The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-05-31
BY THE FIRST LEGISLATURE OF
THE NEW STATE.
MANY BILLS INTRODUCED
And but Comparatively Small Mum.
Der Passed and Are Laws-Prom-
ises Of Democracy Was Kept
by the Party.

The first legislature assembly OF
the new state Of Oklahoma completed
its labors last Tuesday, and the va
rious members Of both branches Of
the lawmaNng body have perhaps by
this time reached their homes scatter
ed all over the state. one member of
the body, the representative from
Carter county Leo Harris. reached
Ardmore Friday night over the Rock
Island by way OF Haileyvillc.
The actions of that body is a mat
ter of history and what mas been
writ is writ" and there remains un-
iii time shall be no more and the
walls of the building I'm which the
body sat shall be crumblod to ruins,
and bodies Of the first legislators shall
have returned to dust from
they came, and the spirits 10 the God
who gave them birth. while their
acts will be here yet.
The first body was made up of rep
rcsentatiye men of the staet from ev-
cry avocltion of life The rich man
was represented, middle classman was
represented. the laborer who tolls for
his daily bread was represented. the
school teacher, the professional man,
the farmer. the newspaper man, yes,
all We're there and all had a hand I'm
writing the acts of that body.
For a period OF 100 days the repre-
soutatilos of the people remained In
session writing the FIRST laws OF the
new state. aud now since their work
has been done would Il not be well
for the people of the state TO. say un-
to them, We'll done thou good and
faithful servant"
The task imposed upon them was
a Herculcan one, and much was left
TO be yet done by the next body. Dur.
ing the time the legislature was in
session every promise made by the
great democratic party in power at
the Oklahoma City convention save
one was fulfilled and has been writ
ten I'm the statute books of the state.
Much work was incurred 10 get the
wheat from the chaff, and many allow
Ynccs a'e 10 be made on account OF
the fact that but few members of
that body had any legislative eXpe-
rience prior to the assembling of the
legislature last winter.
The records of the legislature, as
given by Leo Harris yesterday morn
ing show that during the term l,29S
bills were introduced into both houses
and Of this number 7i9 bills were in
troduCcd into the lower house, and
4i9 into the upper house, or senate.
or the vast number Of bills introduc-
ed I'm the two houses something over
200 have become laws, and one of
these, the Billups bill, known as the
dispensary bill is TO be referred 10
the ncople 10 either rcscind or adopt
at the election 10 be held next No
vomber. The lower branch Of the leg
slature passed through It's body and
referred 10 the senate POS OF tho 7i9
Of the bills introduced. The senate
did not take action on all Of them
and several are az yet on the calen-
dar or I'm the waste basket. The 4i9
bills introduced in the senate were
not all considered by the lower house
which acted as check on the upper
house IN some cases and but a small
nrolortion of the bills introduced
have become laws.
Some of the laws that were intro
duced by members were with good
intentions, but had they been put on
the statute books would not have per
Laps worked for the good Of the state
~ large Notwithstanding the fact
that every member who introduced
his hul did not secure its passage
yet the new state legislature did one
act. which will set an example for
other states to follow by passing a
law protecting the bank depositorS
AGAINST the loss Of money deposited
In the banks. the guarantee deposit
fund Already that bill has proved
efficient and the test has been MAD
with good results. This one piece Of
legislation alone will bring thousands
of dollars into the state when may
be invested that would not come in
here otherwise.
other important matters received
LEGISLATION. and among the most i'm
portant bills that were made laws
are the mandatory primary law, re-
auirlng all political parties TO adopt
a urinary system for the nomination
OF officers: the general election law,
anti-child labor law Billups dispen-
sary law. graduated land tax, inherit
ed income tax, jim crow car bill to
allow municipalities 10 exempt manu-
facturers and public utilities from
taxation for a period OF five years;
the adyalorem tax law, establishment
of a school OF mines at Wilburton, a
bill to appoint a commission to survey,
classify and purchase the segregated
mineral lands from the Cnoctaws and
Chickasaws; besides these, numerous
other bills.
The one bill introduced by Leo Har-
rs to give the municipalities the priv
ilege OF eXempting manufacturing
plants and public utilities from taxa
tion for a period Of five years has
caused much comment in the state,
and the authorities were compelled
to have several thousand printed for
distribution In and out OF the state.
This bill will be the means OF secur-
ing the establishment OF many indus
tries in the cities OF the state Leo