The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-07-01


Regarding the committees findings
as to employment of Judge G. B. Stu
art, of the law firm of Stuart and
Cruce, to defend the grandfather
clause cases, the governor responds
Il would call the gentlemens at
tention to senate concurrent resolu
ton No. %, passed by the senate on
Feb. 16, 1911, and by the house of
representatives on Feb. II, 1911,
which provided that the governor be
instructed to employ counsel at a
specified fee, etc and also to the
general appropriation bill passed at
that session OF the legislature appro-
priating $4,000 for this specific pur-
pose. The chairman of the general
| investigation committee was a men,
Der Of that legislature, and if | am
correctly informed, favored both the
resolution and the appropriation, as
did practically all of the democrats
in both houses of the legislature"
No Apology to Make.
The committees finding as to the
amount he spent in his first cam
paign for governor, Gov. Cruce say,
is in keeping with his testimony be-
fore the committee, but he fails 20
understand what that has to do with
his administration at this time. An
swering the further statement that
| he appointed to office men who had
aided him in his campaign, the gov
ernor says that it is correct and that
he has no apology to make for it.
The statement concludes:
There are many excellent gentle
men in both branches of the legisla
ture who have sacrificed much in an
effort to faithfully serve the people
of Oklahoma, and whatever differ.
ence of views may be entertained
between them and me as to matters
of public policy they are honest diff
lcl eHCeo' oOLit VI tucoe SeHllcuct
have supported practically all Of the
recomme ndations l have made to the
Legislature, and to them I acknow-
ledge my Indebtedness.
much good legislation has been
enacted during the more than four
months of legislative endeavor. have
tried to lend every announcement
and effort possible to the passage of
laws that would mean more efficient
government and great economy. | re-
gret that a majority of the members
of the two branches OF the legislature
have not on all occasions agreed with
me. / specifically set out in my
message to the legislature at its open
ing session my policies and made di
rect reference to the offices | believ-
ed should be abolished or consoli-
dated. / regret that the legislature
saw proper to postpone putting into
effect the laws that tended to con-
solidate county offices and reduce the
expenses therefor until January, 1915.
| have felt that the need of the people
was a pressing one and that today
was the time to act. that relief de-
ferred was practically relief denied |
have stood for certain legislation |
which has not been enacted into law.
According to the committees report, |
the legislative policy has been shown
in the laws that have been passed,
and if its policy be reflected by the
Legislature, then l must confess that
its policy and mine are at variance in
the question of economy and better
as l 90 farther in my
policy than the legislature has thus
far gone.
Believes in Further Consultations.
Il believe that there should be fur
ther consolidation of county offices
and that there should have been
further limitation of state expenses
in government by redistricting the
state for district judges, curtailing the
thereof and abolishing all
court judgeships. l realize
hat these matters will not be enact
ed into law during my administration.
but believe in the coming admins
-ration, or at least in the coming
ears, the wisdom of every recommen-
lation | have made to this Legislature
will be recognized by the people ami
he demands coming from the people
Will force their enactment into laws.
With fewer and better state edu- {
'ational institutions, with our penal
made self f-sustaining, with
| further limitation placed upon the
lumber of paid officials in Oklahoma, q.
will come a breathing srell to the I
'eople of Oklahoma in taxpaying mat ,