The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-06-21
IMPORTANT BILLS
ARE STILL PENDING
General Appropriation Measure Yet
to Pass Committee VIII Re-
port Findings in All State
Departments

OKlanoma City, June 2l.-Ine fourth
legislature will again be in session
Monday, June 20, to receive reports
from the house general investigating
committee, and to complete the pass
age Of bills remaining on the calen-
dars at the date Of recess. The most
important Of these is the general ap-
preparation bin which Is pending in
conference. An opinion advanced to-
day was that the bin would have to be
introduced anew since a number Of
its provisions are said to be contrary
to the Constitution. The bill proposes
to appropriate money and create posi-
tions in the same sentence. which, sew
eral members say, can not legally be
done Reintroduction of the measure
means detail consideration of all the
items in both houses OF the legisla-
ture, and will use five days time, pro-
yiding there is no discussion. Yhere
would be no chance the members de-
aare to get the bill through without
amendments being offered and the dis.
cussion taking the usual vide range.
Another bill pending before confer
ence is that revising the general reve-
nue. laws, the chef point in controv-
ersy being the gross production tax to
be laid against coal, oil and gas. The
law now calls for one half OF one per
cent and the bill proposes to make it
one per cent Some Of the conferees
declared they would not agree on the
one per cent basis. Senator Campbell
Russell, president OF the Peoples Pow
er league, has addressed letters to
members of the organization, asking
| for suggestions in regard to initiat-
ing a flat two per cent tax against the
| gross production Of the minerals. and
dividing the tax between the counties
and the state.
Another provision in the pending
bill which the conferees will not sub
init to. according to their version, is
that which proposes to render much Of
the special oil-coal-gas tax subject to
general state warrants The existing
law says that the money collected
from these sources not specifically ap-
propriated by the legislature shall 90
into the public school fund. The new
bill carries a clause that sweeps the
school fund aside, and proposes to
make the unappropriated portion Of
the special tax available for general
state warrants. 1t was charged thai
one purpose Of the clause is to further
the capitol building situation by pro
viding cash for state warrants which
may be issued for that project. Mem
bers of the house side Of the confer
ence committee will refuse to agreN
to such diversion OF the funds.
Z Other bills pending in conferene
I are the marriage or eugenies measure
= and the genera road law The las
~ named abolIshes the state highway d
y partment. There are also large nun
+ Der Of measures pending upon the ca
y endars which may or may not i
2 taken up,
A large batch Of reports will
ready for the legislature from II
house general investigating commi
its tee. IN addition to special repo
le- touching each department. inquired 1
as to, the committee win issue a sui
mary to the public showing what
le- has accomplished, and what has be-
ed found. The special reports will
more into detail than will the su
mary. Nearly every department h
= been brought within the scope Of {
= committees work
= Ii is understood the eommitte
= findings for the most part win be vi
. out recommendation What are
= garded as flagrant violations OF /
= have been found
= Unless the iorecasters 80 wrong.
: Continued on Page TNo,l