The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-11-14

osuss In Its administration II ID ms
tuty Of the Law making body nf even.
xovsrumelt SO 20 fashion its avs
that this burden NAY rest Vhefs II
ur2per!T belongs Every man and cor
porat.un should contribute 10 govern
neur in proportion as benets are derry
al from that government Thus 20 dn
fust eduit.bly me burdens or 'a1at.o,
has been IN The past an impossioie
task. that is vii continue 20 De so ID
the future IS entirely probable; me
best. therefore, that We can nope lot
IL 20 enact avs Chat will as taF as pos
sibie, adjust this.
I recommend that you 80 amend our
tax laws as 10 require all ta1pa5 eis
when requested by anyone whose duty
Il is 10 ascertain property for tne puI
pose OF taxation, or % gain lnIormatloh
that will lead % proper assessment 70
furnish such information under oaIA'
and 20 punish. as Is now provided for
Der.ury. anyone guilty OF making false
affidavit, and that you make u crlm-
ina. orfense 10 fail or refuse 10 give
such Information under oath wnen
legally demanded by the proper aa-
thority.
REDUCTION OF OFFICES.
a large portion OF the revenue gath
cred IN Oklahoma from all sources for
the administration or government
finds its way into the pockets OF puD-
lie officials for services rendered, or
supposed 70 be rendered for the peo'
pie.
recommend 70 you that you abol-
ish a number OF Offices and consolidate
others. and 70 be specific n ny re-
concentrations. I would say that IA
vor The entire abolition Of al township
Offices IN Oklahoma.
7 favor consolidation into one ONCE
OF all clerkships and the recorder OF
deeds in avery county in the state.
would also recommend the consol-
idarion Of the Office OF county treasurer
with that Of the sheriff or tax assessor.
I would provide in the law thar all
deputies and assistants OF every cnar-
acter needed by county officials should
be employed by the county commits
sioners and that the salary thereof
should be fixed by them.
LEGISLATURE.
OF the three departments OF our gov
.rnment. 7 regard the legislative de-
partment as decidedly the most I'M
Dortant. Here originates all methods OF
government, and here is crystalllZsd
into law the policies and Ideas OF gov
srnment which result either in oles-
sing or a curse 70 the people. Law is
the foundation upon which rests the
entire superstructure OF government;
f this foundation be faulty, the gov
ernment is insecure; II IL be built OF
adamant, all the fury and passion OF
political rancor and public clamor may
beat against il IN vain.
I, therefore, recommend to you that
you establish a legislative bureau COM
posed Of three men to be appointed by
the legislature or by the governor,
whose entire time shall be given to
studying the laws of this and other
states, and to gathe ering for the use Of
the legislature when it is in session,
all information that will be needed by
that body That 10 be made the duty
Of this commission, when requested by
a member Of the legislature, TO draft
any new law suggested, and TO furnish
members Of the legislature with all
the information available dealing with
such proposed measures. That it be
made the duty Of this commission to
draft all bills that are to be initiated
under the initiative provision OF the
constitution, and to give advice to
those Interested in such measures that
urf11 H1a - r-nnaGI n in frfz "a
measures proposed by the people. That
in addition it be made the duty Of this
commission to keep the laws Of Okla
hOma properly assent bied, and as often
as the constitution requires properly
to classify and codify them. The to-
tai expense of this commission, kept in
constant service Of the people, would
not cost as much as It is now costing
10 have our laws codified under an act
Of one OF the past legislatures
STATE CAPITAL.
The last legislature in special ses-
sion assembled in December, 1910,
passed an act locating permanently the
capital at Oklahoma City. and describ-
ing the location Of the capital as fol
lows:
Fifteen acres Of land surround
ing a point on the half section
line north and south between the
northeast fourth Of section q, TIP.
IL North Rg. 3 West"
At that time a contract was entered
into with the state OF Oklahoma and
corporation known as the State Capt.
tol Building Company" whereby the
said company agreed TO secure title
TO six hundred and fifty acres OF land
adjacent TO or In the immediate vicini-
ty Of the proposed state capitol site:
to plat the same into lots and blocks
and proceed 10 sell It; and after the
paying OF all expenses incident to the
plating grading, and selling OF said
lots and blocks" to pay over to the
state the residue derived therefrom in
installments Of s25,000.00 per month,
the first payment to be made July lst,
1911, and TO continue these monthly
payments until the full amount OF one
million dollars was paid TO the state,
and providing that he lands should be
sold and he entire amount paid not
later than July lst, 1914.
The Capitol Building Company fail
"a INF faI