The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-07-31

A. The present democratic admin
istFation of Oklahoma progresses and
as the NfIIpns state officials, aath elec.
tive and appnintige become more ac-
quaiiited with their several tasks Il
becomes more evident that Governor
Lee Elnce chose carefully and well
X hen hid named the men who new
compose the State Board OF Pub K
Affairs The first administration Of
OKLAHOMA. democratic, was q success.
This fact was attestpd in the Novem-
ber elections when the democrats did
not lose \ single A ate office The sac
and administration democratic, prom
Iaes 10 be a success The administers.
tinn has begun under favorable con-
dltinns To Insure continued success
rests NOT alone With tile men whom
the people elected, but also with the
men who hold anpointive positions
with the state
The three men who compose the
Board 0f Psblic Affairs come under
the latter head Two democrats and
one republican were named by Gov
ernor t'rnce This board Is possibly
the most important appointment with.
In the gFt Of the governor
Having supervision ager every pur-
chase By the state, il IS necessary that
the men who compose The board be
conservative. fair, business like and |
iust In their every dealiug. The board |
IL the auditing committee which |
passes upon claims for every state In |
stitution and derafiment To them
Is intmsted the business of the stite |
the expenditure cf the taxpayers
money Their future and the repaia.
tion OF the present administration de- |
pends upon whether they eXa end this /
money wisely The vast volume az /
business which yearly passes through
their hands, word leave an opening
for criticism were the mer ers 81
the board not always on the alert 70
see that not only the state gets a f5is
deal in every purchase made, hut also
thar every one Who has an article to
sell To the state gets fair oppro
tunity to present his goods.
TO protect the taxpayer who pays
the states bills, to procure the hest
goods for the lowest figures, 10 deter
mine which article IL the hest. and to
afford every dealer in whatever com
modify is needed by the state, an op-
nortlinity 70 demonstrate the worth
OF his wares, is the task of the board
of affairs
This task might appear simple or
those who purchase for their person
Al needs, or for large corporation
but when it is considered that the
board of affairs purchases supplies
'or the twenty-seven various state in.
sfjtutions and schools and passes
ipon and supervises the purchase o:
eyery article used iby the yarious
state officials the task becomes
nOraentous one.
Fast Funds Handled
TO fulfill these functions the board
lailH passes upon claims aggregating
thousands of dollars and reaching in
G.tfle millions each year. The board
llso has supervision Of the construc
ion OF all pnhlic buildings. including
he PROPOSED state capitol building
This latter project was placed in the
l8nda OF the board by Governor (rnee,
Who diabandea the Oh capitol COM
Mission and named the board in its
tead
The handling OF SO great a volume
i business has necessitated the in
tallation og system which Is IN
tself both m auditing and purchas-
ne system This system has result
d IN perfecung the work o., the board
ntil d mistake in price or an error IN
ccount 10 seldom found. when a claim
ssues from the board to the auditor.
Immediately upon assuming It's du-
les the new board OF affairs demand
d that everything purchased by the
tate in quantities must be bought at
ompetitige bids The board next dc
landed that the st,te purchase all
rficies OF any great amount, al whole
ale prices II was easy to enforce the
rst demand The second was not 50
isy. Retailers who had sold the state
GODS at retail prices coud not under
and why the board should wish TO
Ike this business ont g their hands
nd place II in the hands of the whole
lie merchants The order stood, how =
fer. and today Oklahoma is buying
or Supplies. groceries, hardware "a
machinery and everything re
led in quantities at Wholesale, These b'