The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-02-18
Oklahoma City

have been under consideration for
some time assumed definite shape
when democratic members of the SEN
ate and house in joint caucus with
Governor Williams present agreed
upon two of the most important fea-
lures, namely the submission OF sub
stitute for the defeated grandfather
clause and the passage Of a universal
registration law.
When the majority members of the
two houses have reached an agreement
the message of Governor Williams
opening the subject of election laws
for legislation was forthcoming.
The question of adopting the so
called ribbon ballot has been finally
eliminated from the proposed legisla
ton.
Leaders of both houses expressed a
desire to dispose of the election law
question at the very earliest possible
moment so that it cannot interfere with
plans for final adjournment, which II
is now believed, will come at the end
VI IuC bullly udgos
Coal Mining Bill Passed.
BY bare constitutional majority the
senate passed finally the administra
ton bill providing for working state
prisoners in coal mines to be operated
by the state near the penitentiary at
MoAlester. Twenty-three senators
voted for the bill and sixteen votes
were recorded against the measure
which was passed after it had been de
bated about an hour.
The bill provides that the coal mined
by the prisoners shall be used only in
state institutions. Through the efforts
of Senator w. c. McAlester, the bill
was amended so as to provide that
prisoners shall not be put to work in
the mines until they give their consent
in writing to such employment. Al
first the prisoners will be permitted
to go into the mines for period of two
weeks, during which time they are t
make up their minds whether they care
to continue in such employment. If 4
is satisfactory then they may sign al
agreement to work in the mines for
period of six months. The bill makes
1t the duty of the state labor commits
sioner to see that this section Of tn,
law is carried out.
During the debate on the bill 1t wa
stated on the floor Of the senate tina
at least 200 prisoners already have sig
nified their willingness to work in tn
coal mines in preference to other form
of prison labor. The compensation tn
prisoners will receive is left to tn
state board Of affairs.
The senators who voted for the bill
were:
Barrett, Bickel, Blassingame, BoarC
Chase of Nowata, Chase of Seminole
Cline, Curran, Edmonson, Edwards
Field, Morgan, Killam, Logan, MICA
lister, McMechan, Mitchell, ONei
Russell, Shaw, Thomas, Watrous an
Ben F. Wilson.
The senators who voted against 1
were:
Austin, Beauman, Buckner, Cal
penter, Cordell, T. H. Davidson, r. L
Davidson, Davis, Franklin, Hickman
Keller, Mcintosh, Bryan, Sutherlin
Tusker and Wilson of Dewey, socialist
The bill providing for the establish
ment of Irvine factory in the peniten
tiary at McAlester, to be operated b,
prison labor, was passed finally by tn,
house. 1t carries an appropriation O
$125,000 of which $4,000 is to b.
spent under the direction of the stat
board of public affairs in the construC
ton and equipment Of suitable fac
tory for manufacturing Irvine, and tn
remainder of the money will go int
the penitentiary revolving fund, to b
used in carrying on the work Of tn
enterprise.
Other Legislation.
The house passed finally the senat
resolution authorizing the payment O
certain deficiency claims against tn
eastern preparatory school at Glare
more out of the appropriation mad
for the maintenance Of that institution
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1915
The house passed the bill making a.
appropriation of $4,000 for the ereC
ton Of wing to the state reformator
at Granite.
The house also passed the bill re
quiring persons subject to road dut
who fail to perform the actual wor
to pay $500. The present law fixes /
at $500. This also is in the natur
of a declaratory act, declaring tn
meaning of certain features of the ger
eral road law. 1t gives counties tn
right to make tax levy of 8 mill
for all purposes when such levy /
deemed necessary by the county excis
board.
BY a vote Of 10 to 10 the hous
passed finally the bill making an ar
preparation for the payment of the pen
sions of former Confederate soldiers
sailors and their widows. AS origin
ally introduced the bill proposed Gel
tain amendments to the pension law
but as passed it provides only for tn