The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-09-30
THE REASON why IT'S SO.
The Red Tape of Officialtsm Re,
sponsible for Townsite DeIav.

GRADUALLY an understanding is
being reached by the people as to
the devious methods of officiaIism
in the Territory. The carpet bag
rule of irresponsible appointees
irresponsible as regards the more
than 400, 900 people whose interest
they are supposed to represent) is
becoming more irksome as the years
of procrastination pass without
any effort being made to solve the
social, political and economic pro-
blems which press for solution be-
fore the Territory can become
state Of self governing freemen.
The plat of Ardmore was re-
Gently returned to the townsite
commission without the approval
of the secretary of the interior.
Under the official red tape now in
vogue the plat had to pass through
the hands of supernumeray
known as the Indian inspector in
stead of being sent direct to the
department. Along with the plat
was an Endorsement of the work
and a petition for the approval of
the plat, signed by large number
of Ardmore citizens. This was ac-
companied by a detailed expla-
nation from the townsite commits
sion showing very clearly the rea-
sons for not conforming the plat
to the departments instructions of
August Is.
These documents were pigeon
holed in the office Of the Indian
inspector, and only the plat, ac-
companied by note of disap-
proval from this functionary,
reached the secretary OF the inte,
rior. Why this should have oc-
CURED and what legal authority
the inspector has for curtialing the
means of information Of the in
terror department in its decisions
upon Territory affairs is not
known to our people and probably
not to the secretary himself.
At any rate it was done and the
instructions sent to the townsite
commission by the department
when the plat was returned gives
it virtually the same discretion
which it exercised in the first in
stance, and our people, or a great
number of them, believe that If
the explanations of the commission
had reached the secretary of the
interior, accompanied by the petit
tion for approval, there would
have been no order for a resurvey
and modification of the plat.
The secretary instructed the
commission to have regard to all
the interests of the parties living
in the town" and due regard to
the convenience of the parties in
the establishment of alleys and
streets" and also that no change
should be made in case a change
will destroy valuable improve
ments, such as buildings" He
closed by telling the commission to
make a report of the facts in all
exceptional eases. These ipstruc
tons have already been virtually
carried out by the commission in
the original survey and plat, and
had the explanations cf exceptional
cases, which the commission made
out clearly and fully, ever reached
the department it is quite likely
that the situation would have been
understood by the secretary and
that the plat would have been sat
isfactory.
1t is possible yet that by con-
certed action on the part of our
people the secretary may be pre-
vailed upon to alter his decision
and approve the plat as it now
stands. The possibility is worth
an effort and if it fails matters can
be no worse than they are at pres
ent.
Selling at Cost.
0r.:. 70 oAIo,. h,,.:r, kkn,.c