757!e7 which, added
TO the balance on hand November so
1894, $7,5S5.95, makes a total of 1881 ,
e4202. The disbursements for tht
same period were s349, ,004A. leaving g
balance on hand belonging 10 the vari
Gus funds of s32.337.71. The total amount
Imperfect and should be remodeied so as
n provide adequate punishment for its
of general fund warrants redeemed wa:
D. S105,38l.7S; interest on same SO, ,36S. rs
The amount of territorial common schoo
fund forwarded to county treasurers wa;
s1207S3.92 The territorial treasurer
recommends that provision be made FOL
the registration of all warrants and theil
payment in the order of registration
This recommendation is certainly in ac
cordance with all precedent in sucn mat
ters and should be enacted into law.
Your attention is called to the very
balances dae from the counties on ac
count of territorial tax for 1895, alsc
tables showing the balances due from
the several counties on account of terri
torial tax for the years 1891 to 1895, in
elusive.
SCHOOL LANDS.
The report OF the board for leasing
school lands is herewith transmitted
marked Exhibit c." This report give,
at length the transactions relating Il
school lands for the two years last past
and deals at some length with many o.
the, intricate problems connected with