The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-02-10
Special Committee Of the House
and Senate Report Bills Affect
ing County and Town
ship Officers
PROPOSE 70 ABOLISH
TOWNSHIP GOVT
Certain County Offices to Be Com
bined After Jan. lsl5--Supe-
riOr Court BilI---Senate
Saves Road Dept.

Oklahoma City. Feb. 10. There is
to be radical reduction in the mum
Der of offices in counties Of less than
$4,000 population, according to agreed
bills reported to the house Of repre-
sentatives from a special committee
Of the house and senate.
The Norris bill, abolishing all town
ship offices, and conferring the duties
thereof upon county commissioners,
was reported for passage. Represen-
tative Mitchell Of Garvin and Carr of
Muskogee, acting for the house, and
Senators Mcintosh and Franklin for
the senate, reported committee sub
stitutes abolishing other offices. Since
the senate voted o to IA not to abol-
ish the office of state highway COM
missioner, the issue having been based
somewhat upon activity Of the town
ship organizations against the depart
ment, it is predicted the senate would
accept a bin wiping out all forms Of
township government. This q one OF
Gov Cruces recommendations.
In the Mltchell-Carr bills, abolish
ment Of elective officers is effective
the first Monday in January 1915,
which allows the present incumbents
20 complete their terms. One measure
abolishes the office of assessor in al
counties, and eonfers the duties upon
the county treasurer In counties of
less than 10000 people offices Of coun-
I ty clerk, register Of deeds and county
clerk are abolished, and the duties
transferred to the district court clerk.
Offices Of the assistant county attor-
ney and the county court reporter are
also abolished.
In counties Of a population between
10000 and 10000, the district clerk be-
comes also the clerk Of the county
court and The county clerk takes on
the duties Of the register Of deeds. The
county court reporters position is
abolished. no extra compensation is
allowed by reason of the combining.
In counties Of not less than $1,000
people nor more than $4,000, the eoun-
ty commissioners, in their discretion.
may allow one assistant county attor-
ney at a salary Of sl00 a month; over
$1,000 people, ons on more assistants,
the first to receive $3.50 and the sec
ond s100 a month
For the remaining period Of the
county assessors tenure Of office he
is to be paid a salary instead Of fees.
In eouaties Of 10000 people the salary
is $lS0s a year, between 10000 and 20,-
600 $50 for each additional 1909 popu-
lation, and so on until the aalary OF
$4,000 a year is provided in counties
! Of more than $4,000 people. The coun.
ty commissioners may allow deputies.
To Abolish Superior Courts.
judiciary No. 2. Of which Z. P. Hill
b Of McAlester is chairmeu, reported Oh;
IS committee substitute for bills by
e. H. H. Smith, W. A. Durant T.. r. Hill
d and Sharp for the abolition Of superior
,r courts in all counties OF less than As,
OO0 population or where the court il
n not at the county seat and proyidinl
rs that in these excepted counties the peo
e. pie shall decide by referendum yot
lis wether they shall continue the sapel
ior courts.
N. In counties Of less than $4,000 th
&c abolition would become effective q
lie once, i'm counties over that population
OF after December 81, 1914, unless col
in tinued by local vote. In counties wher
the court is not at the county sea
abolition would become effective
os days after the passage and approTl
.he Of the bill, unless petition by 20 pe
Wis cent Of the legal voters Of the eouni
Tas was filed asking the referendum ele
my ton.
bis The house passed finally senat
Pughs bill relative to the investme
an OF sinking funds, and apportionms
re Of the interest to the school distric
md Of the county The Randall-Raxro
ally resolution memoriall2ing congress
Continued on Page Thfee.l