The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-01-10
GOVERNOR CRUCES FIRST
MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE
To the Members Of the Third
Legislature in Regular
Session Assembled

submit this message TO you wit
4 feeling Of hesitancy. Ny term OF o
hce has just begun, and it IS imposs
BE fcr me TO know the needs OF ia
various departments Of the State. 70
which your duty requires you to legis
late. As fast as possibel, shall az
quaint myself with the needs Of tn
different departments; the Legislation
needed. and viii supply you with thi
facts There are. however, certain
matters ! desire to call to your atten
tion at tLis time. The majority O
you were elected upon platforms EN-
bracing distinct promises to the peo
pie. These pledges should be faithful
ly redeemed. No man who is worthy
to hold a seat in the Legislature Of Ok
lahoma will now undertake TO ignore
or vary the terms Of the compact he
made With the people prior to elec
tion.
Education.
Much tiraS has been given 10 the
subject o. education by previous Leg
islatures OF the State, and much sub
ttantial progress has been made along
these lines; but there is much yet TO
be accomplished II we are to give to
the people OF the State the best posi-
bic system Of schools. and the system
that they are entitled to have prevail.
The wealth Of the State is unevenly
distributed, and will likely continue to
be as long as time shall last. II fol-
lows that we have districts Of large
taxable values, where an insignificant
TAX viii maintain good schools nine
months in the year; while in other dis
tficts the taxable wealth Is so small
that q tax sufficient 70 maintain a pro
per school far three menths becomes
bnrdensome. In some districts the tax
on public service corporations yields
large sums 0f money for educational
purposes. While ia many less fortu
nate districts no revenue whatever Is
derived from this source. Under these
progress halts in these I'M
fortunate districts. The citizen Of an
ether State coming into our M st to
abide with as. naturally seeks a home
in the district where taxation bears
lightest, and school advantages are
best. For these conditions to remain
means an unevenly balanced citizen
ship; one class educated and well
equipped for useful citizenship; the
other class poorly educated. and III
prepared to do their rightful part in
building the State Ii is manifestly
impossible to distribute evenly the /
wealth OF the State among the various
school districts, but we can more
evenly distribute the benefits OF this
wealth that arises In the form Of taxa
ion. You are being asked to appro-
,rlate hundreds Of thousands Of dol
ars to care for the criminal and pau
Ter classes ol the State, and these de-
nands grow larger and more burden
Iome each year; but It is burden
hat bars with uniform weight over
IN sections Of the commonwealth. i
5 certainly as just to tax the citizens
Il Oklahoma County to help educate
he boy Of Carter County, as it is to
ak the citizen Of Oklahoma County to
Ielp provide and care for the criminal
4 Carter County Resides II is the
lractice OF good business methods.
better educated citizenship will result
n fewer criminals to provide for, and
less number Of paupers to support
y the State.
therefore urge that you levy tax
Or public school purposes that will be
unicient, when supplemented with
he interest on the invested school
und, and rentals on public school
ands, to provide not less than five
months school in each district in the
tate.
The Constitution of this State pro
ides that The supervision Of In
truction in the public schools shall
3 vested in Board Of Education.
hose powers and duties shall be pre-
crbed by law" and until otherwise
rovided by law, the Governor, Super
ntendent OF Public Instruction, Secre-
Ary Of the State, and Attorney Gen {
raj, constitute the Board. Three
ears have gone by without any Sc
Ious attempt on the part Of the Leg :
Ilature to yitaIize this important sec
on Of the Constitution. Oklahoma
as a splendid opportunity to inaug-
rate and maintain system Of educa- I
lon suited TO the needs Of our peo- 7
Ie, and thoroughly efficient in all Of
4 details. That we have no such sys- I
IN now and cannot have under pres ;
nt laws, Is manifest to every man t
no has given the subject serious t
lought. A half dozen different edu- 3
ational boards. OF the heads of diff
rent departments Of educational 4
ork, each having It's peculiar idea Of e
ie fitness Of things educational, and {
B two agreeing ia detail or purpose, 9
re creating q stlte Of confusion IN ]
is department IT government that I
IN soon be unbcafabie. here is no
,rreilatitn among our higher educa- j
onal schools. and Will Be none under I
'esent condition THE result is du- /
icatlon IL work and wasteful extra +
iaance ihat should be speedily S
Iecfed. The only hope J can see for a
of these conditions lies in g