The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-01-10

| Eight deputies 30
/ slate of the men who will probably fiji
/ the best of these offices can be found ir
another page of this paper.
| I am informed by the best OF authority
| that the incoming legislature will be con-
servative. Some very useful legislation is
| contemplated and the program is to have
| It passed.
There will be no railroad legislation OF
any kind. The most important bill con-
| templated is a usury law. There is nc
| usury law in Oklahoma at present. Nearly
| every man, with whom have talked, states
| that he is for q sensible usury law-one
| that will be just alike to the lender and the
| borrower.
A law will be passed taking away from
county commissioners the power to change
district lines. This is to prevent annual
gerrymandering. AS an instance Of how
lines have been changed in Oklahoma un-
der the present system, the senator from
Kingfisher county informed me that his
homestead has been in three different town.
ships since he settled upon II. eight years
ago.
law will be passed under which a wit
ness who wants his fees in advance, in
order to enable him to attend, can get them
without being compelled to make a pauper
affidavit, as is the case under the present
law.
A bill will be introduced. and champion
ed vigorously. the purpose of which is to
abolish the Office of road overseer and i'm
posing the duties on one man in each town
ship, who will be held responsible for the
condition Of the roads. 1t Is said that
enough labor and money are used for the
Improvement Of roads to give Oklahoma the
best roads in the world, If the money and
labor are utilized under the direction of
one man, who is to be held responsible, in
stead of a number Of men, as under the
present system. This law, il passed. will
do away with 1s00 offices in the territory.
and thus save the expense OF printing that
many names on ballots.
The champions of fees and salaries bin
ere strong. and they are pronounced in
their demands. This argument Is used:
The office Of register of deeds in Logan
county pays $500 a year. At the last
Democratic convention there were seven
teen candidates for the nomination to
that Office, and not one of them were then
earning more than $500 year. The advo-
Gates OF lower salaries are using this TO
great advantage. They want, they say.
a more reasonable parity between public
ard private salaries.
Another law of great Importance will be
urged and that is law authorizing coun-
ties to fund existing debts with view 10
going on an absolutely strict cash basis.
The idea is that the counties of Oklahf us
are now in such shape that IL the existing
debt is refunded for number of years
the counties can get along. from now on.
on the legitimate income from taxation
and otker sources NO more public in
debtedness.' Is the cry.
One of the other important measures con-
templated Is the passage OF the Dill OF the
American Bas association. looking TO a
uniform law relating to negotiable paper all
over the United States. Every state has
now its own law governing negotiable pa
per and the result is great consufion. The
American Bar association wants one iden-
teal law in all the states and territories so
that a lawyer in New York can understand
the law governing negotiable paper in Ok
iaioma without being compelled 10 look up
the Oklahoma statutes every time ne is
asked question about note made in Okla
homa-
Among the other bills OF Importance TO
be introduced is one governing the penalty
In cases of delinquent taxes. The present
law is said 10 be in the interest Of the rich
and against the poor. Ii WILL in all proba-
bility, be substituted by the Kansas law.
There will be an effort made. with IN
certain results. to pass a law aboi!shing
the office Of city and township assessors,
and creating the ONCE OF county assessor.
The Democrats IL both houses have
agreed among themselves 10 pursue
very conservative course. and. In fact. TO
be the conservative element 1 believe
that Il is the intention Of az parties 10 vie
with each other for the honor of being con-
sidcred the conservative element The
Democrats aspire TO leadership. also. Coi-
oDei Johnson without doubt. wil be the
president OF the council As well as its lead
er- He will be what might Be termed
general dictator. In The lower house. Tom
Doyle OF Perry viii be leader He -
probably the abiess man wso VII Be In
tts1 body
The silver Republicans VII Be recognized
IN the appointments
Governor Renfrow fs now engaged II
dn,shing his message 10 the legislature.
Sothing1s known OF II, except taz; q viii
nos be very long document and that s;s
tone will Be very conservative / have
heard tne word conservative rrc-e often
since ! came here than any ether vcrd IN
tie English language
The citizens OF Gaihr,e vii give c-zrs
bah ard banquet Monday n-xhi n homer
% the nes legislature II r.E - very
swell affair ard Nil be largely stteases
5y G.sstng people from al over Ok
.AhoraA DAVID LLARv