The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-04-05
THE EIGHTH LEaIsLaTURE.

the EIGHTH LEaIsIhTURE.
The eighth legislature adjourned amid scenes
that shed no iuster those participating In
them and earn credit In particular for either
partisan organization involved II Is almost
permissible 10 say that 1t broke up In row.
Yet II 10 n very short sighted and superficial
view to say that nothing has been accomplished
by the long session.
II Ia decidedly profitable. We think. to review
the session. tho unusual circumstance attend
ing II. the necessities OF tho state and the ox-
pcctation OF the people when they voted ~ they
did last November
For fourteen years Oklahoma government has
been In the hands Of "a political cnbaL We do
not like to refer to II even az the democratic
marty; that would be unfair. Because. through
the criminal Vaccinations OF an elective system
designed for crook kedness, only faction OF the
democratic party WAS permitted Ia participate
in tho government while the whole party was
forced 20 bear the responsibility.
Tho consequence of this sort OF government
was as natural the flow OF water down hilI.
Tho machinery having been designed for grah
and profligacy In the public service, those vices
naturally became the most outstanding charao-
teris,ic OF the government which oklahoma has
experienced.
Laws multiplied ana tho cost OF government
constantly mounted Institutions were created
at the public expense that had no substantial or
proper function TO perform, nor dd they make
pretense Of performing any such function Laws
we're enacted for purposes IA foreign TO inc
proper function OF government as they were
to the peoples bost interests and for no other
purpose than to create offices for favoritos or
give to some profession or interest an advan-
tage in competition with other individuals or
Interests.
Government became not only impossibly bur
densome, from the standpoint or taxation. but
also hateful because OF It's constant encroaoh-
ments upon the individual privileges or the
citizenship. Legislative sessions degenerated
into n grab-bag The primary purpose was
TO deplete tho treasury OF ready cash ana TO
mortgage II for tho ensuing two years And In
spite OF this prorligacy with appropriations
each legislative session found Itself facing ehor-
nous deficits. SO that the appropriations neces-
sary 10 take care Of debts already incurred by
the various departments and state institutions
almost cquaied the general appropriations de-
signed to supply such departments and institu-
tions with funds for the ensuing two years
And all the while the state auHllnisra'ioh
was seeking the creation OF now departments,
boards, commissions or institutions az means
for reaching the treasury and providing political
usufruct for tho spoilers, which We have re-
peatedly referred to as the pork barrel brit
gade"--a term extensively vulgar 1t IL true but
metlculously expressive and applicable
/. was an indignant and dinpproving public
"a public at last aroused to the necessity of a
tad of
house OF the legislature into the hands OF the
opposition party last November. And for what
PURPOSE In logic and reason what could have
been the intention OF a legislative district that
reversed ,lself politically and supplaned n
democratic member with a republican member
A fair answer to these questions is necessary at
this point II a sound understanding is to be had
OF what follows.
Beyond the peradventure OF n doubt the peo-
pie wanted to bring about change in govern
mental practices and expected that the light OF
publicity would be turned in on the workings Of
the various state departments. for the first time
since those departments were established.
And without discussing the various crude gcs-
lures of the lower house or the legislature,
grotesaue at times Il is true. and in some in
dlvidual instances absolutely iudetcnsibe. that
is precisely what the lower house did do. II
investigated various departments OF state. and
Il uncovered improper practices, deplorablc
waste, indefens.ble conditions and in some in.
stances positive crimnalIty-this last in abound
ing measure in the highest offices in the state
It forced the second highest officer OF tn,
state government 20 plead jurisdiction rather
than face the charges brought against him OF
their merits. Instead OF selling the opportuuit,
to establish his innocence, he pleaded technical
ties In order to escape being forced to answe
Al all And the highest officer OF the state, tn
ttular leader OF the democratic party and tn
leader in fact OF the sta,ehouse machine, wa