The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-03-25
PORK BILL TALK
Governor Thinks Appropri-
alton Measure Should be
Divided.

fnIe Wall uINtlt iut AHliti "a NfEt 'Et'-
tion bin into at least three separate
bills. in order to eliminate graft and
undesirod portions" said Governor
Tom Ferguson today. Eis idea would
be to have one bin covering the appro-
priations for the various departments
Of the territory only another for legs
lative appropriations and third for
educational institutions "This," The
governor said. "would give the gov
erncr a chance TO veto one or more
Of the appropriation bills and still
net interfere with the running appro-
priatons for the ma.ntainance Of the
departments.
AS the general appropriation bill
went through the recent legislature,
and in former legislatures as wen, the
governor was forced to sign it or
starys the territory vetoing the nee
essary appropriations for the de
partments. he must either veto the
entire bin or call nextra session cf
the legislature. which would cost the
territory more than the various items
CT graft that are allowed to wedge
in between the necessary and need
ful appropriations.
Il is known that the governor did
not like the clause in the bill which
makes it compulsory for all persons
excepting legislative employees to
make affidavit to the amount Of money
due them. This is compulsory on the
part Of every person receiving any
money whatever from the territory
except the employees Of the legis-
lature
When the appropriation bill passed
the house the change was made in il,
which provided that the amount set
opposite the names Of the legislative
employees should be the amount due
them without AFFIDAVIT or approval
It was a clean case Of graft and was
done with the purpose Of paying poll
tical debts due certain of the legis-
lauve employees although possi-
bly, they were not in attendance more
than half the time Of the session.
Perhaps RlGray Of Pawnee. editor
Of the Pawnee rimes-Democrat. was
the only employee Of either house to
get the exact amount due him for time
given the territory. OF course there
were a unmber of the employees who
were present every day and received
the money actually due them for all
the time, but Gay was present but
ten days and drew but $40. lie made
no kick, possibly because he was a
newspaper man. but there were vari.
Gus others. who were either absent a
great part of the time or were not
sworn in until from one to two weeks
after the session began. but who
drew pay for the full sixty days.
When asked today about the clause
which leglslated the exact amount
which legislative employees should
receive without affidavit or approval.
Governor Ferguson said: Il did not
like that portion of the bill and no
governor on earth would have signed
it. had it not been attached TO the gen
eral appropriation bin and the legis-
lature had adjourned
The educational Amendment.
Perhaps one of the best clauses in
the general appropriation bin was
forced therein by Representative
Levy. After each Of the educational
institutions had received It's share OF
money. Mr.. Levy moved an amend
ment to the bill. as follows. which
was adopted simply for the reason
that he caught the various members
in a trap and they could not fight Il:
Provided. that all appropriations
made by this legislature for education
al institutions shall not be available
until the president Of each inst.tu
tion shall have furnished to the terri
torial auditor a certified list, showing
that no student is enrolled. OF in al
tendance. who Is not possessed with
a dlplom9 from some high school, OF
al least an eighth grade common
school diploma or have furnished sat
isfactory evidence that they have com
pleted the eighth grade work. ant
an admissions TO territorial institu
tions of learning shall be based upon
the applicant holding such certificate
or Information. except that this pro
vision shall not apply to the Langs
ton colored University and not q
students applying for admission t
short courses in agriculture. me
chanics or domestic economy at thl
A. q NJ. college; provided, however
that each Of the territorial normalI
may admit not 10 exceed l2O childrei
for teachers training department"
The charge had been made that The
various institutions were not NOR,
than local institutions. The mem
bers representing the districts hav
ing such educational institutions. de
MED the charge most emphatically
Mr. Levy took advantage Of these
denials 20 force through his amend
mquf and Il also Daeaad the equaf,