The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-03-28

States Rights Expected TO Play
Important Part 10 State
Capital Decision

Id EAotC ilHAtS Will pAdN dAl AAAA-
portrait part IN the final settlement
Of the Oklahoma City+Guthrie capital
controversy when the matter comes
before the United States supreme
court for final disposition April 3. is
the opinion Of those cClversant with
the situation.
When the Oklahoma supreme court
held the feleral enabling act invalid
thereby supporting the conventions
of Oklahoma City's attorneys that
the people cf the state had the right
to locate the permanent seat OF gov
ernment of their state at any time
and any place they may see fit, il
wlh be remembered that the two dis
senting voices were those of northern
bi ed men.
1t is predicted from Washington
that the old proposition OF states
rights viii influence the court in its
( decision. Four of the supreme court
justices are southerners while the re-
manning five are Republicans and
northern bred
Would Beeloud Acts.
1 In the event Of the United States
supreme court reversing the decision
/ Of the Oklahoma supreme court there
will be only one thing to do--the
capital must 60 back to Guthrie UNI
I'll 1918 Such a decision might also
4 cast a cloud upon every official act
OF the governor ana other state Off
I GERS performed in oklahoma City to
say nothing Of the acts oil the legis-
! fs4 -
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 oil
Governor Haskell an emergency ex-
listed
The affairs OF the state capital
4 commission are badly muddled at the
present Nothing will be done until
the United States supreme court has
rendered its decision. The commits
sion Is nor even sure that IT is alive
and If it is alive there is question
as TO whether TIE commissioners care
to act The legislature refused 10
pass a bill 10 abolish the commits
sion Il also refused to appropriate
money for expenses and salaries Of
the commissioners.
( Part of Agreement Carried Out.
The state board Of affairs was au-
thofized By bill passed by the leg
islature and signed BY Governor Lee
Cruce to enter into contracts with
/ the Citizens Expense committee
composed Of Oklahoma City business
men who guarantee the cost Of NOV
/ ing the effects o flhe state officers
/ from Guthrie TO Oklahoma City and
office rent until the proposed new
state house has been completed
This i. the only part OF the various
contracts that has been carried out
The money amounting to about SILL
geo was raised By public subscrip-
ton, turned over to the committee
and is now available for use OF the
state board of affairs.
I'm the event the members Of the
state capitol commission refuse to
work without guaranty OF pay or ey.
I penses, it may be necessary TO caG
a special session of the legislature
to provide a way for proceeding with
! the work Of disposing Of the proper
ty donated TO the state and building
OF the proposed state house. The
donors of land in the proposed CAPT
tol tract have placed deeds to the
4 property in escrow SO far as Okla
homa City is concerned its promises
/ have been fulfilled No attsmpt has
been made 10 dispose of any Of the
land nor will any attempt of any
kind be made until it is known what
action the United States supreme
court will take
cruce Opposes Extra Eession.
Governor Cruce is bitterly oppos-
ed to calling a special session of the
legislature, Great pressure has been
brought to bear the past two weeks
but the governor has steadfastly re-
fused to eoncede the necessity Of
calling the legislature together on
any prteXt While the governor has
not said so himself for publication,
Information comes from the execu-
i've office that lie will make no move
In that connection until he knows
the decision of the nations highest
/ tribunal
III viii be time enough TO do some
thing when the court acts. said an
attache OF the governors office. IT
would be useless for the legislature
70 confer power or provide pay for
anyone to carry out the capitol build.
ing scheme, until we are sure Okla
homa City has the capital 1t is a
sale bei there viii not be a wheel
turned until that matter IS finally
settled"