The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-16
The CAPITAL. LOCATION BILL
THE Shawnee Heraldl

THE Shawnee Herald)
In this issue viii be found com
p.-1e copy of the bill providing fol
the permanent location of the capital
The bill providing for the amend
ment Of the constitution is separ
ate one and is at the present time
tied up by legal proceedings on the
Dart of Guthrie. which contends that
Z the capital should remain at Guthrie
uniil 1919, as provided by the consti
tuition.
This bill is worthy Of the careful
perusa Of. anyone who takes inter
est in public matters. Out OF the
thousands who signed the initiative
petition Ii is doubtful whether 5 per
cent have ever read the bill through
though the most of them are acquaint-
ed with its general provisions. The
POINTS in which it is unfair and moi
advantageous for the state appear
only upon close reading.
Attention Il specially called TO
Section Of the bill which provides
for the appointment of the state CAR
ial commission, The only Qualifi-
cations prescribed for the members
of this commission are that they
shall be qualified electors. not more
than two of the same political party.
able to make a bond of $4,000 and
10 draw a SALARY of $4,000 per annum.
Nothing is said about the locality
from which these commissioners are
70 be chosen. Nothing prevents them
from heing citizens Of the capital
city TO be selected. Nothing prevents
them from being interested in real
estate in The neighborhood in which
the capital is 10 be located
In order to prevent improper az,
ton the members Of such commits
sion should not be citizens OF the
town chosen and should be absolute
~ prohibited from having any real
estate interests located where they
could have any influence upon their
actions as choosing the site or de-
ciding upon the price to he paid for
land.
Further in the same section ii is
prescribed that the commission
have power TO locate and purchase
not 10 exceed 20n0 acres of land fol
which in Section Z an appropriation
is made OF the sum of s600000.
Now here Is the real hug under the
chip. The act prescribes the maxi
mum amount OF land for which this
ss00.0O0 is 10 be paid. but not the
minimum
The Judgment OF the commission Il
final and there is no appeal from il
II this commission should select SOC
acres of land or 100 acres OF Land
in the outskirts OF Oklahoma City al
the pIice OF $1,000 or $4,000 per acre
or II II should select ten acres oil
land at price tf s600,000 per acre
there Is no recourse provided in this
act by which their decision could be
SET aside. Neither is there any pen
atty provided for any such action
Is there any one familiar with the
situation who doubts that the exac'
intention of this part OF this act Is
70 make il possible to sell to the
state high priced Oklahoma City sub
urban property for the purpose OF 10
eating the capitol? If there is the
Individual has not vet learned the
Oklahoma City spirit.
II is very undesirable for one Z
grow too cynical II is easy to i'm
pute improper motives TO individuals
10 whose minds such motives never
occurred. But the surest way 10 avoid
crookedness ans governmental affairs
is TO avoid The opportunities. And II
ever wide open opportunity for q
colossal graft was presented by a
piece of Legislation it is offered by
This bill.
The Shawnee Herald saws that
Shawnee's position should not be mis-.
understood. We are opposed to this
bill because We believe II is danger
ous and that the provisions of Sec
ton T. for example, relating TO the
second election are tremendously un-
fair And we believe. that anyone
who viii read this bin carefully will
agree with Shawnee. unless he al
ieady is partisan Of Oklahoma City.