The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-03-30
STATE STILL CONFRONTED BY CAPITAL
1ANCLE; STATES RIGHTS PLAYS PART.

Oklahoma City, March 29.-That
states rights" will play an import
ant part in the final settlement OF
the Oklahoma City-Guthrie capita,
controversy when the matter comes
before United States supreme court
for final disposition April 8. Is the
opinion of those conversant with the
situation.
When the Oklahoma supreme court
held the federal enabling act Invalid,
thereby supporting the contentious OF
Oklahoma Citys attorneys that the
people of the state had the right TO
locate the permanent seat OF govern
ment of their state at any time ana
any place they may see fit, 1t Will
he remembered that the two dissent
ing voices were those of northern
bred men.
1t is predicted from Washington
that the old proposition of states
rights will influence the court in its
decision. Three of the supreme court
justices are southerners while the re-
naming four are republicans and
northern bred.
Would Recloud Acts.
In the event Of the y. S. supreme
court reversing the decision Of the
Oklahoma supreme court there VIII
be only one thing to do-the capital
must go back to Guthrie until 1913.
Such a decision might also cast a
cloud upon every official act of the
governor and other states officers
performed in Oklahoma City to say
nothing of the acts of the legislature.
The courts have upheld the acts OF
the special session held in December,
which called to meet in Oklahoma
City instead Of Guthrie. Cause was
shown why the legislature should
convene in Oklahoma City for the
reason that, in the opinion of Cover
nor Haskell, an emergency existed.
The affairs of the state capital com
mission are badly muddled at pres
ent. Nothing will be done until the
U. s. supreme court renders its de
cision. The commission Is not even
sure that it is alive and II 1t Is alive
there is a question as to whether the
commissioners care to act. The leg
islature refused to pass bill to abol
ish the commission. 1t also refused
to appropriate money for expenses
and salaries of the commissioners.
Part Of Agreement Carried Out.
The state board of affairs was au
: thorized by bill passed by the legis
lature and signed by Governor Cruc'
TO enter into contracts with the Citi
| zens' Expense committee, composed
, of Oklahoma City business men wht
guarantee the cost OF moving the Ell
, fects of the state officers from Guth
rie to Oklahoma City and office rem
until the proposed new state hous'
has been completed. This is the onl.
part Of the various contracts that ha
been carried out. The money amount
ing TO about s71 200 was raised b,
. public subscription, turned over t
the committee and is now available
for use of the state board Of affairs.
In the event the members of thu
state capitol commission refuse tc
work without guaranty of pay, or ex
penses, it may be necessary to cal
special session OF the Legislature
to provide a way for proceeding witt
the work of dsposing of the property
donated to the state and building o.
the proposed state house. The don
ors of land in the proposed capito
tract have placed deeds to the prop
erty in escrow. So far as Oklahoma
City is concerned it's promises have
been fulfilled. No attempt has beer
made to dispose of any OF the land
nor will any attempt be made until