The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-12
The OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION
PRESIDENT WILL NOT GIVE ANY
OPINION AS TO ITS MERITS.

He says He IL Limited 10 Deciding whether
Il saiisfes the Test FIXED by Congress
The C~enventlen X % Many changes
10 Meet supposed ObJectSons 20 IL.
WASHINGTON, Judy u.-Attorney-Geners
Bopapsrte to-day gave out this statement in
regard to the pending constitution OF the
proposed nsw state al Oklahoma:
The Acknowledgement was recently adj
vised by Mr.. W. A. Ledbetter, who with
other gentlemen called upon him some
time ago with reference to the proposed
constitution for Oklahoma, that the con-
stitutional convention wac TO reassemble,
md Mr.. Jedbetter stated that the copven-
ton, or q considerable number Of the MEM
bers Of the convention, desired to have an
expression from. the President az TO the
merits Of the provisions contained In the
constitution now proposed. The Attorney
General In reply has addressed a letter to
W. n. Murrsy, president OF the convention,
saying that IL Ia the plain intent OF the Okla
bona enabling act that the voters OF the
two Territories, through their representa-
tives in the constitutional convention, should
themselves frame Q constitution. that the
duty of the President is limited to deciding
whether the constitution thew shall frame
so evidently satisfies tho tests hxed by
Congress that no further reference to Con-
gress' Of the question whether they are
At for Statehood would be necessary or
advisable.
H further states hat IL would ne alto
getber at variance with tho spirit and pur-
pose Of the enabling act for the President
to aid in fr sming this instrument when
~ -.,a< aftAv-arA AartI> -hAthAr - II atrCN
an instrument - ~justides their immediate
admission under the terms OF the act. He
says that he secs nc objection, however,
TO furnishing a list OF provisions In the con-
stitutiQn as nov proposed to which objec-
tions have been fled with the President
and with the Department OF Justice.
Such a list has been Furnished : o Mr..
Murray and also 10 Mr.. Ledbetter, comprie-
ing q list OF the sections under the different
articles OF which criticism has been made
In communications as above noted. The
Acknowledgement has been, however, care
full to impress upon the minds Of the gentle
men that the Department OF Justice neither
states nor in anywiee indicates Its opinion
as TO III force or p~ertinency OF any OF the
objections which have been made TO pro-
expressly ~refrains from making any state
ment whatever which might be regarded
as indicating that the Department has any
views whatever on the subject
0UTHRIR. Okla. July The conetitu-
tional convention to-day made several
changes in the proposed Constitution.
Power was given the courts to punish
when a contempt case 10 committed in the
Courts presence. The section was elimi-
mated giving the Legislature additional
power to restrict suffrage qualifications.
The initiative and referendum was emascu-
lated Of the provision for carrying 1t into
effect in case the Legislature shah refuse
to do 80.
A provision was inserted permitting a
merger by legislative enactment Of cor
porations chartered within the State, but
foreign corporations cannot merge. Power
was given the Legislature to limit con-
ditions under which foreign corporations
may operate within the State. The pro-
vision was eliminated which prevented
foreign corporations from removing any
court proceedings from State 10 Federal
courts.
An amendment prevents Federal Office
holders and anybody holding a position
Of profit in another State from holding
any State Office. The habeas corpus writ
provision was amended so as not 10 inter-
fere with Federal jurisdiction.
The clause taking from courts the power
TO punish for contempt was eliminated.
The State Senators will be increased TO
a. and Representatives to 100.
Fear Of the big stick" at Washington, il
is understood. caused the majority Of
changes