The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1907-02-01
Constitutional Convention 10 Start
New State Fairly to Both Terri.
tories Second Section Of Initia.
tive and Referendum-Knoc ck.Out
Blow to Woman Suffrage.

GUTHRIE: The greatest step toward
wiping out the imaginary line which di-
vides the two territories was made by the
legislative apportionment committee, when
1t decided to report that there shall be
an equal number of representative and
state, giving each equal representation in
the legislature. There is likely to be a
big fight in the convention on this propo-
siton.
The liquor traffic committee will re-
turn a majority report for state wide
prohibition with possibly two minority
reports, one for the Hughes proposition,
and the other for separate submission
The convention will be badly split on
this question.
The convention Thursday adopted Sec
ton Of the initiative and referendum
providing that per cent of the legal
voters pe.itioning may secure the refer
endum Of legislation to the people.
The committee on general pro visions
reported favorably upon several consti-
tutional provisions. One is that no cor
porations employee or public officer who
has enjoyed an immunity bath shall ever
be permitted to hold office in Oklahoma
Other provisions reported favorably by
this committee are:
Prohibiting the state or municipal sub
division from giving aid to railroad cor.
porations; prohibiting foreign ownership
Of land and providing for a graduated ex.
cess tax on persons owning or leasing
over 1000 acres, that the statute of limi.
tations shall never be pleaded against the
state or any subdivision by any officer
or ex-officer for recovery of money ol
property; all judges shall submit in writ
Ing to the judges Of the supreme cour
any defects they may find in the legis
lation or laws of the state and report tc
the governor who shall make recommen
dations to the legislature for correction
The committee on militia recommend
ed this short provision. suggested by tn,
officers Of the national guard:
"The legislature shall provide by law
not incompatible with the legislation an,
laws Of the United States, for organizing
disciplining. arming, maintaining an,
eQuipping the militia Of this state"
GUTHRIE: As a result of the ex
perience Of the state of Kansas two year
ago, when It's desire to engage in tn
oil refinery business in competition wit
the Standard OIL Co., was blocked b
constitutional limits, the Oklahoma con
stitutional convention Wednesday adopt
ed a provision which reads: "The righ
OF the state to engage in any occupatio
or business shall not be denied, nor pro
hibited, except that the state shall nc
engage In agriculture FOR any other tha
educational and scientific purposes, an
the support of it's penal, charitable an
educational institutions"
The matter came up on a report of tn
committee on general provisions recon
mending a provision of similar impor
providing that 'the right OF the state
engage In mining, manufacturing an
transportation within the boundaries
the state shall not be denied nor pre-
hibited.
The section as adopted was based O
substitute by Leahy of Pawhuska, I
which some minor amendments WEI
made, striking out the words with
the state" originally included in til
Leahy substitute. This change was mad
on the suggestion of King of Newkirl
who thought that in almost any bushes
1t would be necessary to go outside
the state to obtain material and fC
other purposes of the sort
Owing to the absence of Harmed
Woods county President Murray ar
nounced the substitution for him. G
the woman suffrage committee of ID
Bilby Of the same county. A large nun
ber Of women's suffrage petitions can
In. together with the usual number
statewide prohibition and two fro