The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-12-26

morously to his past experiences with
4 Oklahoma legislatures and expressed
the hope that the Sixth assembly
would be Of different type.
"The legislature must recognize the
\ importance Of the business man to
the state" he declared. 'If the bust
ness man is not encouraged he cannot
employ laborers. It works a hardship
all around"
Representative a. +. Cravtr of Bar
| tlesville made an enthusiastic speech
"Oil and gas is making in Oklaho'
ma" he said. "The taxes placed upon
money out of the state. Millions have
left our county. 1t is situation that
demands quick action if we would pro
tect the people of our state. The gross
production tax should be lowered. Men
who go to the legislature should get
together. They should wipe out the
side from the west side, and work
hand in hand with sense of fairness
and equity"
Senator S. L. Johnson OF Okmulgee,
who opposed the three per cent gross
production tax when a member OF the
, house in 1915, said he would continue
his fight against the law in the sen
ate.
'The oil industry is not confined to
few counties" he stated. "One half
of the state is under lease for oil and
gas right now"
II. II. Rogers. representative from
Tulsa county, made a ringing speech
that met with hearty applause.
Although | am u republican" he
said, 81 want to join hands with two
democrats, Senator Snyder and Sena-
tor Davis, who have shown by their
speeches today that they are anxious
to do the right thing by the men who
are spending their money to help build
up great commonwealth The time
has come when men must see that
the interests of state are greater
than the interests of any politician or
party and laws must be enacted on
that basis. | know five men person
ally. who have taken out of this state
$25,000,000 in the last twelve months
solely because they felt that they were
being Disseminated against and they
knew that in in Texas or Kansas they
would be given fair treatment. Four
OF them are democrats and one is
republican. 1t is not question of
parties or politics; it is a matter of
justice and equity. Oklahoma needs
every wealthy man she can get and
needs him in the state, not out of it,"
j. A. Maroney, editor of the Okmul-
gee Democrat, spoke of the fact that
the oil industry is no longer pro
ivincial industry, but has grown to un-
dreamed of proportions.
Last spring" he said, "19,0O0,000
lacres of land in this state was under
loil lease. Today it is more than 90
O00,0 900 acres. Therefore it affects
vitally more than half of Oklahoma.
1t demands serious consideration at
the hands of the legislature"
At the smoker last night John 4.
Rodgers presided.
Secretary Harrison OF the Employ
ers' association set forth in detail the
amendments to the workmen's com
Ipensation law that the employers are
seeking He cited statistics and data
gathered from all parts of the United
States. The three amendments he re-
ferred to are for the elimination o.
the two weeks waiting period. raising
/ the limitation of medical attention
from Il days to ninety days after the
injury. and providing for GO % per
cent of average wage paid ihs.ead OF
so per cent.
I c. II. Cleveland. Skiatook banker. !
pointed out the need of law estab- |
fishing state eonstabulary saying
that this would be a good method OF
Isuppressing bank robberies and other
crimes. He asked that a law be en-
acted setting a time limit for getting
! the tax rolls back from the state
board of equalization, so that the
collection of taxes may be started in |
the fan of the year. He said some
means should be provided for placing
THE state seal on certificates of merit |
issued by free county fair associations. |
City Auditor Frank Newkirk asked !
THAT the fiscal year be changed from |
July l to January 1, explaining that |
on account of tax levies the city must /.
operate on a credit basis from July !
/ to January | of each year.
Senator r. l.. Davidson OF Tulsa |
Icomplimented the City club upon its |
enterprise in arranging the forum. He /
urged that all citizens assist their !