The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-19

tions and departments depend on
larger running accounts than
heretofore allowed, but few indeed
surmised the actual splcndor of the
melon" intended to be sliced in
oklahoma city. providing the demo-
cratic state machine can keep thcl
republicans divided and the organ
ization OF the house OF representa-
tlves in doubt.
According to the present schedule,
aside from new buildings for the
Institutions. II Is now costing about
fl0O,000 per annum to keep the
state government operating. The In
crease ratio for this cost will bring
the total TO more than &S,3OO,000 or
l6.600,000 for the two-year period.
Those figures are sufficient to
warn what politicians predicting an
economical legislature will have to
contend against. Let the building
program AS now about arranged by
the heads who know no party line
be set out In bold relief, that the
ordinary taxpayer may understand
what his future holds unless this
plunderbund combination ~ defeated
at the very organization OF the legis-
lature.
Perhaps tabular form will impress
more strongly what is contemplated
by the "melon" party for January
and February of 1921.
Actual governmental expenditures
..........t tl6,6OO 900. 90
Buildings at Norman Institutions
............,.. 2.J00.0O0.00
Arch for capital .. 100000
Buildings for nofmals 1000, ,oOo. 90
soldiers hospital ..... 1000, 100000
Ninita asylum .... l,000,000.00
Agriculture school edifices
..'..'. .'...'.... OOV,VVV'UO
Other state institutions T5O,000.00
Total ...........s26.75O.oO0.OO .oO0 90
Rather remarkable figures to con-
template and they properly belong
ma column other than dealing with
politics. but they are political for
the time being and they are the
nucleus around which those who re-
alize that they must get large
coterie from all parties in order to
succeed propose to rally for the last
stand before the doors OF the state
treasury.
Naturally no organization propos-
ing such a stupendous outlay of
public money can ever again hope
TO be entrusted with authority, but
1t must be remembered that those
proposing II do not expect to ever
again have an opportunity at dis
bursement OF public funds.
Commission Appointed Year Ago.
Those unaware of the attempt to
got the great arch in front OF the
capital building should recall that a
commission was appointed one year
ago. IL consists OF General Roy V.
Hoffman, DR.. Charles n. Evans
m -t..z
homa City, and George +. Southard
of Enid. and is legally designated as
the Soldiers Memorial Commission.
An Oklahoma City firm of archi-
tects drew the plans for this memoir
ial and the estimated cost Is from
100000 to 100000. In an inter-
view with newspaper men. Tuesday,
Governor Robertson explained that
he would ask the advocates OF the
soldiers hospital to aid him in get
ting votes for the arch. We quote
him as per his interview in an OKLA
homa City newspaper:
II shall commend the memoir
ial arch plan to the legislature and
! expect II will make an appropri-
alton to help finance its erection.
My support of the legion's plan to
build a hospital for former service
men does not mean that the arch
Is TO be abandoned. Many legion
members have assured me that
they VIII support the arch pro-
posal."
The soldiers memorial commits
sion, of which the governor Is a
member by virtue Of his office, has
already very heartily approved of
the memorial plans proposed, and
the governors naive statement as
to h,.y Why he Is Yarmly supporting the
doubt or reservation.
Further Organization,
Heads OF the American legion
working for the hospital appropria.
tion met at the capitol and revised
their plans only in so far as relates TO
those who would have charge OF
erecting the building. This change
would make the building committee
consist OF the governor az ex-of-
ficio chairman. and the members OF
the legion state executive commit
tee. consisting of eleven members
This would leave OFF the state treas
urer.
Another Illustration.
Another illustration of the enorm-
its OF the expenditures to be pro.
posed comes from State Fire Mar
shal John Connolly. who will ask
s"s"t iHCltdse IOr nv over
worked department., The last al
lowance was only $4,000, and he
would have the legislature Increase
TINS to $4,000. or sufficient TO en-
aple MIN TO divide the state into
several fire marshal districts Instead
OF one.
The state fire marshaps office was
created in 1913. The first duty i'm
posed on the state fire marshal is
10 hire an assistant.
Tho statute further imposes on the
oincers In town where a fire has
occurred to Investigate the causes
OF origin and circumstances OF every
IRE occurring" Following this in
struction TO the local officers the
tire marshal Is inundated to assist.
IN cases where the fires occur out
sac OF Incorporated towns, the sher-
III can do the first investigating. or
ne can await arrival OF a scout
from the fire marshal's office. uo
can then assist or desist, according
to his choice.
having thus provided for a saIar.
ied officer and assistant with no real
duty to perform. the legislature do.
sisted. except thai It did say in SEQ
tion 10: 80 'e'
The state fire marshal must
NOT engage In any other business
ana ne and his assistant shall AT
al times be ready for such duties
as are required by this act
section 10 has been overlooked bv
1 A ta liz =