The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-08-13

FROM SUPREME
COURT CLERK
FRANKLIN SAYS ALL HE ASKS
is WHAT THE LAW PROVIDES
FOR-No FEAR OF GOVERNORS
THREAT.

Oklahoma City, Aug. 12.-Guberna-
torial fanfare and the shouting, Il
am the state" have little effect upon
w. NJ. Franklin, clerk of the supreme
court of the state of Oklahoma, who
holds fast. to the belief that govern
ment in this country is handled by
three coordinate branches and that
one department is not dependent
upon the will of another.
Relative to the governors state
ment of yesterday, that an attorney
advised he could discharge the en-
ployes in Franklih's office and him
self appoint their successors, Frank
lin said he was not in the least ap-
prehensive, ard in this he appears to
be fortified behind the law.
Franklin this morning issued this
statement:
"Since the governor has rushed into
print again, with reference to this
department, l wish to say that | no.
tice that it is claimed that some at
torney CD has discovered that the
governor can appoint The help for
this department, and that there is a
yelled threat that he will assume such
power. The governor has no such
power, and he cannot, by force or
/ threats. after | have refused to give
my consent, appoint the force for
! this department i do not want as
cheap help for this department as
the advice of the aforesaid attor-
ney CD is worthless. If the governor
has the legal right to appoint the
help for this department, he has the
same right to appoint hel9 in most of
the other departments. True, in the
creation of additional positions in
some of the departments by the last
legislature, the help is allowed with
the governors approval.
This department is connected with
the judicial department Of this state,
and our constitution provides that
"the legislative, eXec1tiye, and jul
dicial departments of government
shall be separate and distinct, and
neither shall exercise the powers
properly belonging to either of the
other" Also, the law provides that
"all claims and accounts against the
state shall be itemized and SWORN
to as true and correct and shall bear
the approval of the officer or officers
in charge of the department before
being audited" | certainly would
not approve an illegal claim of an
Nappointee of the governor. If the
governor has the power to appoint
help for this department, he can de
termine the expenditures for supplies
for this and other departments in
this state for the law in this regard
is no more definite THAI it is for the
help.
Il have not demanded an increase
of help or salaries over what the law
provides for, although the work OF
the office has more than doubled, and
is of such character as to demand
a higher degree of efficiency than is
required of the clerk in the governors
Office, who receives $1,SC0 per year
and served as law clerk TO the gov
l,A hn hnt nh a
$1,000 a year. OF course, the COVER
nor did not mention the fact that he
has higher salaried man in his of
fee. / do not say they are not worth
what is being paid them. Also, in
some of the other departments there
are a number of employees who re
ceive as much or more than those in
this office receive. True, few sal
aries have been cut down in the
. school land departent, and that fact
is frequently mentioned by the gov
ernor, but he cannot deny that the
number of employees in that depart
ment have been increased and thai
some of the salaries and The number
of employees in some OF the other de
/ partments have been incre ased witt
his approval. In fact, the state needs
the services of those who are wortf
reasonable salaries. There has beer
> greater leaks from dishonesty thai
, there is loss on account o. living sal
( aries.
: "The fact is the employees in thi
department are not receiving higl
salaries when the same is compared
with salaries received in other de
partments. and the character of tn