The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-02
DID THEY TUNNEL
FOR THE MONEY?
" There Was A Court House Rake.
or Joe MoNeal Was In on It, Is
Joe A crook2

Since II Is IN order Tor Republican
taxpayers Of Logan county who have
been duped by the present county
board to come forward and make con.
fession, would like to add a few
words TO the interview printed in The
l.ealer from the Guthrie merchant aad
TIE Lawrie township taxpayer" said n
taxpayer OF Guthrie township today.
"Of all the foolish rlgamarole gotten
out by the Republican committee and
press that touching upon the Logan
county court house Is the worst,
"lf two men ever builded a monu.
ment to themselves and to the county
It Is j. d. Burke and John Favor the
maorit myjembers Of the Democratic
board In 1907, who in the face OF
much opposition initiated and erected
through to completion the present
Logan county court house Prior to the
building of this edifiye | recall tha,
not less than six grand juries in sub
hitting their reports on county af
fairs, condemned in merciless terms
the old county court house building
Each Of these grand juries recon-
mended the building OF a new court
house. AS far back as 1896 when o
Republican board was in control q
committee of citizens waited upon this
county board asking that steps be
taken looking to the erection OF new
court building, but this Republi az
county board nor the many that sue
ceeded it refused to do the thing look
Ing to the bettermcnt of the county
II was not until many years later whel
the taxpayers Of Logan county, indig
nant and outraged, overturned the Re
publican machine and elected Demo
cratic board, that Logan county eve
received any action whatever LOOKING
to substantial new court building.
What Burke and Favor Did.
"Messrs. Burke and Favor initiate,
the court house project, and during
period extending over eight month
they interviewed hundreds of taxpay
ers of Logan county as well as sore.
of business men of Guthrie as to the
feasibility Of erecting new cour
house. Opinion was almost unanimou
that Logan county should not be be
hind in the race for county supremac,
md that an edifice equal If no
superior to those in Woodward. King
fisher, and other counties, should b.,
built in Logan county. After Messrs
Burke and Favor had fully decided
upon the erection Of court building
hey cast about for plans necessary t.
fulfill financial obligations. Opinion
was that 80 per cent of the taxpayer
of the county were in favor of tht
rental plan. II was held that thi
plan would entail less burden on tax
payers than the method of issuni
bonds. At that time six counties l.
Oklahoma had erected new cour
buildings and in several instances tn
cost had exceeded 100000. In som,
counties there was much criticism o
The useless expenditure of public
moneys. The time not being right
ETC. In one or two cases the count,
board was condemned for making ney
contracts for court houses, but in the
majority Of cases the taxpayers VIII
we're the loudest in condemnation sui
sequently became warmest In con
mendation. Messrs. Burke and Fave
addressed letters TO many of the Ia,
payers of Logan county and receive,
replies from nearly all.
Among those who answered tn,
letters of the board and commended
the court house plan were the follow
Ing: W. A. Frasier, r. II. Greer G
n Perkins, Judge A. II. Huston, NJ. i
Whipple, ]. B. Beadles. l.. n Beadles
A. c. Carlin, c. II. Lee, r. r. Hough
ton, Miles Allen, S. +. Seeiy, |. h
Levy, ]. w. Duke, Joe ii. Norris, ]. w
McNeal, U. c. Guss. J. r. Cottingham
0. R. Fegan, Robt. Sohberg.
McNeal's Letter.
Mr.. McNeal's letter Is as follows.
-. ID. Burke, Comr First Dist,
Guthrie. Okla.
Dear Sir: | have your letter 0
July 18th and in answer TO your ques
tion will say, that as Il tax payer
favor the building of an adequat,
court house. had thought a Sl50,00t
would build an adequate one. This o
course had in mind TO put into the
building, which would make the an
nual rental about sl3,O0000 a year al
computed the interest believe 1t Il
the cheapest and best way to secure
court house. To get the benefit o
low rate bonds, they must be Ions
time. This would mean that eventu
ally we would pay far more of the
tax payers money by the time the
bonds and interest for say thirty years
has run, then we would have to pay q
little higher interest and shorter time
Woodward county built court
house on the rental plan. The face OF
the contract was sil 900. At the
same time Kingfisher built a court
house, which was perhaps a better
finished bU ding, but not quite sc
large. in pay nent OF which they issued
100000, thi ty year bonds, bearing 6
per cent interest. You can readily see
that their building will cost the tax
payers s75,OlO instead Of SAL 900 when
1t is all paid.
Yours very truly,
j. w. McNEAL."
Gusss Letter.
Mr.. Guss's Letter is as follows:
Hon. J. ID. Burke, Comr. First Dist.
Guthrie, Okla.
Dear Sir: / beg to acknowledge