The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-05-21
DEFICIENCY
NOW EX|STSAT
STATE PRISON
IN LIEU OF PAY, CERTIFICATES
ARE BEING ISSUED TO CERTAIN
EMPLOYEES, SOME OF WHOM
ARE FORCED TO CASH THEM
IN AT DISCOUNTS.

Oklahoma City, May 20-Because
the last session of the Legislature
failed to make a deficiency appropria-
for maintenance of the state prison
at McAlester, there are certain en-
ployes of that institution whose pay
is deferred For these the state is is
suing certificates under the provisions
of the law, upon approval of the gov
ernor, showing that the claims of such
are approved and that an appropria-
ton will be asked for when the legis-
lature shall meet.
These claims are not state warrants
There is no authority to issue warrants
when there is no appropriation made
to pay them. Some of the employees
are not able to carry their certificates
and have been driven to the necessity
of discounting them. Governor Will
liams has made arrangements with
banks in McAlester and this city that
these certificates shall be discounted
at per cent. The appropriation when
made to pay the deficiency will no
doubt bear interest at the rate of 6
per cent. This will make the cost to
employees but per cent.
Governor Explains Situation
Governor Williams has given this ex-
planation of the situation in reply to
some published criticisms of the stu
alton in which it is charged that the
state ought not to be standing for
discounted warrants while there are
millions of dollars of state money in
the banks of the state at small inter
est rates. The explanation is that no
state warrants are being discounted;
that these certificates are not accept
able by the state as security for state
deposits in the banks and that they
are merely claims against thea state
to make appropriations when the legis-
lature shall see fit. Thes ituation was
foreseen while the special session of
the legislature was here last winter
and was called to the attention of the
lawmakers, but they failed to make
any appropriation to meet the expected
deficiency.
In this connection the outlook for
the state penitentiary to become self
supporting in the fiscal showing as it
has in reality been to an extent, if
the value of the work done for the
state by the prisoners shall be consid
cred, is said to be very good The ex-
pansion of farming activities under
the present administration shows well
so far. SO does the growth of in
dustries in the penitentiary.
To Install Irvine Factory.
The state board of public affairs is
preparing to install the twine factory
that was authorized by the recent leg
is.ature, and they are confident that
it will prove a money maker. The plant
will be in operation in time to make
the supply of twine for Oklahoma
farmers that will be needed for the
1917 wheat harvest.
S l.. Morley, secretary of the board,
said that the largest twine factory
but two in the United States, is that
at the Minnesota state prison and hat
it has been a big revenue producer.
I'VE are intending to make our plant
money maker too said he, "and
there is no reason at all for believing
other than that the state prisons will
soon be supporting themselves
Four counties, Bryan, Wagner, Pot
tawatome and Pittsburg are now en-
ploying convicts in construction of
good roads and other counties are
making their plans to take advantage
soon of the opportunity thus to secure
labor at a low cost. This will reduce
the expense of the prison.