The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-16
CONSTITUTION OF HEW
STATE IS COMPLETED
Radical and Stringent Laws, if
Approved, to Govern
Oklahoma.

GUTHRIE, Okla. March 15.-The
only state constitution to be produced
under modern conditions-that intended
for the proposed new state of Oklahoma.
has finally been drafted here. The con
stitutional convention finished its work
today and adjourned after having been
in session lis days. The constitution
will be submitted to the people of the
two territories at special election on
August 6, One of the last acts of the
convention was to appoint committee
to solicit funds to pay the expenses of
the election, the convention having ex-
hausted practically all the money ap-
propriated by Congress.
The convention was overwhelmingly
Democratic, beng composed of 100
Democrats and l2 Republicans
Probably the most important meas
ure killed by the convention was the
provision relative to separate coaches
for whites and negroes, although the
Democrats had been pledged to insert
it, Several delegates alleged on the
floor that President Roosevelt would re
iect the constitution if the Jim Crow
proposition was adopted, and warning
letters were sent delegates by Senators
Tillman, Pettus and others,
Woman suffrage was defeated by a
few votes.
Initiative and Referendum.
The initiative and referendum, pat
termed after the Oregon law, was adopt
ed, as was provision providing for the
nomination of all state officers and
United States Senators by primaries.
Succession in State offices is pro
hibited, and it. is provided that the
Senate committees shall not be named
bv the Lieutenant Governor, but be
selected by the body itself
Oklahoma will be prohibition State
the most stringent liquor law in exist
ence, prohibiting not only the sale but
tho introduction of liquor into the
State being provided for. The en-
| abling act provided that Indian Terri
tory must accept prohibition for TWEEN"
ty-one years. The convention provided
| that the whole State shall vote on the
question, and there is no doubt that
| the terms Of the enabling act Will be
made uniform over the whole State.
Provision is made for State Railway
| commission, to be elective, and a two
cent passenger fare order
Railway companies are prohibited
from owning any productive agency Of
| a natural commodity, q provision par
ticularly intended to cover coal lands,
A fellow servant law is embodied in
| the constitution.
Corporations Restricted,
Corporations are prohibited from own
| ing more land than is absolutely neces-
sary in the operation of their business.
The issuance of water stock is pro.
| hiblted and the books of all corpora
tions are made subject to action at all
times.
The organization of corporations. to
deal in realestato outside OF incorporat
ed cities is prohibited.
A commission is appointed to nego
tiate the purchase of the segregated
mineral lands in the Indian territory
valued Mt many millions of dollars. and
State ownership and operation of the
coal mines thereon is contemplated.
The legal rate Of interest is fixed al
6 per cent, and the contract rate al
10 per cent,
A compulsory and separate schoo
system is established.
Commissions are created on Labor
and Arbitration, Charities. Insurance
Railroads, Agricultural, Oil, Gas auc
Mines.
The State is divided into seventy
five counties, twenty-one judicial dis
and 105 legislative districts.
The State seal adopted is combina
ton of the present seal of OklahomT
and the seal of the Nations of the five
civilized tribes
A majority vote is required to ament
the constitution.