The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-11-14

| recommend AllttN NbA st NAiiNi nv 0N'
tax laws as to require all taxpayers,
when requested by anyone whose duty
1t is to ascertain property for the pur'
| pose of taxation, or o gain information
that viii lead 10 proper assessment. to
| furnish such information under oath,
and to punish, as is now provided for
| perjury anyone guilty of making false
affidavit; and that you make II Grim
inal offense to fail or refuse to give
| such information under oath when
legally demanded by the proper au.
| thority
REDUCTION OF OFFICES.
A large portion of the revenue gath.
cred in Oklahoma from all sources for
the administration OF government,
finds its way into the pockets Of pub.
lie officials for services rendered, or
supposed to be rendered tor the peo'
pie.
! recommend 70 you that YOU abol
ish number of Offices and consolidate
others and to be specific IN my re,
Communications, | would say that IA
vor the entire abolition Of all township
Offices in oklahoma
| favor consolidation into one office
OF all clerkships and the recorder Of
deeds in every county in the state.
| would also recommend the consol
idation OF the office Of county treasurer
with that of the sheriff or tax assessor
| would provide in the law that all
deputies and assistants OF every char
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
ernment ! regard the legislative de-
partment as decidedly the most i'm.
portant Here originates all methods OF
government and here is crystallized
into law the policies and ideas Of gov
ernment which result either in a bles-
sing or curse TO the people, Law is
the foundation upon which rests the
entire supersjructure Of government,
if this foundation be faulty, the gov.
eminent is insecure; if it be built OF
adamant, all the fury and passion of
political rancor and public clamor may
beat against it in vain.
|, therefore, recommend to you that
you establish legisla I've 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 10 gathering for the use OF
the legislature when it is in session,
all information that viii be needed by
that body. That it be made the duty
Of this commission. when requested bv
a member of the legislature 10 draft
any new law suggested and 10 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
viii enable them TO proceed Q initiate
measures proposed by the people That
in addition il be made the duty of this
commission to keep the laws of okla
homa properly assembled, 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
to have our laws codifed 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 descrb-
ing the location of the capital as fol
lows
Fifteen acres of land surround
ing point on the half section
line north and south between the
northeast fourth OF section -, TIP.
II North Re. 8 West
At that time a contract was entered
into with the state Of Oklahoma and a
corporation known as the State Cap-
tol Building Company" whereby the
said company agreed To secure title
to six hundred and fifty acres Of land
adjacent 10 or in the immediate vicni
~ Of the proposed state capitol site:
TO plat the same into lots and blocks |
and proceed to 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 |
insta llments of S25,00000 per month. |
the first payment to be made July 1st. |
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 LIST, 1914
The Capitol Building Company fail |
ed TO make its initial payment of S25.- i
600 on the 1st of July. 1915 the cause
assigned by that company for the fail
ure to comply with the contract was.
first, that he legality OF the location |
had been called into question by suit |
filed in the Supreme Court 10 deter
mine the authority of the legislature |
to pass an act locating the capital and
further the general depressed real es-
tate conditions IN Oklahoma City |
brought about by the crop failures at
that time experienced all over the
state.
Finally the proposition was made by
the Capitol Buildmgl Company that
they would turn over'to me in my in
dividual capacity deeds 10 the six hun
dred and fifty ac,es Of land the title
10 which should oe passed upon by the
attorney general and approved by him.