The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-10-26

The principal argument having
most effect on NY m.oi in this re-
gard IS he present co-p,ra;iCn COM
mission OF the state, which has very
wide legislative powers in the Wis
itauon OF legislation OF pubic ser
vice corporations, and l desire to
create a very similar charter body,
the principal consideration being
[ that new officers should be selected,
one from each legislative district.
There have been four members
of the corporation commission who
were selected to act as that commits
sion. Three Of them had no exper-
ience at all in the matters concern
ing which their respective duties
now lie, and one Of them had no
experience at all except as he gained
in my office as assistant. But they
have applied themselves to perform
their duties satisfactorily both for
the people and the corporations.
This induces me to suggest that
the routine legislative powers
should be imposed upon the com
mission of fifteen members to sit at
least two years and 10 sit all the
time except when the general legis-
lature is in session. But for fear
that the commission Of fifteen might
run to excuses, it is suggested
that they have no power in passing
on matters over the governors veto,
and that the laws that they pass
shall not run beyond the adjourn
ment of the following legislature
and bills ratified by that legislature.
1T was also provided that many
of the state officers were subject
to impeachment or removal, and
that impeachment would only be
necessary for the justices Of the
supreme court, governor, lieuten-
ant governor, attorney general and
auditor, and that all other officers
of the state shall be subject to re-
moval from office. 1t was also pro-
vided that the commission OF fifteen
could not have the power 10 pass
any laws by the use CT what is
called the emergency clause; thai
Is, not to take effect Tor ninety
days, during which time the same
may be referred 10 the people.
then it may be placed on the bal
lot at the next election l. was
provided that the commission Of
fifteen should be separate from the
eighty, and that the fifteen could
not be in session during the ses.
sion of eighty. l think this
covers fully the general legisla
tive proposition
Judicial Proposition.
"The judicial proposition was sim
ply to merge what is now called
the appellate court into one and to
make the supreme court the supreme
court commission, and the criminal
court of appeals the same appellate
body; and provides that all cases
shall be decided within six months
after the same have been filed; that
if the governor the attorney general
or the chairman of the corporation
commission shall certify that the
public welfare requires an eXpedi-
tious determination of the same,
that !. shall be decided within a
period of ninety days after it is so
certified. They delay in the Okla
homa courts is perhaps worse than
this plague anywhere else in the
United States.
"At the present time, the appel
late courts of this state are only
disposing of cases about two-thirds
as fast as they are filed in the ap-
pellate courts. The constitution of
this state provides that all cases
shall be disposed of within six
months from the time they are filed,
but this provision has been ignored
by the courts for the reason there
is no penalty provided. 1t shall
therefore, provide in this connection
that failure to do so shall be ground
for removal of office on the part of
the judge or judges. The chief jus
tice shall have executive supervision
over the conduct of the business
of all courts of record and for that