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

Finally the proposition was made b.
khe CAPITOL Building Company that
hey would turn over to me In my In
dividusi capacity deeds to the ok hum
0red and fifty acres Of land. the title
to which should be passed upon By the
Attorney general and approved BY hin;
and in addition thereto. would pay into
nv hands the sum Of one hundred thou.
INV hands the sum Of one hundred
thousand dollars In cash. The mouey
ana deeds were to be held By me IN
trust for the company, subject %
such action - this legislature
may determine to take In the
uremises. BY the term Of the
ssreement, II the legislature 90
cents the cash now held By me and the
deeds to the six hundred and ffty acree
Of land, II is to release the Capitol
Building Company from any further
obligation In the matter OF selling NE
iando. and the state 10 TO take title 70
the lands proposed to be donated ana
dispose Of them - the Legislature nay
direct. The hundred thousand dollars
10 to become the property OF the state.
The cash payment, Immediately ettcr
its receipt by me, was deposited IN
three banks in Oklahoma City ana hae
been drawing interest at the rate OF
three per cent since about the hrSe OF
June, 1912.
I recommend to the legislature tAat
II accept this proposition and make
an appropriation to 90 forward WITH
the building Of . capitol. The site tAAe
10 proposed for capitol purposes 10 one
well suited to the location Of our state
buildings. BY q proper handling OF the
lands donated more money can - roes
lied to the state than would have been
possible to have realised had the same
been sold according to the rerms OF the
original contract: and BY the legisla-
ture accepting this proposition ana
taking hold Of the matter and hand
ling Il In business way. we will come
nearer procuring for the people Of Oh
lahoma Q free capitol than could have
been done under the proposition agreed
to by the former legislature.
I recommend also that the legislA-
ture make an appropriation sufficiently
large to build state capitol such -
will meet the requirements OF the
state. and that II arrange for the 10
suance and sale Of bonds, bearing not
more than four per cent interest, the
proceeds of which are to be used In
the erection Of the building. II 10
matter Of good business TO proceed
without further delay. At present the
state departments are scattered oil
over Oklahoma City, and the best ser.
vice cannot be rendered to the peo-
pie under these conditions. The quee-
tion Of rentals 10 an important item
for consideration. and until We have
erected and furnished q state capitol.
this burden will be An added load to
the people.
TAX PENALTIES.
A most inexcusable outrage being
perpetrated upon the taxpayers Of
Oklahoma under the guise Of Law 10
the exorbitant and usurious penalty
imposed for the non.payment Of tar.
es. Oklahoma has loaned millions Of
dollars OF money at I'VE per cent In.
terest. When It settles one Of it, oh.
legations In the form Of Q warrant,
the warrant only draws elk per cent
interest. We have gone further, and
IN our law provide that NO individual
or corporation loaning money or sx.
tending credit can. without incurring
severe penalty, collect . greater rate
OF interest than ten per cent, and yet
this state violates the very essence and
spirit OF this law and INDUCES In the
most heartless species of usury when
1t compels the taxpayers. who are 20
unfortunate ~ not to have the ready
cash to ray their taxes with when
the time for their payment 10 due, to
pay . penalty Of eighteen per cent.
I recommend that you reduce the
peualty not to, exceed ten per cent.
In this message I have gone very
much into detail. believing II to be
the duty OF the governor to furnish
whatever support he can IN t.,s way
OF statement ana arGument IN refer.
ence to the recOmnl"nds tions made. I
have not uuedrtakan tn 'oieh all Of
the subjects that You will probably
legislats uI.'n. hAyr dealt only with
those that ! consider the most impor.
tant. Tho recommendation I have
made IN many instances have beeo
recommendations ! would not have
made two years ago. At that tine
my experience with government was
that OF the average citissn who gatN.
ers his experience rather no . spso.
tator than 10 an actual PARTICIPANT
In governmental Affairs. Two years
OF close application and study Of ths
problems OF government have wrousht
many changes In my ideas. what
have avocated IN this message 10 ,or
p what candidly ana honestly bs.
lieve should BE- enacted into laws an1
T.. :sse that II 20 enacted the resuit
VII DO helpful 70 the people. have
made ~ fscommendatiS Sns vitAouf
regard to the eject they viii hsvs
upon any particular locality. but hsvs
In every instance lookeN .ci.Ss ~