The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-02-22
WOULD GIVE
THE GOVERNOR
FULL POWER
TO REMOVE ANY OFFICER -
THE PROPOSED BILL WOULD
GIVE GOVERNOR POWER TO
REMOVE ANY OFFICER.

possessed by no chief executive since
the Declaration of independence was
written is conferred upon the COVER
nor of Oklahoma by senate bill No.
260, which has passed the senate and
Will shortly be up for consideration
in the house.
This bill, by Senator Mitchell, is
undoubtedly one of the most vicously
partisan measures ever passed by
branch of the Oklahoma legislature.
and when the people of the state
awaken to its full purport it is
likely that the lower house will be
swamped with protests.
Under this bill the governor may
at any time summarily remove from
office any county or municipal Of
ficer and appoint a temporary sue
cessor, who shall serve until the
supreme court has decided the case
of the ousted official.
AphOuIu Iilb SoNCl llOl utSlIf " play
politics." or should any designing
person desire to satisfy grudge
against any local official. this bill
provides a splendid medium for that
purpose.
A grand jury, the board of county
commissioners or the attorney gen.
eral, the latter acting upon direction
of the governor, may commence an
action against any county or city
official in the supreme court, which
is given original jurisdiction in such
cases. All that is necessary to start
such an action is to allege official
misconduct"
Official misconduct is defined as
wiltul failure or neglect to diligently
and faithfully discharge any duty of
the office with reference to any state
law or drunkenness.
After such a case has been filed IN
the supreme court the accused officer
is given 20 days thereafter in which
to make his pleadings. The clerk
of the court must at the same time
mail a copy of the accusation to the
governor and five days after that the
accused officer will stand suspended
from office, pending final determina-
tion of the action. No cost deposit
shall be required in such cases ex-
cept where the board of county com
missioners is the accuser. In the
event of final judgment being entered
against the accused officer the latter
shall be assessed all costs.
Fill Vacancies, Too.
The governor is empowered to fill
all vacancies in county or state of
fees, both temporary and perma-
nent, occasioned by any action
brought in accordance with this act. |
including vacancies occasioned by
resignation after the commencement
Of an action.
During suspension the accused Of |
icer shall receive no salary. but if |
ne is acquitted he shall receive COM
for the full time he has
been under suspension. The person |
appointed to temporarily fill the va
;ancy must also be paid, thus max
ng it possible for two to be paid
n one office.
Any person removed from office |
permanently by such action is dis
qualified from again holding any of |
ice in the state for a period of six
years.
Many of the senator's. observing
he danger that lurked between the
ines, offered numerous amendments
o the bill, but few of them were
adopted
Two Amendments.
Senator Burford succeeded in add
ng this wise proviso:
"The person appointed to fill any
uch vacancy shall be of the same
political party as the person re-
moved"
Another commendable amendment
dopted was by Senator Edwards, as
ollows:
Provided that all actions herein
rovided for shall be advanced on
he trial docket of the supreme court
nd shall have precedence in the or
er of filing over all other cases of
nature"
The act annlies not only 10 all