Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1912-11-14

\ 0o9ohsoA . = 0ooe eth0 OoooO
G sAo Unioa, ~ result Of he election
Ohould not " Deotty correctly knOwn
WitAin tweoty.eeur hours after the
POLLS have closed.
The primaSy election law should also
10 amended - 70 arrangement Of
names upon the ballot % - 70 give to
NO candidate a advantage over his
competitors. The present alphabetical
arrangement has proven 70 be unfair
and should speedily be amended. A
provision In the law that would rotate
the names upon the ballot occurs TO me
to be decided improvement upon the
present method; but any other method
that may suggest itself to the mem.
berS Of the legislature that will bring
about fair results to oil candidates,
will meet with my approval.
TAXATION.
OF oil the perplexing questions with
which Legislators have to deal. there
10 none more important or harder to
solve than the question Of taxation.
Every sort OF government entails ex.
perse In its administration. Il 70 the
duty Of the law making body OF every
government % to fashion its laws
that this burden may rest where It
properly belongs. Every man and cor.
poration should contribute to govern.
ment in proportion - benets are deriv.
ed from that government. Thus to I'D.
Just eQuitably the burdens Of taxation
Ia hA eVnV
task: that Is vii continue to be 20 In
the future Ii entirely probable: the
best. therefore, that We can hope for
10 to enact laws that will, % far ~ pos.
sible. adjust this.
I recommend that you 20 amend our
tax laws a. to require all taxpayers,
when requested BY anyone whose duty
1t 10 to ascertain property for the pur.
pose Of taxation, or to gain Information
that will lead to proper assessment. to
furnish such information under oath;
and to punish, - 10 now provided for
perjury, anyone guilty Of making false
afhdavit: 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 onicials for services rendered. or
supposed to be rendered for the peo-
pie.
I recommend to you that you abol.
ish number Of onices and consolidate
others; and to be specific In my re.
commentators. I would say that fa-
vor the entire abolition OF al township
ofnces In Oklahoma.
I favor consolidation into one ONCE
Of all clerkships and. the recorder Of
deeds In every county in the state.
! would also recommend the cons0l.
idation of the once 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 oflcials 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.
partment as decidedly the most i'm.
portant. Here originates all methods Of
government, ami here Is crystallixed
into law the policies and ideas Of gov.
ernment which result either in bles.
sing or curse to the people. Law 10
the foundation upon which rests the
entire superstructure Of government:
II this foundation be faulty, the gov.
ernment 70 insecure; II It be built OF
adamant. all the fury and passion Of
political rancor and public clamor may
beat against Il In vain.
]. 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 bs given to
studying the laws Of this and other
states. and to gathering for the use Of
the legislature when II 10 In session,
all information that will bs needed by
that body.
STATE CAPITAL.
The last legislature m 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 % fol.
lows:
Fifteen acres q land surround.
ing . point on the half section
line north and south between the
northeast fourth Of section ~. To.
IL North Re. 3 Weet."
Al that time . contract was entered
into with the state Of Oklahoma and Q
corporation known - the state Capi.
tol Building Company" whereby the
said company agreed 70 secure title
to six hundred ana Atty acres Of land
adjacent to or In the immediate vicini.