The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-01-27

To GOVERNORS s
ROAD PLANS
CONVICT LABOR ON HIGHWAYS
BRINGS OUT MUCH DEBATE IN
THE sENATE-SoME SENATORS
SORE.


sation in the neighborhood of the left
ear Tuesday they can blame the state
senate.
Sundry senators charged that the eX-
ecutive and his appointees on the
board had nullifed the portion of the
1915 road law that permitted convicts
to be worked on the county roads at
the states expense.
These same senators very quickly
made it plain that one of Governor Will
lams recommendations hereaf-
I ter the counties feed convict road
/ workers-had never chance to pass.
Senator Sutherlin of Wagner, the
author of the bill, and Senator j. FL
mer Thomas, its first open opponent,
finally saved it temporarily by agree
ing that the the governor should be
asked to allow an appropriation suf-
fcient to enable the state to pay the
convicts' board on the roads, without
creating a deficiency. 1t was the lack
of sufficient funds, defenders of the
Sutherlin bill said, that led the COVER
nor and board to refuse permission for
the convicts to go out before this.
Senator Sutherlin of Wagner, at
whose request the governor submitted
the subject, asked that the bill be
placed on the calendar without refer
ence to committee.
Senator j. Elmer Thomas of Law
ton opened the fight on the bill.
The counties will say" he assert
ed, that it is just as cheap to employ
free labor and the county authorities
won't dare to bring the convicts there
Senator Sutherlin said that the state
board OF affairs had refused to let any
convicts go out unless the counties
would agree to pay the food cost, be-
cause under the appropriation by the
last Legislature for maintenance OF the
Ipen the men could not be fed on the
roads
1T is not for the board of affairs
to say that it won't put convicts on the
road, contrary to the express will of
the legislature" said Senator David
son of Tulsa. "A sufficient legislative
appropriation is an alternative we
have"
Ben F. Wilson of this district said
Canadian county had its roads built
and that now the defenders of the
present law wanted their expense part
ly sadded on Canadian.
There won't be any road building
if this amendment to the law is
passed" said Senator Killam.
Senator Shaw, who is prison physi-
clan at McAlester, said that the food
appropriation was made on the basis
of 42.3 cents each per day for 100
men, Instead of 100, there are now
1900 at the pen he said At the same
time, the legislature made it a felony
to create deficiency, Shaw said, with
out the written consent of the COVER
nor, and the governor took the posi-
tion that there was no demand for a
deficiency.
The appropriation for this year is eX-
hausted, he said and it will require
from S75,O 600 to $3.50 to feed the CON
victs until July l.
Senator Chase of NOwata said his
district had employed free labor and
built more roads than in any other dis
trict except that including Tulsa.
IF the state has no more interest in
roads, let's keep the convicts down in
McAlcster and fatten 'em as we have
since statehood. Let's establish schools
and let Bob Dick experiment with
EN-"
Senator Barrett. the administration
press agent, was for the bill.
Senator Ryan was against it.
Senator Edmonson Of Chandler said
the only reason the governor gave to
him for not letting the convicts go in
to Pottawatomie county was that it
was the wrong season Of the year
I'm sore on these departments of
the state trying to dodge the laws"
said Edmonson.
I'm not charging it to any one in
particular. They're all trying to do
something that the legislature has said
they should not do"
Il didn't know We had given any
power of notification of law to the Of
dcers and board, said Senator O'Neil
of Cnickasha. q am sorry the COVER
nor and board mas seen fit to nuIlify
this board
An engine without coal is pretty
well nU.lifed." observed Senator