The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-02-09
HOUSE USURY BILL
TO ENDORSEMENT
Senate Committee Reports Substitute for
All Pending Measures; Oil and Gas
Tax Bill Introduced; Senate
for State Mining

OhLAHOMA CITY, FeD. swim
no agreemnt yet reached in caucus rel.
atiye to the proposed new election
law. the legislators continue to devote
their time to the usury bill and other
subjects that we're opened by the gov
crnor. Thus far the chief executive
has not recommended the considera-
tion fthe election question and it is
understood that he win not do so un-
til an acceptable measure is perfect
ed in caucus.
In the house the Glasco usury bill
was passed to engrossment Monday
and was ready for final passage to-
day The bill was amended in a few
particulars, among othar things the
provision making a chattel lien void
ON usurious contracts being elimin-
ated.
The senate committee on banking
reported a substitute for all the usury
bills in that body. II does not contain
the Killam-amendments and is not
much like either the Carpenter or the
original committee bills. II provides
for i fee Of 81 for examination and
inspection: for avoiding the chattel
security on loans under $500 for
usury: denying access to the courts
for creditors on usurious contracts
under $780, for pleading usury as an
offset in actions for collections; max
ing the tIansferree liable to the max
er for the usurious interest when em-
powering the governor to instruct the
attorney general TO bring action to-
cancel charters Of state banks that
collect usury with knowledge of di-
rectors
This bill will have an inning in the
senate when the caucus that has been
occupying most Of the time this week
shall have completed the election
measure.
The senate refused TO adopt a mo
ton by Mr.. Blckel of Woods, limiting
debate. The nest valued prerogative
Of the lawmakers is guarded jealousIy
in the upper house. Regardless o.
this. however there is an effort un-
der way in both houses to get to final
adjournment by the end of next week
The money will be exhausted by that
time and there seems to be little hope
that Governor Williams will approve
another appropriation for the per
diem and expenses.
The two houses passedsa resolution
inviting President Wilson to speak IN
oklahuma@City.
The house democratic caucus adopt
ed a resolution by Mr.. Harrison of
Seminole providing for submission Of
an amendment 20 the constitution
granting suffrage to women. A pro
prosed constitutional amendment nro-
viding for the collection, distribution
and admission of the oil and gas gross
rrodnction tax was introduced in the
senate by Mr.. Russell of Muskogee
The resolution bears also the names
Of Messrs. Barrett, McAlester, and
Davidson of Haskell of the senate,
and Messrs. Eaton. Harrison and
Hughes and Hunter of Choctaw of the
house.
The amendment was directed to the
taxation of oil and gas production 1t
IS framed to include every factor Of
value to be ascertained by the sew
eral county assessors and certified to-
the state auditor The production tax
rate is then to be fixe6 so that the
revenues will be comparable as to
rate with those derived from public
service corporations under existing
laws. This revenue would be distrih
uted to the general revenue fund OF
the state and the highway and school
funds of the counties as it provides IN
The amendment that is proposed oy
Mr.. Russell to the pending gross pro
duction tax bill.
The senate Tuesday passed the ad-
ministraticn bill providing for work
ing state prisoners in coal mines op-