Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-09
HIGHWAY BILL rs
UP IN THE SENATE

OKLAHOMA CITY. March S.-The
senate today began debating the
highway bill. 1t is IL house bill
but as it came from the senate
committee it bears but Indifferent
likeness to the measure that came
from the house labeled House Bill No.
lSI Being revenue bill 1t secured
right of way, The bill as II came from
committee makes the state highway
department an Independent bureau. a
commissioner of highways appointed
10y the governor Is chief or the bureau
and has "A great deal of power.
An amendment to the very begin
ming Of the bill by Senator Barrett
would have placed the highway de-
partment under the state board of
public affairs-a board that has been
gaining authority over many things
since this legislature assembled. Mr..
Barrett said the board Is great body
of good business men and ought to
he given custody of the affairs of the
highway department that is to be cree
ated In the bill.
Senator Thomas opposed making
the board Of affairs custodian of the
highways. lie pointed to the many
duties that are imposed upon that
body and intimated that there Is n
men may not go in the volume of
business that may obtain full atten-
ton az their hands.
Senator Shaw referred to the ten
dency of the present legislature to
hand things 10 the custody of the
board of affairs. He pointed out that
they have been given the asylums. the
pcnitentiaries and other things that
may reasonably be assumed To keep
them busy.
Committee of %.
Senator Carpenter called attention
10 the fact that tn bill has listed on
its face as authors twenty-three mcm-
hers of the senate, being a coustitu-
tional majority of the body. and sug-
Ecsted that II be referred TO the other
twenty-five senators as "A committee to
agree on what shall be the law, as the
authors seem to be disagreed as to its
terms. He also pointed out that the
board of affairs probably will be too
busy to give the highway situation the
attention that it deserves.
Several other senators discussed the
bill and then the Barrett amendhent
was defeated by a vote of IL who fa-
vOred ii to Is who did not.
Senate 20 Investigate.
'N'lldINT lNuN0t7l llllbAhN tu u tbll-
current resolution asking that a COM
mittcc be appointed to Investigate the
manner by which a certain house bill
affecting county offices in Muskogee
county came to be- signed and ap-
proved by the governor I'm a form that
was not passed by the senate. The
bill was amended by the senate and
returned to the house With amend
ments. Next thing the author Of the
resolution knew about 1t the bill ap-
peared in the office Of the secretary
of state approved by the governor in
the form in which II passed the house
The difference will be several thou
sand dollars a year more expense to
the taxpayers Of MuskOgee county
than III the senate amendments had
been Incorporated The resolution
sought'to disclose who tampered with
the bill and II this be discovered to
have that person punished.
The resolution was adopted and
transmitted 20 the house.
The house was inclined to treat the
matter joCularly and the resolution
was referred TO the committee on
rules.
The affair has served 10 put the
house and senate at loggerheads. A
bill was introduced In the senate this
afternoon which is identical with the
amended house bill that has caused
this dispute II II is passed Il will
have the effect OF repeating the bill
that has been signed by the governor.