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

interests OF the taxpayers. SO mani
festly unfair to other cities Of the
state, shutting out as It does, all but
three from competing for the high
honor OF being the capital OF the
state, and contemplating as II does
the location of all state Institutions
at the capital to the detriment Of
many other communities Therefore
we feel 1t our duty to respectfully de-
cline to entertain your proposition in
any way, or By any action of ours 10
recognize the proposed bill as one
proper to be put upon the statute
books of the state. Very respectfully
submitted,
CAPITAL LOCATION CAMPAIGN,
COMMITTEE.
Tax payers, citizenns, soyereigns OF
oklahoma, do you realize thar you are
face to face with a question involving
the honor of the state, the integrity Of
it's citizenship. the stability Of every
institution, and the right OF yourselves
and your children after you?
The state capital location bill in
augurated and fostered by the real
estate spectators OF oklahoma City
| for selfish personal gain. III one ot
| tho most iniduitous schemes over att
| tempted In the name OF legislation
! Under the gulse of general law for
locating the state capital Il seeks to
fasten upon the people of the state
| "a "a ~ nj http tAn 4.f
taxation and debt and opens the way
to corruption OF every kind No piece
of legislation so pregnant with op-
portnnty for loot and graft, SO devoid
of any attempt to safeguard the IN
| lterests of the taxpayers in any way,
so palpably opening the way for the
spoilation of the funds of the state,
was ever attempted in any state OF
the Union. For the people OF the
state to allow so corrupt measure
to become a law would be heraldng
to the world that the initiative was a
failure; that the people cannot be
trusted to logislate for themselves
and are not able TO protect their own
interests
The proposed bill which the people
are asked to make a law by thir votes
ons June lth Violates the solemn
compact entered Into between the
state and the Federal government 10
accepting statehood. II seeks first
to locate the permanent state cap.
tal at once by holding an election for
such punp0se, and further appropri,
atos large sums OF money to carry on
the work. The Enabling Act which
was irrevocably adopted by the con
stitutional convention, aud ratified by
1 the people af the state by an over
whelming majority, provided that the
CAPITAL SHOULD NOT he CHA ,Gi
ED BEFORE 1918. that the ELllC-
! TION for locating the permanent cap
ltal SHOULD BE HELD AFTER 1913
ana that NO MONEY SHOULD Bf
APPROPRIATED for building eapl
tol UNTIL AFTER 1913.
The bill, II adopted by the peopl
at the election on June 18th. provide
that the one OF the three cities (Okla
homa CITY. Shawnee or Guthriel
which receives a majority or plm
ality of the votes shall at once be
come the permanent capital of th'
state.
IT. Immediately approprlates the
sum of 100000 out of the state treas
ury and will at once increase th,
state taxes.
/ II provides that the governor shal
aIiqolnt three men before July II
1910. who shall become state capita
commissioners at salary OF si00f
per year, oaeh, and po AUTHORIZED
TO SPEND the 100000 appropriated
to pay their own salaries, tho salaries
OF an unlimited number of assistants
clerks, stenographers, superintendent
landscape artists, architects and 9th
or employees at any salary that the
see Ill, and also TO purchase land L
be used for capitol site.
These commissioners cannot pur
chase over two thousand acres Of lanl
but they can purchase aB much les
AS they see III. paying all OF the mon
ey for one lot II they want TO- The
arc authorized TO plat the land pun
chased, lay portion OF II off for
capitol site. grade streets and put /
other improvements. and to sell I
town lots, all of the land they do nc
reserve for the capitol and other II
stitutlons. They are further autho
ized TO SPEND ALL or THE MOI
EY THEY RECEIVE from the sal
of lots, for salaries. improvements an
other expenses.
The fact that the commissioners az
authorized 10 reserve part OF the Ian
for other institutions" shows the ey
dent intent OF the men back Of the bi
TO move az many of the state inst
tutlons as possible to this location.
Contract Unlimited
n These three men are further autho
lied to employ architects and to ado
n plans for what they consider 10 be
= suitable capitol building and 10 awal
9 the contract ana sign the same, u
y amount Of the contract having no lii
..