The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-04
TELLS HOW he WAS
"glRkEO" BY LOBBYISTS
Alleges Shameless GTaiilng Of
Public Funds By County
Officials


Okla. whose recent open letter ad
dressed TO Governor Haskell calling
attention 10 alleged abuses OF the fee
ana salaey law. has addressed another
communication 10 the governor on
the same subject The letter follows:
Duncan. Okla. Dec. Hon. G.
y. Haskell, Guthrie. Okla. My Dear
Go9crnor: On November had the
honor Of addressing TO you an open
letter concerning a practice which we
aad allowed ourselves To fall into in
many. If not al. of the counties Of
the state. wherein certain county Of
fleers had been by pc mission Of the
county commissioners drawing out Of
The c0anly funds large sums Of money
without any sanction OF law. Some
nF the leading Democratic papers felt
warranted IN giving Il publication.
ana aaYe since received more than
one hundred lette commencing me
Ii strong terms for the action ! had
lelt called upon 10 take. some OF
which | herein reproduce. they come
ID lhe main from prominent Demo
Gratis Of the stare. and a few from the
very county officers who were affect
IA by my criticism OF waat | deemed
4 very dangerous practice.
was al The time aware OF the fact
That many thousands OF dollars were
heing misapplied. but am nov con
vinced thar my estimate OF the
amount thus aquandered was very
moderate, and II Is now an open SO.
cisf that there Is every indication OF
systematic plan being carried out
In every portion OF the state about
which the great body OF the people
We're In dense ignorance.
Now. don't someone say II Is the
Democratic party, tor Il Is not; but
II Is also true that about thirty Of
the counties In the state are con
tr0lled bv Republican officials. and my
Information is that the same practice
prevails .all over tae stale. Some one
has said the Democrats are IN power
and 20 we are, and u is our duty
and ahall be en- pleasure to stop Y
and have the peoples money return'
ed to It's proper custody now that we
ale ava Of the wrong done What
would the Republican party do--the
same praeiIce was tolerated In terri
iorial days without question or inter
ference
Then what OF the situation, and Is
It of much importance to the tax
pave throughout The state. LEI us
figure llttle Say all Of the district
clerks draw SIS per day while tae
c0nrf is in session and The term will
average four weeks. or tWenty.lnnr
days. Twice year. |; would be
$50 10 the county, aud seventy-six
counties SlS,240 OF any consequence
Ia the faxpayers? Yes Suppose The
sheriff's department should continue
To dlaN s0.called salary for the
chief and 60 PEI cent for services as
n criminal and civil cases including
expenses for all Of their deputies and
say thar this quarterly allowance
should averaee sl.97S ~ or s5,5i5.lG
q year and ihat this would represent
~ Average 70 the seyenty-six coun
ties snf the slate or the sum OF s4i9,
10 iG The people would be interest
ga some more. would they mott You
can figure other leaks and reach a
conclusion, hui Il am right in my
PREMISES. Il would reach approximate
II 81 100000 per year Illegally allow
ed by he various boa Dis OF county
commissioners
The Fist Letter.
Nov S. Ny Dear Sir-Will yol
permit q comparative stranger Il
congratulate sou on your stand OF th'
fee question:
have been noticing that The laws
construed make a public office pri
yaie license. and am glad 10 see tia
cue in a position 10 correct the eFi
has The courage to DO IL. also fee
sure that the public viii approve
Vey respectfully
Second Letter.
NJ Dear Sir: ! have read your let
ter concerning the fee and salary o
officers and am In sympathy wtl
your view OF The law. The count.
Judge here has been drawing his 81
SEQ a year right along. but the thin
you don't mako quite clear in YOU
letter. Is whether the county. as
rbunly. Ia liable for the fees of th
sheriff In criminal cases. aud shon
Ike, If you win. that YOU indicate t
ME the law which makes the count
liable for the shern's fees m crlm
inal eases Is there such lawg
Yours very truly County Attorne
pf M county.
Third letter.
Deas Senator: The writer of thi
letter read .nilh much interest YOU
arilcIe with reference to the perm
rioak lee system IN force. aud a
Dfaefiped IN this state There ca