The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-04
Guthrie, Okla, June 3,

Hon. c. N. Haskell, Governor OF Okla
homa, Guthrie, Okla.
Sir:-We beg leave to acknowledge
receipt OF your communication or re-
cent date, asking this committee, OF
behalf of the city of Guthrie, to SUD
NIT options to you upon tracts OF rea
estate within five miles OF the city
of Guthrie for the location OF a cap
itol building and other state institl
tions, under State Question Number
IT, Initiative Petition Number Z, to
be submitted to the people Of the
state OF Oklahoma at special cleo
tion called by YOU on June II, 1910
Replying thereto we desire to say
that, having carefully examined the
bill or proposed law embodied in the
State Question, Initiative petition be.
fore mentioned, we find there Is NO
provision therein under which the
governor of the state or any other
person has any authority to receive
any options on land or to make any
binding contract relating thereto. AS
the status OF this bill at this time
Is the same as that Of a legislative
measure on final passagoit cannot
be amended or changed, but must
either be defeated or become law
exactly as proposed IN the petition
under which 1t WAS Initiated. There
fore, there being no provision IN the
bill or any authority TO receive or ac-
tNtt ma, a.
any options submitted would be null
and void. and the bill, should IL re.
| celve majority of votes, would he
In full force and effect, with It's inn
mediate appropriation of 100000
from the General Fund Of the state
treasury, with practically no restric-
tions as to It's expenditure, and It's
many other obnoxious features.
The bill, which is in open violation
OF both the letter and the spirit OF
the Enabling Act. Is so vicious meas
ure. so detrimental to the best inter.
ests of the taxpayers and the citizens
generally of the state, ana so replcte
with opportunities for graft and cor
ruption, that mother this committee
nor the citizens Of Guthrie would care
to sanction II in any way.
PecDle Of the state are generally
, cognizant Of the fact that for over
twenty years thirteen acres Of
ground in the best residence district
OF the city Of Guthrie and close TO
the business center has always been
ut the disposal Of the territory or
the state for capitol purposes, also
that within the past two years the
citizens OF Guthrie have erected there
on for the free use OF tho state 4
Temporary capitol building, which n
ia commodious aud fire proof strucrnrt
with suitable vaults for the safe keep
ing Of records, and, together with the
paving and parking about It, cost the
city $200,0 This land with all the
improvements and the building, worth
fully half million dollars, ls at the
disposal of the state for all time tc
come, together with the magnificent
park of one hundred acres coming NJ
TO within two blocks OF the same
Guthrie viii be glad to deed all thli
w llit Hidl'i Wlinbui hhl hADthn' "
the taxpayers Of Oklahoma, when
ever any person Is autboylzeda bF b}N
to receive the same, and to submit
proposals upon this land and any ad
dltional land that tho state may neec
for capitol purposes, whenever Tho
legislature or the people have takoI
action to authorize the asking or re
ceiylng OF proposals from the yarl
ous cities Of the state.
While Guthrie would like of course
to be the permanent capitol OF tb'
state, the people Of our city woul'
not want to be the benoflciares un
der a measure 80 coupled with dishon