The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-02-25

| per cent. III provides IHdI per Ceh'
of the tax shall go to the county in
which 1t is collected to be divided be-
tween the road and school funds and
the remaining per cent to the cledit
OF the general revenue fund of the
state. 1t carries an emergency section
and is effective Immediately with the
approval of the governor.
Under the former law the producer
paid the gross production tax upon the
total production, including the royalty.
| According to the new law, the owner
of the royalty interests will pay his
share of the tax. This is expected to
obviate a great many objections that
have been made against the payment
OF the tax. Coal which is included in
the former law is stricken from the
bill.
1t is believed the new measure is so
worded as to include within its pro-
visions the oil and gas produced in the
Usage nation and on departmental
leases in the Chickasaw and Greek ma
tons. They were exempt under the
old law.
The house passed finally the resolu-
ton by Representative Ben f. Harri-
son providing for refund of approx
mately 100000 in gross production
taxes collected by the state from pro-
ducers on royalty interests.
appropriations Killed In the House.
Strong sentiment against any more
large appropriations by the present ex-
traordinary session of the legislature
was reflected in action by the house
on three appropriation measures.
By vote of Al to Al, on second roll
call, it killed the bill making an appro-
priatiOn of $4,000 for the state peni-
Tertiary and the training school for
delinquent negro boys at McAlester;
refused to agree in the senate's action
in increasing from $4,000 to $4,000
an appropriation for additional build
ings at the reformatory at Granite and
reduced an appropriation for the state
university at Norman and the school Of
medicine from 81 500 to $4,000.
Senate Passes Usury Bill.
The senate passed finally the anti
usury bill drawn up by the senate com
mittee on banks and banking, which
provides for the regulation of interest
charges in such manner as will pre-
vent usury.
The new bill is simply cumulative to
existing statute and constitutional pro.
visions, fixing the rate at and 10 per
cent, the maximum to be charged only
upon written consent.
The bill provides that where a
greater interest rate is charged than
that fixed by law it shall be deemed
forfeiture Of twice the amount of the
interest. Another section, which is
the Kiliam substitute, provides that
when borrower offers the lender the
amount borrowed and interest at the
rate of 10 per cent and the lender re-
fuses to accept it, the loan agreement
is void. The last section of the bill
provides for the manner of canceling
charters of banks which violate the
| interest law.
Before reaching the general anti
usury bill the senate passed finally the
bill by Senator w. NJ, Bickel of Alva,
providing for the regulation Of interest
rates charged by loan sharks.
Kill Convict Coal Mine Bill.
In committee of the whole the house
killed the bill providing for the mining
of coal near the penitentiary at Nc
Alester by convict labor.
The senate passed finally the bill
making the state pardon and parole
officer eighth assistant attorney gen.
eral and the house passed finally the
bill appropriating $4,000 to be used in
the purchase of additional lands Dar
the prison at McAlester.
The senate refused to agree to the
house amendments to the bill making
an appropriation of $4,000 for the es-
Enlistment Of work camps for con-
victs and the bill now goes to con-
fernce committee.
Gross Production Bill Passed.
Among the appropriation bills passed
finally by the senate was the one max
ing an appropriation of 100000 to be
spent by the attorney general IN fur
Their freight and passenger rate litiga-
ton. The measure was introduced by
Representative w. A. Durant of Bryan
county, chairman of the house ccm-
mittee on appropriations.
Other bills passed finally by the SEN
ate were:
Making an appropriation of $4,000
for the installation of business enter
prises in the state reformatory at
Granite.
Making supplemental appropria-
ton Of approximately $1,000 for the
support and maintenance of the state
insurance board.
Making an appropriation of $4,000
for the support and maintenance of the
state penitentiary and the state school
for delinquent negro boys at McAles-
ter.
Making an appropriation for the