The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-23
.CRUCE ADDRESSES
PROTECTIVE LEAGUE
ON MATTERS OF ECONOMY
TAXPAYERS PROP6E REDUC-
ING EXPENSES.

| tratIOn OF public affairs win special
emphasis on the reduction OF officers
were recommended by Governor
Cruce Thursday morning in an ad-
dress before the Citizens Protective
league convention. Repeated ap-
plause Interrupted the governor and
often he was compelled TO wait for
quiet before he could make himself
heard. The crowd seemed to agree
with him throughout In the plans he
suggested Tor the reduction OF tax
alton.
Following a plea for greater eff
cheney In public service, the govern
ilces in Oklahoma and that reduc-
lives in Oklahoma and that reduc-
ton OF fiIty per cent could be made
and still give the people az good
government aS they were getting al
the present time. Not only would
the governor make general de-
crease in the number OF offices, but
he would abolish all township Off
ceB, consolidate the offices OF reg
lster Of deeds, district and county
clerk, and abolish all superior judge
ships, discontinue the office OF lieu
tenant governor, Consolidate the Of
flee OF sheriff with that OF tax col
lector, and reduce the membership
OF the legislature to fifty In the
house and TO fifteen or twenty-five
In the senate.
In addition to these sweeping W.
noyatiOns the governor said he Ia
vored cutting from ten to three cents
the mileage received by members OF
the legislature in going TO and frou
sessions, and placing the members
on salary instead OF per diem.
Superior Courts Come First.
This method" he said, would
dispense with all the annoyance
about special sessions, since we
could then call the Legislature at
any time without additional cost
to the taxpayers"
When the governor stated that
there were too many state officers,
one OF the delegates rose and asked
him to state Just what ones he would
suggest eliminated.
THAT'S an embarrassing question,
but | will answer It, replied Gov
ernor Cruce. In the first place we
. should abolish all the superior courts
and could do away with the Office OF
, lieutenant governor. IN my Judgment
we could combine the offices OF state
| mine inspector, commissioner OF Ia
| bor and commissioners OF charities
and get Just as good results as we
are getting now
The chief executive was cheered
when he advocated reduction ol
The number OF state institutions
You cant build up satisfactory
educational system with 80 many
would he state institutions, he de-
clnred They are n menace to good
government by reason OF the manner
in which the legislators from coun-
ties with such institutions combine
to vote for various purposes
A vigorous side-swipe at the
grand jury system was also taken,
which included some spicy comment
on the present grand jury III Okla
homa county.
Down on Grand Jury System.
In this county llO men petitioheu
for "A grand jury" said the governor
Two names are not legiDle on the
petition, hut the los others VINO
Iostod grand jury upon the peo-
ple of Oklahoma county paid taxes
ON $lO,7S5 worth of personal prop
erty Thus, for every $3.50 that
the grand Jury costs Oklahoma couh-
ty. these los men @ill pay Jns'
one cent each. In nearly every case
the resulting prosecutions could all
have originated upon information,
nu, he grand jury system Is usen
ma the cover behind which towards
hide when they have enemies upon
whom they are seeking revenge
IN, address also contained an ad-
monition not TO blame all the hien
taxes upon the state ADMINISTRATION
and pointed out the vast amounts
being paid out for waterworks, llsh'
inp plants, court houses. ana other
public improvements, all oi which
had come about as the result vi
purely local activities.
The governor stated that ON July
he would issue TO the puplc
statement showing just what the ad-
ministration of his Office hau cost
tor the past fiscal year. lie thouBhl
every other public official oweu
to mis- constituents to issue similar
statements.
Meeting Adopts Bill.
The meeting adopted bill TO De
initiated putting counties under the
commission form of government, ID!
having three commissioners elected
by the people. All superior courts
are TO be abolished and the causes
removed 10 district courts. All town
shin and road district officers are
abolished also. Ii combines clerks
Of the county and district courts ana
county clerk and registrar of deeds
all county officers, save the county
Judge, who is elected, and appoint
all OF the deputies. The number Oh
officers is limited TO assessor, AT
torney, sheriff, superintendent oi
health. superintendent OF schools
supervisor OF highways. surveyor
treasurer and weigher, the number
of justices OF the peace and con-
stables being fixed by population
and no more than n bare majority
of whom in any county SHALL be oil