The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-01-28
Oklahoma City,

.the governor, on what legislative lead
ers generally predict will not be more
than thirty-days' session.
Receiving and reading the COVER
nor's message, opening about six diff
| ferent subjects for legislation, selec-
ton of the necessary employees for the
conduct of the work Of the two houses
and caucusing practically consumed
the first day. The organization, so far
as committees and presiding officers
are concerned. of the regular session
was continued and the employees were
selected chiefly from among those who
worked in the regular session.
Interest in the opening session cen
tered chiefly on the action of the hou1e
in amending its rules whereby it will
be impossible to start frivolous and
promiscuous Investigations of state de-
partments or officials for political pur-
poses. AS amended the house rules re-
quire that before an investigation is
ordered by that body the resolution
asking such investigation must be ac-
companied by not less than two aftida'
Wits, signed by reputable people, in
which they swear that to their own
personal knowledge the charges
against an official or a state depart
ment, on which a request for an in
vestlgation is based, are true.
In so amending its rule the house
took the position that 1t had no de-
sire to cover up any wron6doing on the
part of any state official but was I'M
alterably opposed to promiscuous, in
spired investigations, designed for
political purposes and to prolong the
session to the embarrassment of the
democratic party.
Resolution Immediate Adjournment.
After republicans had been forced to
were opposed to legislation to dis
franchise illiterate and ignorant ne
groes in Oklahoma, the house of rep
resentatives killed the Dickerson reso-
luton, asking for immediate adjourn
ment sine die, by vote Of SO to %.
The resolution received the solid
support of the republican and socialist
delegations. Only two democrats
voted for it, They were Representa-
tive L. d. Abrey of Garvin county and
Representative w. Cartwright Of Coal
county. Both are students at the state
university.
The Dickerson resolution asserted
that by reason OF the enforcement of
the grandfather clause" nullitied by
a United States supreme court de-
cision, in the election at which present
members of the house and some of the
members of the senate were elected,
ait is questionable if a duly elected
legislative body exists or that other
than de facto officers are exercising
the power to call this body in extra
Sessiol.
Resolution For Filling Vacancies
A resolution providing for filling
vacancies in the senate according to
the plan proposed by Governor Will
liams was introduced in the senate by
Senator ]. Elmer Thomas of Lawton
and was referred to the committee on
legal advisory, of which Senator ]. L.
Carpenter. an avowed opponent Of the
plan, Is chairman.
The resolution provides that nomi-
nations to fill the vacancies in the SEN
ate shall be made by the county central
committees Of the same political faith
as the members who formerly occu-
pied the places. When the nomina
tions were properly certified to the
senate then that body would elect and
seat the nominee, This Is the vacancy
filling plan outlined by the governor
to avoid the expense of holding special
elections in the districts where the
vacancies exist.
First Anti.Usury Bill.
An anti-usury law bill, which prob
ably will form the basis of the usury
legislation to be turned out by the
present Legislature, was introduced in
the house of representatives by Repre-.
sentative +. r. Glascoe of Purcell
1t fixes the legal rate at 6. per cent
with the maximum at 10 per cent on
contract only, Ii makes charging of
higher rate as misdemeanOr in addi-
lion to rendering void lien on any
property to secure loan on which eX-
cessive interest is charged. In addi-
ton, the persons char 6'ag the usWious
rate will be required to forfeit an
amount twice as great as TIE interest
Plan To Suppress Cholera.
Plans to stamp out hog cholera in
Oklahoma were considered at a demo.
cratic farmers caucus of the house of
representatives. If the farmer mem
bers of the legislature agree on a
bill the governor has promised to have
the subject of hog cholera eXtermina-
ton for legislation. More than $1,000
600 was lost by swine breeders in
Oklahoma during 1915 from cholera.
1t is planned to have the determination
work done by county demonstration
agents.
Vacancy When Commissioner Moves.
In an OniniOn IN tho pnVnrnOr tho