The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-22
MOUND
BUILDERS
WIN OUT
Oklahoma Council Passed
Public Building Bill
BY A DECISIVE MAJORITY
Clarke and Two Others Make
a Strong Protest
BUT The BAND WANON
Was Driven Over Them on
Previous Question Call.
BUT The BAND WANON

Guthrie, o. T.. Feb. M-The public
building bill passed the council this
morning by a vote Of 10 to 3. In the
preliminary roll calls, Senator Foster
the member from Logan county, voted
with the opposition. but or the fna
and decisive roll call he voted for the
passage Of the bill. Those voting for
the affirmative were Miller, Bellamy, Up
degraff, WinkHn, Coulson, BrodbaIl, Duff
fy. Foster. MessaH and Harrison. The
three votes in the negative were cast Dy
Clarke, Todd and Woolsey.
The mound builders worked the bill
through with a smoothness that speaks
for the thOroughness Of prior prepara-
ton. Three other bills on the calendar
were taken up and passed, and when
the clerk had concluded reading a me
mortal Senator Miller arose and moved
that council bin No. 129 dhe public build
ing bid, be read a third time by title
and placed on its final passage, and be
fore an objection could be interposed, he
quickly moved the previous question.
On all the preliminary questions the roll
was called and the vote showed Clarke,
Foster, Todd and Woolsey voting in the
negative. The final roll call on the pas
sage Of the bill called for a number Of
explanations" Of votes.
Senator Coulson read q collection Of
statistics showing the cost Of maintain
ing the convcts and insane under the
he voted for the present bin in the belief
that it would be a saving to the terri
tory.
Senator Harrison. in explaining his
vote for the bin, said that there was now
$4,000 in the territorial building fund
and the buildings proposed would not en-
tail a dollar Of indebtedness on the ter
ritory
Senator Miller. in voting for the bill.
explained that the necessity for a penl-
tertiary and insane asylum was so ap-
parent that it overcame his objections
TO other features o fthe bin.
Senator Foster in explaining his change
Of position on previous test votes. said
that the large majority in favor Of the
hul Indicated public sentiment for the
Senator Woolsey said he believed the
bin to be a dangerous measure that
would prove satisfactory to only small
proportion Of the people, and II left to a
popular vote it would be defeated. by an
overwhelming majority. He prophesized
that the promoters Of the bin would
become infamous.
Senator Clarke, who made himself con
spicuous by his six hours speech in op-
position 70 the bin in the committee Of
the whole. read from manuscript the fol-
lowing explanation OF his vote in the
negative:
MIR. President: I protest against the
passage OF this Din. providing for the Lo-
cation Erection, Management and Con
troll Of a Territorial Penitentiary. Ter
ritorial Asylum for the Insane. a Terri
torial Asylum for the Deaf. Dumb and
Blind. and a err1torial Reform School
for Boys and Girls for the following
reasons:
'First-Because the locations OF these
institutions at this time under the pro
visions Of the bill IS n-advlsed and I'M
necessary
'Second-Becauss under the pretense
OF making a direct appropriation Of only
$4,000. a debt against the territory and
future state Of Oklahoma Of several mil
lion dollars is really initiated. and ave
nues Of corruption. speculation and in
Vulnerable frauds are opened to public
officers not elected by. or responsible TO
the people and tax payers
'Third-Because the past history Of ter (
ritorial administrations in Oklahoma
shows that federal officers have FREQUENT
- disregarded existing laws. lavisbf- *
pended the public money IN violation
thereof. and in many matters connected
with the erection and control of our
public institutions. proved unworthy of
the trust committed TO their charge
Fourth-Because. under he acs Of con
gress, he money derived from section %
was intended 20 be applied in the frs4
instance, TO the erection ~ a canst,I
building, which. on the admission OF the +
territory as q state. becomes the FIRST
necessity. and that therefore The nro-
visions ~ this bll is s. practical uuHifc,- f
5ion Of the VIII u congress.
'Fffth-Because the outstanding IN
deotedness OF the territory at the e,ose
or business, January u. 1901. was sf1g-
4+s a. That an additional Indebtedness
of $50 isiS 81 would exceed the one. percent
met alton prescribed Ply the third sectie,
~ the act Of congress Of July so ISIS
This excess Of the LEGAL limit IT indebted 4
ness has. in nay Judgment been reached T
by debts already contracted bv tbe +e--
a.tory and certain appropriations Of ths
revenues authorized by thi shin womb
be nun and void.
Sixth-Because thu biu was not rea4 ~
considered in the committee % the whole
IN the council as provided by 7a~uarer-
tary rules and because the members ~
the council were denied the opportunity
70 consider IL by sections. ana n-onaee
amendments 70 the SAFE. and becsuss the
previous question was moved. entertained +
10y the chairman OF the committee Of the
whole and adopted by the supporters ~
the BIN. in direct violation o. Roberts
rules o. order. which are the rules II
the council
seven th-Bec2use Il creates q host of
ap2ointive Office holders 70 be selected
by the governor az tina when me
council VIII not be In session. and hence
WI Ilave no voice in rejecting the ronE
nation q incompetent or co-~rpt r,en
'Ilghth-Because 2 IT'S i1lersl 1oasa
and inconsistent provisions. ana tne
Questionable methods connected vith ~.
PASSAGE by che council. Sc Will eveatrsn,-
had 10 protracted litigation IN tho -or~,s
''NLnth-Because Of the use q such