Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-06-17
NEW CAPITOL IS
To CAUSE FIGHT
DETAILS RELATING TO EREC-
TION ARE IN CHAOTIC STATE.
NO CAPITOL COMMISSION
Supervision VIII BE Placed In Hands
OF state Board of Public Affairs
War ls Expected.


viii supervise the construction Of the
million dollar capital building which
oklahoma city has agreed to build
for the state free Of cost to the taXpay-
ers? This is the big question of the
hour In oklahoma. There are two
state boards that might supervise the
construction under certain circum-
stances, the state board Of public at
fairs and the state capital commission.
Governor Cruce now Is consulting le-
gal opinion to determine which of
these boards legally can take charge
Of the immense enterprise.
1t Is learned from the reliable source
that the supervision Of the capital
construction will be placed in the
hands Of the state board Of public af-
fairs. according to present plans. The
three members OF the capital commits
sion are TO be asked for their res
ignations by Governor Cruce. The
governors will fail to appoint their
successors and thence forward there
will be no capital commission. I'm
der such conditions the state board
of public affairs will be the only legal
board that can supervise the capital
construction,
In the original initiated bill for the
location Of the capital, which resulted
in a ictory for Oklahoma City, the
capital commission almost had unlim-
tied powers. 1t had the power to
accept large tract Of land as a do
nation for a capital site and to be
plated into lots to be sold by the
commission for the benefit of a cap
ital building fund The commission
was given unlimited powers in the
adoption Of plans and specifications
and ihe employment of clerks and
other assistants. The only limitation
on the authority OF tho commission
was that the legislature should APP
provo the contract for the capital
building. The commission under
that bill was composed OF DR.. Leo
Il. Bennett of Muskogee, Tate Brady
Of Tu sa and Boone Williams of Le-
high. When the initiated bill was
declared Illegal by the supreme court
the old capital commission died with
tie bill.
Then came the extraordinary ses-
sion last November to make another
location of the capital. Governor
the capital commission feature incor-
pOrated in The new capital location
bill with an much power granted to
the commissioner as previously. The
house also stood for the Putnam
site" The senate however, adopted
the Northeast site" and compelled
the house to accept its views on that
subject and also stood firm for the
abolishnent of the capital commls-
sion.
The senate believed that inasmuch
as the state board Of public affairs
was lreated by law to let and super
wise all building contracts for the
state and to transact the business af-
fairs of the state that the capital
commission with exclusive authority
over the construction OF the capital
was merely a useless appendage. A
deadlock resulted between the two
houses which was finally broken when
the senate accepted the capital COM
mission idea but restricted the pow
ers of the commission to such an eX-
tent that as one of the members OF
the commission expressed II, 1T had
nothing left to do but to draw its sal
airy and go to the postofilce for rs
mail"
The capital again was located al
Oklahoma city, the capital commits
sion was retained with limited powers
and the old commission was reap
pointed.
Then followed the regular session
The senate, stlll antagonistic to the
capital commission idea and encour-
aged by the attitude Of Governor
Cruce against the capital commits
sion, refused to pass a bill making an
appropriation for the salaries or ex-
penses OF the capital commission. The
commissioners then lost interest IN
their work and have not held a ses-
sion since that time. The capita
commission now remains I'm name
only and II the contemplated pro.
gram is carried out by the Cruce ad.
herents the nominal positions OF the
commissioner themselves soon viii bC
abolished.
A merry war Is expected 20 result
from final action abolshlng the cap.
ital commission. The capital com.
mission idea has many stanch friends
in oklahoma, especially among thu
Haskell following.
If a special session should be called
now to perfect capital legislation
practically nlne-tenths OF the time Of
the session probably would be occu
pied in fighting over whether tht
state board Of public affairs or thu
capital commission should build III,
capital. Governor Cruce had deter
mined to take the bit in his teeth
and decide for himself who shall gu.