Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-24
0KLAHOMA'S CAPITAL
One Feature of the Statehood
Bill.
GUTHRIE FIXED TEN YEARS
Citizens of Oklahoma City Protest Be-
yond 1908
THEY HAVE MANY ASPIRATIONS
Think the People Should Be Allowed
to Decide for Themselves
History Of Attempts.
THEY HAVE MANY ASPIRATIONS

General interest In the statehood bill has
been exclusively directed to that por-
ton relating to New Mexico and Arizona
and to some extent, to the prohibition
question In oklahoma, that minor features
OF the bill have not received the atten-
ton and consideration, either In or out of
Congress, that under other circumstances
they would have merited and received
One of the interesting features of the
bill Is the provision locating the capitals
or the proposed new states of Oklahoma
and Arizona at Guthrie and Santa Fee re-
spectively, for period of ten years In
the bill that failed in the last session OF
Congress the time was fixed until 1910 only
Santa Fe has been a historic capital for
over 300 years, and has been so by the
Will of the people of New Mexico. wno have
peen Tree to move their capital at any
time since it became American territory
But the people of Oklahoma and Indian
Territory claim that no such argument ap-
pies 10 their situation. They have had
seventeen-year-long controversy over the
capital question, in which 1t has been by
act of the legislature three times removed
from its present location, to be met with
gubernatorial vetoes and congressional in
reference. They have realized that this
capital question was a firebrand which 1t
would be well to keep out OF the constitu-
tional convention, and out of tie first ses-
sion or the legislature which would have q
code of laws to enact and two United
States senators to choose. Hence there
was general acquiescence in the terms
OF the original Hamilton bill. which pro-
vided that the permanent capital might
not be chosen until after 1910, though there
was a feeling on the part of many that
that was two years longer than was justi-
fable or necessary.
Unexpected Extension.
The unexpected extension OF the period
until after 1915 Is evoking protests from
both territories. On the 10th instant the
people OF Oklahoma City, which is the
original home of the joint statehood senti-
ment, in a mass convention adopted me-
mortal addressed to the United States Sen
ate asking for an amendment of the bill,
either striking out the capital location
clause an unprecedented feature, or
making the date not later than 1908. When
lesser towns were urging statehood for
Oklahoma alone, without the Indian Terri
tory, Oklahoma City boldly championed,
through its press, its public men and It's
MAGNIFICENT chamber of commerce of nearly
one thousand members, the cause of joint
statehood.
Four years ago, It Is charged. a public
building combine in the legislature sought
to parcel out all the state institutions ana
public buildings to various Oklahoma towns
even while statehood bill was pending in
Congress. Oklahoma City and other dis
interested communities fought the PROPOSE
ton on tie ground that joint statehood
was desirable, that II was coming, ana thal
IL was unwise and unfair to attempt TO To-
cate all the state institutions in Oklahoma
alone An entire session OF the legislature
was deadocked by this attempt: when was
in the interest of the town that is now
about TO be made the beneficiary of the
ten-year clause. ,,,. ~
10th instant, sent g. memorial TO the Senate
protesting against Congress locating Inc
Temporary capital for longer period than
until 1908, as follows:
Protest Of Citizens.
",The people of Oklahoma City assembled
in mass convention respectfully and earn
estIy appeal to your honorable body to
amend the pending statehood blu by strik-
ing out the clause locating the capital at
| Guthrie until 1915. In support we present
| the following reasons:
~ So far as we are advised there Is no
precedent IN Congress for locating state
capital in an enabling act except LOT INC
| time necessary 10 put inc staNe s"'''
ment In motion.
80 To locate the capital at Guthrie, or
| at any other place, for ten years Is
| purely local question, with Wnich congress
| ought MOTTO deal.
"a IF fifteen hundred thousand people
are entitled to statehood they are certainly
capable of locating their permanent seat OF
| government ,>,-,-,- go,
| the Indian Territory, outside Of Guthrie,
| unanimously favor the proposed amend
| ment Following the election and organl-
| zation of the state government, they desire
| IN 1a,rS to locate the capital by popular
| vote. free from all local or partisan lhlu-
ences. -,
%. The state government OF Oklahoma,
| after the Abortion of the constitution, VIII
he az extensive in all its departments as
| the state government of Kansas or OF many
| other states. In the interest OF economy
and the proper transaction OF the puolc
| business the people should have the right
| IN select at an early date the capital site,
and provide for capitol building
| IS At the present time nearly sJooooV,
! derived from leasing lands reserved by Con-
| gress for public buildings, Is In the terrific
| rial treasury, and the fund Is rapidly IN
| creasing When these lands are sold. as
! provided In the bill, the fund VIII DE tur-
! Their increased to not less than So,ooeeee
available for the erection of a capitol bullo-
| ing and for charitable and penal insutu-
| tons.
~ It is contrary to sound public policy
| to Allow this large fund to remain In the
! state treasury, as in the banks, for series
| of wears 1t should be devoted to the spe-
cffic purpose for which 1t Is intended. A
large surplus is likely to result In improper
or extravagant legislation.
So II the location Of the permanent capi-
tai is deferred for ten years an additional
five years will elapse before a building can
be erected for the use Of the state govern
ment, thereby creating great Inconvenience
and financial loss to the people Of the state.
20 To deny the right OF the people to
locate the capital Immediately following the
organization of the state government would
lead to acrimonious contention In the state
legislature over the location of all our state
institutions and in the appropriation of the
| public money 1t would be an ever-present
issue between parties. factions and sections
and a constant menace to good legislation
from the first day of statehood.
10 We submit that a square dear de-
mands that no unfair advantage be given 10
any town or section, which would be the