The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-21
TUE CRIME Of pROTLIGACY

Pr3fTgacy IN the expenditure of the money
c1actod from the people for tho conduct OF gov
otnmcnt s the greatest crime Of the day. And
In Oklahoma at least the name of education
has been used to pcrpctuatc this crime to a de-
gree positively amazing.
The world hopes In IA short time to set before
the people Of the state the official figures OF
Just what has been done and what Is contcm-
plated In this respect.
For instance. think OF this state oxpcnding
S2S20oO to graduate 10 pupsl That is but
one case. The cause OF education has been al
most dscrcdited By pork barrel legislators.
ork-borrcl politicians and pork barrel towns.
splendid idea has been seized on to cloak
the CRATER and the corruptionis,. The people
have not been benefited in their laudaJle de-
sire to place education within the easy reach OF
their children. Quite the contrary. Their sub.
s,antiai interests are now threatened by sys-
tcm Of state institution controlled legislators
who almost dominate the legislature.
II IA halt tx ever to be called II must be called
now. The state hospital matter s another case
directly In point. splendid theory and senti-
ment has been seized on to do service for the
corruptionists and pork barrel statesmen. We
do not think 1t will succeed. We know that II
should not For the plan falls utterly to do
what It Is being offered for--the speedy amcl-
ioration OF the sick and disabled ex-seryce men.
Already physicians with experience In the
late war. and leaders who understand the con-
ditons to be met are condemning II unspar-
ingly, and there Is a substantial movement on
among the cx-scrvice men themselves to have
the efforts OF their organization wisely directed
to where relief can be expected to come from
The theory OF state constructed hospitals to
be leased and operated by the federal govern
ment. has been completely exploded. II has
utterly failed. AS an ex-officer OF the medical
corps In the late war wrote The World, congress
is the place to get immediate relief for the sick
and suffering ex-scrvlcc men.
The Legislature which convenes in January
could not do better than create a board COM
posed of able men free from all partisan taint
for the purpose of making an impartial survey
OF the so-callcd state Institutions with recom-
mendation to the next session regarding con-
sclidat!c"s. aho!shn;sn;s and general improve
ments. Such a board would need to be above
reproach In Its pcrsonnel--commandng the pub
lie confidence that It would be guided only by
the just interests OF the public and In no In.
stance influenced by local sentiment.
In the meantime. tho legislature should re-
fraln from making a single building appropria-
uoh, contentinH Itself with approprlating only
funds sufficient for maintenance needs. And
In other instances II should abolish with a ruth
less hand Oklahoma has Just as much use for
fire marshal as 1t has for another house In
the legislature. II has Just az much use for
an insurance board. And various other and
useless departments and institutions
There In not a successful business man in the
state that. given the task OF putting the state
ON sound business basis would not first OF
ali ruthlcssly abolish and consolidate state in
s,itutions boards, commissions and depart
ments And vastly improve the efficiency OF
government thereby.
Sooner or later this viii be done. II needs be
It will come through the initiative powers of the
people and when launched in that manner, IL
| 1t finally is, will sweep the state from end to
end. But it would be much more fitting for
| this Legislature. fresh from the people and
] chastened, regardless of partisanism, to seek
| diligently to crystalize into legislation those
things which every member knows the people
| want and deserve.
| The state is fun of people perfectly willing
| TO incur the danger OF being cassed as enemies
% education and the ex-soldiers In order to
protect the fair and just interests OF the entire
state,