The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-11-14

pense IA IT'S administration II 81 th8
duty OF the law making body Of every
i government 30 To fashion rs laws
That this burden may rest where It
4 properly belongs. Every man and cor
p0ratOn should contribute To govern
ment M proportion AIS benets are derive
ed ircW that government Thus TO adj
just eQuitably the burdens Of taxation
has been IN the past an impossible
task; that is vii continue to be SO in
the future Is entirely prObable the
best, therefore, that WE can hope for
Is 10 enact laws that viii, as far as pos
siblei adjust this
recommend that you so amend our
tax laws as 10 require all taxpayers,
when requested by anyone whose duty
1t is to ascertain property for the plif-
pose 0r taIation, Oh to gain Information
that will lead to proper assessment, to
furnish such information under oath;
and to punish, as Is now provided for
4 perjury anyone guilty OF making false
AFFIDAVIT; and that you make II a crim-
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 otIlcigls for services rendered, or
supposed 70 be rendered for the peo-
pie.
| recommend to you that you abol-
lsh number Of offices and consolidate
others; and to be specific in MY re-
concentrations, would say that fa-
yor the entire abolition Of all township
offices in Okiahgma
favor consolidation into one Office
Of all clerkships and the recorder OF
deeds in every county in the state.
would also recommend the consol-
ldation 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 ihe three departments OF our gov
ernment, | regard the legislative de-
partment as decidedly the most inn
portant fiere originates all methods az
government and here is crystallized
into law the policies and ideas Of gov
ernment which result either in bles-
sing or a curse to the people. Law is
the foundation upon which rests the
entire superstructure Of government;
Il this foundation be faulty, the gov
ernment is insecure; If it be built of
aJamant, all the fury and passion Of
political rancor and public clamor may
beat against it in vain
n |, therefore, recommend to you that
you establish 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 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 by
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
will enable them TO proceed to initiate
measures proposed by the people That
In addition it be made the duty Of this
commission to keep the laws Of okla
aoma properly assembled, and as often
as the constitution requires properly
10 classify and codify them. The to-
tai expense Of this commission, kept in
constant service of the people, would
not cost as much as 1t is now costing
TO have our laws codided 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 point on Ehe half section
line north and south between the
northeast fourth Of section 27, Up.
~ North Rg 3 West"
Al that time a contract was entered
into with the state OF Oklahoma and a
CORPORATION known as the state Capj
tol Building Company whereby the
said company agreed to secure title
10 six husared and fifty acres Of land
adjacent 10 or in the immediate vicini-
ty 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
lois and blocks" TO pay over to the
state the residue derived therefrom in
. lnstallments of 100000 per month.
the fsst payment to be made July 1st,
1911 and to continue these monthly
payments until the fun 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 faik
ed to make its initial payment Of s25..
coo GA ths 1st of July, 1911. the cauge
assigned by that company for the fail.
ure 70 comply with the contract was.
FIRST that the legality az tho Iocatio,,