The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-04
21S w. Oklahoma

Affected but there Is no individual
In his controversy; a great principle
is involved and the interest of every
taxpayer Of The state Is AZ stake
TIE ecords will show thar have
made many efforts in the First and
Second legislatures TO remedy The sil
naticn and al The same time do full
Justice 10 the officer and the state
alike.
have just learned Of two other
avenues OF extracting fhe peoples
money; In q sparsely settled county
the district clerk filed claim OF
about S2.2s0 against the county for
alleged fees he earned IN criminal
cases for 4 single quarter, and the
county commissioners allowed II and
paid him The money How this can
be done and the clerk and commits
slcners hold their job Is a mystery 10
me, and yei Il may be- practced III
other c0nniles
Tha otter Il beyond question the
raweat piece o. graft yet heard Of
Certain county supeiiniendens are
claiming and eceiving from The
county saary provided by The last
legislature There rs no misiaking
the history N thai Law nor the In.
;eniinn OF IL II was a house bin and
came 10 The senate In its last DAYS
Among other things Il provided for
clerk hire, and ID was generally be
lieged that those officers were over
taxed and nnderpaid and SO thought.
This Was to be an eme gency bill for
that Teaaen, but some one put In a
section raising the salary. which also
carried al emergency. and knowing
thar we could not increase salary
Of any county officer. offered an
amendmeni TO the effect that as %
that section Of the bin i should not
take eaeci until after the general
lection, 1910. But t7e lobbyists
ihee came to me by the scores and
pledged me that ii ! wrnld allow the
iii Ia pass thai not one Of them in
ihe state would claim the increased
ralary until alte next election. but II
heine q house bill. II Il went back
here with an amendment would re-
suit In killing II and pledged me that
tiey would see TO II that not one
would claim It. and under protest. /
Withdrew my amendment have u
hat many Of them and probably most
d them are nnN violating their
pledge. laeir oath Of office, bringing
disgrace upon their profession. vialat-
ing he law and should be removed
FROM Office nstanie
Section i4t 81 Bunns Annotated
Constitution reads: "Txcepi wherein
,therwise provided in the constitn-
ii0n In no ease shall The salary o.
em0lumeni CT any public official ht
changed after his election or appoint
ment. q during his term Of Office
unless By operation of law enacted
prior 10 such election or appoint
ment: no. saall the term Of any pub
lie Official be extended beyond the
period fer whien he was elected ol
appointed provided, that all officers
within this sta,s shall continue te
nerfcrm The duiles OF their Offices IN
liz their Successors shall BE- duly
qualified
This law applies 70 all counts
illses win are 4IfAwing q salary ou
If the irpasnr Yin counties uiAlA
20.0f0. In POPULATION. To- In al coun
lies Of eTer % coo the salary Is fixet
! hy the constitution. OF S2.00A
have defended the various off
GERS against charges Of corruption
ami leak tie more charitable vien
of mistakes. hnl as TO this class
have no apology county commits
sinner occupying a position Of trus'
ca slless lsig alsta,ss .sisuA4i.s, "a
money taken from the uecnla without
AZ warrant Of law. Is certainly In
! eacusahlY ignorant o. cflminalls
negligent nI both. and should h
dealt with haFshly y ,nce. Yer
respectfully. d. n Smith.