The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-09-26
CHARGES
Against Barnes GieVn Out by
the Secretary Full
Text.

washington special TO the Kansas
City Journal: Following ls copy NJ
The charges which were filed some time
aso in ths inter'o' department; and are
still pending In connection with an al
legged investigation OF Governor Barnes
OF Oklahoma, looking TO his removal
These charges were aligned by l.. over
holzer, D. f. Stiles. selwyn Douglass,
and Sidney Clarke OF Oklahoma City
Touching the status OF the case nothing
official can be ascertained Interior de-
partment officials are silent on the sub
ject. Rumors have been active OF late
in declaring that the governor win lose
his post. He is said to have been in
Washington the past week on a nyer
to look after his interests. The lndica-
tlons are that he win serve out his Of
hcial term as he has many strong
friends supporting him among whom r.
G. Kerens. Senator Elklns and Minister
Powell Clayton are prominently mem
toned.
The charges are as follows:
We the undersigned citizens. busi-
ness men and tax payers OF Oklahoma
territory, having the best interests OF
the territory IN view and wishing to
keep and establish the good name and
fame Of this future commonwealth and
in the interest OF good government and
in the honest administration OF the
same DO charge the Hon. c. NJ. Barnes
Is not M person 10 occupy the high
land honorable position az chief execu-
tive OF this territory.
We charge that by his official acts,
he has furnished proof OF his unwor-
thlness to discharge the duties OF the
office. and we do make the following
charges and specifications:
Flrst-That one Of his flrs. official an
polntments was the selection OF Har-
per S. Cunningham as attorney gener-
al, a man who has been shown by the
court records in this territory 10 be un-
worthy to 1ll n position OF honor and
! trust
In support of this charge reference r.
made 20 decisions OF the supreme court
OF this territory IN the case OF United
states National Bank plaintiff. va. the
National Bank OF Guthrie. defendant.
reported In Sixth Oklahoma Report on
Page 1863; the same case Is reported in
the Fitty-frst Pacific reporter at Page
lI9.
: The character OF this man is such
. that when his name was sent TO the
council for action. II was rejected. ont
notwithstanding this fact. and In viola
ton to the letter and spirit OF para
: graph SITS OF the Statutes OF Oklahoma
the governor re-appoInted him attorney
/, general. Said statute reads rs follows;
l"Any person rejected by the council
shall not be re-nomInated for the same
n office"
!. second-That upon the nth day o.
March the governor placed hig approx
4 al upon n contract for the erection o
"a a Normal school building at Alva I
cost over $50 900 when the legislature o
I the territory had appropriated but 81.
900 for the maintenance OF such
s. school and had never made any expreF
- appropriation for the erection OF sai(
school building. That by the unauth
o orized act OF signing said contract. al
y Indebtedness OF almost 800 600 has beer
d Incurred without any authority Of law
10 In support Of this charge reference
y Is made 10 chapter 25 OF the Session
+ Laws OF Oklahoma. 1897; the contrao
ID made with John Volk q Co of Rocl
N Island Ills. for the erection OF sal,
20 normal school at Alva and for the gov
"A ernor's message 10 the legislature, a
y well az ,he records OF the board Of ed
ucatlon Of Oklahoma, accepting sal
ge school building
i Thlrd-'rhe governor was n party 4
n. a contract whereby there was turnel
ct over TO Harper 8. Cunningham schoo
J. land notes amounting 20 60 O00 under
he verbal contract whereby thesaid Gun
3 ningham was 10 have 10 per cent OF nj
a. the sums collected. when most OF sal
st notes provided for attorneys fees an
si' the legislatures had fixed the salary q
said attorney general at 81 ZOO Tha
ut the governor consented 10 ay the sal
70. Cunningham a large sum Of money "a
OK collecting said school notes, to-wlt
more than $500 The records OF IN
'u' board OF school land commissioners ai
re- hereby referred TO In support Of hi
charge
ca Fourth-The governor had a secon
l'- lieutenant OF the militia detailed a
US acting adiutant general and consento
'N' that ne be allowed full pay as an o
fcer OF like rank IN the active servlc
'ht when the Legislature had only appr,
iht prlated the sum OF $3.50 per annum
.p- pay the adiutant general The recort
10 10 Of the adjutant general. are hereby n
lfflFN u III Hhpbhik OF huiH tUal
~ Fitth-The governor approved voucl
ers and consented 10 the Issuance
'as warrants by the auditor on account
~ expenditures In connection with n
ns adiutant generals office Tor more th1
~ 81 1000 IN excess Of any appropriate
'se made for said department In suppo
" OF this charge reference Is made 10 Il
auditors record and report for the ye
'O ending November 20. 1893
,nu , slxth-The governor deposited to
~ credit the proceeds of the school lar
ms leases and held the same as a depo'
- IN hls own name and received intere
thereon, upon the daily balance et q
~, rate OF 3 per cent pc rannum which
e"' has never accounted for 20 the schc
land boardland board and since the M
- rules and regulations have been esta
llshed and said funds are now depc
u. ited 20 the credit Of the said board.
has failed and refused 20 account
w said Interest In support % this char
ltk and FOR Information 20 the amount