The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-02

In printed circular distributed by
Joe McNeal he compares certain items
OF state expense In Oklahoma with sim
liar departments Of government in the
states OF Iowa and Kansas, claiming
that Oklahoma 10 higher than Kansas
or Iowa in these departments and Of
fers this as conclusive evidence that
the whole government OF Oklahoma is
more expensive than the whole gov
ernment Of Kansas or Iowa.
In the irst place comparison Of the
cost Of state government by items Ia
unfair because the same Office may not
cover the same entire line Of work In
different states, and for the further
reason that the figures published by
Joe MeNeal are not true. The entire
circular, except Joe's photograph, is a
Juggling OF flgures and deliberate
falsehood. We viii take space TO point
out the McNeal style OF juggling fig-
rres.
State Auditor.
The Auditors office in Oklahoma, all
clerical help, stationery, records and
supplies included, Is nineteen thous-
and, two hundred dollars. We have
the details OF the Kansas State Aud
itor's office al hand from their official
records which Joe McNeal says is thiy-
teen thousand, five hundred dollars a
year In Kansas. The facts are that
IN Oklahoma the Auditors Office
handles all OF the financial records and
tax work OF all kinds combined under
the expense of the State Auditors Of
flee, whereas in Kansas the State
Auditors Office performs only part
OF that work. and separate Board,
the expense Of which In Kansas is
twenty-five thousand dollars year.
performs the other division, so that
the total financial record and tax work
in Kansas costs thirty-hye thousand,
FIVE hundred dollars year. while in
Oklahoma, combined in one Office, 1t
costs nineteen thousand. two hundred
dollars year. Joe McNeal knew
these facts when he printed that cir
cular and deliberately attempted to de-
ceiye the people by concealing the
truth.
Governors Office.
In Oklahoma McNeal's circular says
II costs fifty.seven thousand, three
hundred dollars year TO run the Gov
ernor's Office; in Kansas twenty-five
thousand, seven hundred dollars; in
Iowa fourteen thousand, two hundred
sixty-eight dollars. McNeals Kansas
figures are correct. McNeal's Iowa
figures are false, the true amount be-
Ing fifteen thousand, four hundred
thirty-four dollars. While in Okla
homa the total amount appropriated
for running the Governors office, as
shown on page twenty-six Of the Ses-
sion Laws of the Legislature fer the
year nineteen hundred nine, was fif.
teen thousand, three hundred dollars
year for the regular salaries and ex.
penses and for extra service, including
all such things as the numerous county
seat and county boundary elections
and that character OF service, possibly
three thousand dollars additional, but
had Joe McNeal consulted the State
Auditors warrant records he would
have found that for all purposes for
the year just ended the thirtieth day
Of last June the total expense OF the
Governors Office. including the extra
help, was under fifteen thousand, three
hundred dollars for the year. There
was no excuse for Joe McNeal making
false statement that the Governors
Office In Oklahoma costs fifty-seyen
thousand, three hundred dollars
year, and II the reader will look fur
ther on page twenty-six OF the Session
Laws he will find that Joe McNeal in
cluded every class Of public expendl
ture that requires the approval Of the |
Governor before the bill can be paid |
but none of which is for the expense /
OF the Governors Office. For an exam
pie, there is ten thousand dollars ap.
propriated to defray the expense of ap-
praising, advertising and selling tlne /
public building land with which the /
Governor has nothing 10 do except az,
prove the bills before they can be paid. I
Also fifteen thousand dollars which
may be used 10 aid in the various
counties in the enforcement OF the pro
hibition law, having nothing TO do
with running the Governors office ex-
cept that the Governor must approve
the bills before they can be paid. An
other item Of five thousand dollars. a
lump sum appropriated, out OF which
rewards Of fifty dollars each may be
paid for causing the capture and con.
viction of horse thieves. with which the
Governors Office has nothing to do ex-
cept to o. X. the certificate that the
District Judge who tried the case has
given TO the person that the Judge
finds was entitled to the reward for
causing the capture and conviction of
the horse thief. This appropriation
was made at the request of the Anti
Horse Thief Associa tion OF the state. Joe
McNeal knows that this has nothing to
do with running the C,oyernor's ofnce Hs