The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-19
Murray Day
at Altus

70 perform this service. which
will result III saving OF not less than
two 10 three Thousand dollars expense
for each and every county in the ad.
winistration Of county government
without lessening the efficiency OF
the service or without reducing sal
aries below just compensation foi
public service. A calculation OF twen
ty-fiye hundred dollars saved to the
tax payers will show quite a large
sum when applied to the entire state
What Is true 0f the counties is also
true OF the state government In a
great measure. The creation OF
unnecessary boards of manage
ment and control of the
various Institutions of the state
In some instances requiring concur
rent authority or more properly
speaking, q duplication Of salaries
without duplication OF service, and
without necessity even for such ser
vice, creates another sum far in ex-
cess OF the total amount which conld
be saved to the several counties be-
fore referred to-
HA clear simple arrangement Of OF
fetal duties harmonious between
each department or board with jux
taposstion eliminating conflicts or du
plication, and what Is commonly cal
led red tape VIII save many thou
sands OF dollars in the admnistra-
tion OF public affairs.
wish ii understood that do not
suggest that any salary should be re
duced below living expenses OF a pub
lie officer | believe that public Of
ficers shoud be paid commensurate
with their service; that they should
be required to work and devote their
time TO that service. and that where
service Is unnecessary the office
should be abolished, and especially
wherever there be duplication of
salaries and duplication of the same
service.
Veto Power And Expenditures.
Laws should be enacted and ad
ministered in order to youchsafe a
strong. wise, efficient. and economic
government. To do this, in view OF
the twenty-five or more public in
stitutions ofrlhe state, many Of them
having beens created in the second
legislature, is going to require the
veto power of the governor in appro-
priaiion bills. We have institutions
enough that every senator and one
half OF the representatives will be
expected to secure appropriation If
he does nothing else, consequently
strong lobbies will surround ~ og-
islature. They will organize and elect
the speaker; they will practically
dictate the committees. They will
not attempt TO learn what each insti
tuition should have but will agree upon
all each wants. They will be locked
In one compact organization for the
purpose of making appropriations TO
these various institutions, and no in.
stiiution will suffer except one whose
representative is out of favor with
the organization OF the legislature
In most instances the appropriation
will be greater than will be necessary
to conduct such institution efficient
Iy. The appropriation will be hurled
At the governor and every power used
20 secure hIs approval, Every man
who understands legislative work will
understand what am saying is true
and then II Is up TO the governor OF
the state 10 veto or let them wreck the
state in the matter of excessive tax
alton to secure the revenue to pay
these exorbitant bills. Here Is where
the courage. the wisdom and thai
strongest fortitude will be needed In
the make up" OF the governor in The
fearless but wise exercise OF the veto
power. II will then be his duty 10 as
certain what is needed for eacn IN
stitution and for each purpose and
approve for this and no more. yetoing
the excessive appropriations made
II he does not tnese institutions wifi
wreck the state But. as stated before
this Is Of the highest Importance. be
cause We can not afford to cripple
them and must leave their work er
ficient without fear or favor | real
ize that the public know how | look
upon these dangers and that | shan
not shirk this. responsibility, and
that by reason thereof j shall lose
many votes by that class who are
looking solely with both eyes fixed
upon the success OF their own local
institution and the expenditure OF
large funds at their home town is
my excuse for discussing now the dan
ger that viii arise from this source.
But as governor / should consider
the interest OF such institution 10 the
state. approve accordingly and veto
where necessary. Saving from this
source and from unnecessary judicial
expenditure. with the cutting down OF
unnecessary officers. both in county
and state government, viii be my
method to subserye wise. efficient
and economic government aud re.
duction OF the tax duplicate
Prohibition Enforcement.
Prohibition may be thought TO be a
settled question. but Il seems 70 De an