The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-31

feHIy w oOJ, nlSnWuy commissioner,
is due largely to his wilful violation of
the provisions OF Chapter 23s. session
laws Of 1915, pages 459 to 465 inclus-
i've. II the provisions of this statute
had been adhered TO instead of violated
the odium which now gloats in the
public mind of this commonwealth
would not have existed The violation
II the provisions of that law is a penal
offense, and forfeiture of office, us
well as providing a penalty of s25 per
day against the bond Of any officer
violating this statute The examiner
AMI inspector of the state, on the ad-
vice of the attorney general, specifi
cally called to the attention of the gov
ernor, through an official report to the
governor. that the provisions Of this
law were being violated, but was of no
avail.
EIGHTH: We again call attention
to the fact that there is about S240O due
the Federal Truck account which is full
ly shown in our report on the highway
department. This matter should have
speedy attention.
NINTH: We request this honorable
house, 70 call to the attention of the
Governor and the attorney general, the
fact that j. y. Thompson, chief clerk
of the highway department has mis-
appropriated and converted to his own
use during the time that he was chief
clerk of this department, various and
nf l.,
being S2,l0000 per annum and his pri-
vate account in the American National
Bank showing deposits aggregating
$l1 ,359.4l, and Mr.. Thompson upon be-
ing called before the committee was un-
able TO make an explanation of where
the money came from. He stated in
part, as follows:
Applications were coming into the
department by the bundle. and some of
those checks got lost off the applica.
tons. and they were deposited in the
unidentified account
Q. In your personal account?
A. Yes.
Q. How did you dispose of the
amounts, then? =
\. ] gave my personal checks for
the morey deposited there.
Q. Have you got your Cancelled
checks?
A. No. sir.
c. Where are they?
a. They are in the safe in the high
way department
Q. VIII you submit those checks
to the committee?
A. Yes They are not all there.
some of them are at home. will be
glad to get them for you.
He further testified as follows:
"On January 81, 1921, you deposit
ed $50 in currency. and two checks,
one for SIC and one for SLOTS, making
a total of sS6.75. Two checks were
drawn on the Pawnce National Bank
Do you know who sent them.
A, do not.
Q. They were sent in an envelope
without letter?
A. Yes. | think one of the EN-.
ployees brought them to me and said
here are some checks made out to
you"
O. Did they belong to you?
A. l suppose they did took il for
granted they did.
Mr.. Thompson was excused by the
committee on March l6. 1921, to get his
cancelled checks, which he promised 10
get Immediately, but up To this date he
has not presented the same to the COM
mittee.
Again-The "Pardoning Power
TENTH; We find from reports here
tofore made. and the records in the
pardon and pGirole department. and
DINER evidence had before the commit
tee, that there has grown up a system
in this state, whereby those under sem
tence for violating the laws of the
state. and desiring clemency at the
hands of the Governor, employ law
ycrs who are personally and political
ly closely associated with the pardon
ing power and pay for their purported
service. enormous fees. This, in our
judgment. is dangerous policy and
should be condemned in the most se-
we're terms, not only by the Governor
but the citizenship of this state. And
ence to securing charters from the
banking commissioner; and in our
judgment II is high time a check was
placed upon same, otherwise. only those
citizens who are closely politically as.
sociated with the granting authority.
and who are willing TO In measure
buy, these privileges which are guaran-
Too ltsl IN x.stn lao
any recognition.
Committee Cannot Verify"
ELEVENTH. Governor Robertson's
administration OF his high office has
been characterized by waste and
irrcsponsiblity SO great that II Is be.
yond the time and facilities Of this COM
mittee to verify and present the con-
crete instances In full.
Reflects on Senate Court
TWELFTH: The foregoing irregu.
larities present the question OF whether
or not the Governor should be impeach-
ed. The late action Of the Senate
Court of Impeachment In the case Of
Lieutenant Governor Trapp. holding
that his private acts, though admittedly
mVoNlng moral turpituuc ana cummit-
ted while in office. as distinguished
from his official acts, were not grounds
for impeachment, raises the question
how far the senate could go In hold
ing the foregoing acts of Governor Rob-
er,son ne private acts, and, therefore.
not cause FOR impeachment. and there
by nullify our efforts In that respect.
We do not agree with the senate court
Of impeachment ON their construction
Of the constitution.
The Oklahoma Constitution, Article 5.
section l. provides that the governor
and other elective state officers. in
GLIDING Justices OF the supreme court.
shall be liable and subject to impcuch-
ment for wilful neglect of duty. cor
rupuon In office. habltunl drunkenness,
incompctency. or any offcnse involving
tnnral tnrfitnl, ann.p.ttfnl xxsl.iin In