The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-03-19
HOUSE FINDS
NEW ARTICLE Of
MPEACHMENT
SSIONER WATSON HAS
CHARGE OF COERCION ADDED
TO HIS LIST - VOTE DOWN
ATTORNEYS CLAIMS.


article OF Impeachment against Cor
poration Commissioner A. p. Watson,
charging him with offenses involy-
ing moral turpitude and corruption
in office by attempting to "coerce'
the State National bank OF Oklaho-
ma City, was adopted by the house
of representatives late Thursday af-
ternoon. The additional charge is
made under that provision in the
original Impeachment articles against
Commissioner Watson, which reserv-
ed to the house managers the right
to bring additional charges.
In the report filed with the house
Thursday by the house managers, it
is charged that some time during
the month of February OF the pres
ent year Commissioner Watson de-
liyered his promissory note for $500
to the State National bank of Okla
homa City. The note matured and
repeated demands on the part of the
bank for settlement failed to bring
results, it is charged,
Finally, according to the charge,
the bank instructed its attorneys to
bring suit and so notified Commits
sioner Watson. 1t is charged that at
that time and at every time the
bank demanded payment of the note,
Mr. Watson would reply that the cor
poration commission, of which he is
member, had a large sum Of money
on deposit in that bank and that
members of the commission were en-
titled to favors and special considera-
tion from the bank.
Coercion Point Cited.
At that time, the charges recite,
the commission had under its super
vision and control approximately $780,,
900, of which $4,000 was on deposit
in the State National bank. In at
tempting to "coerce" the bank by
to withdraw the deposit
of state money if the bank continued
demanding payment of the note Com
missioner Watson was guilty of Of
fenses constituting grounds for i'm
peachment, according to the charge.
Commissioner Watson was i'm
peached by the house some time ago
on number of charges, most OF
which were based on money he is
alleged to have borrowed from at
torneys and officers of corporations
which have frequent business deaf
ings before the corporation commits
sion. He will be tried before the
senate soon after the adjournment
of the regular session of the legisla-
ture.
The house Thursday voted down
by an almost unanimous vote a res
olution proposing payment of the
claims of w. A. Ledbetter, (. b.
Fulton & Pittman and y. F.
Burwell for services as attorneys in
past litigation relative to the location
of the capitol in Oklahoma City. The
resolution was by Representative W.
A. Durant, chairman of the house
on appropriations. A sim
liar measure was defeated by the
legislature two years ago.
Letter from Wilson.
Lieutenant Governor NJ. f. Trapp
and Speaker McCrory Thursday re-
ceived the following letter from Pres
ldent Wilson, expressing his appre-
citation for the resolution adopted by
the Oklahoma legislature on March
t. the second anniversary Of the be-
ginning of the Wilson administration
at Washington, which congratulated
the president rDor US ACCOMPLISH
ments during thu two years
March l.. !jI5.
TIE W'hile Hose.
Washington, d. C.
May | not give myself the pleas
IRE Of telling you how deeply | ap-
preciated the generous resolutions of
he senate and house of representa-
ives of Oklahoma. passed on March
|, last, and expressing appreciation
'f the work as far done for the coun-
ry by the present administration?
81 hope that you will have some
Early opportunity to express to the
members of the house the great
pleasure and encouragement that this
'esolution has given us. and my hope |
hat we may continue to enjoy the
confidence of such loyal friends.
Cordially and sincerely yours.
Signed) WOODROW WILSON"
The house agreed to the senate
mendments to the bill making an ap-
'ropriation of $4,000 for the benefit
# the widows of the officers killed
n the attempted outbreak at the PEN
tentiary more than a year ago, and
'assed the bill finally as amended.