The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-09
ny c, w. II. HINDs

: OKLAHOMA CITY, March s.
The legislature opened the week in
a halo Of madness II that term and
halos can be sort OF hitchcd up for
useful purposes. The house reached
the peak point OF interest Monday
when the gavel sounded and the
y &C cial investigating committee
turned in It's charges against Lieu
tenant Governor NJ. h. Trapp, ac-
companied by the evidence that It is
10 be offered for purposes Of socur-
ing an indictment
Scarcely had Chairman Matthews
asked that the charges be printed
for the representative to read be
fore voting, until came the report
from the same committee on two
other state departments, that per
tanning to the highways and to the
state treasurer.
The charges against tho highway
department are different from those
concerning the state treasurer and
the lieutenant governor, for the rca-
son that its head is appointive and
no Impeachment can be attempted,
removal by the governor being
asked as to Highway Commissioner
Henry Wood, Bill Witcher. who had
charge Of the truck Industry j.
y. Thompson, chief clerk and John
with excessive charges In relation to
fixing" or repairing the trucks fur
nishcd by the government, the state
examiner and inspectors report
showing that $4,000 had been paid
for repairs and oils and gasoline for
the vehicles
4 severe Report.
In truth the report on the high
way department * so severe that IL
compcls pity. The department has
been the center OF grilling fire
against the state administration for
the past year, and page after page
Of typewriter copy IS embraced in
the charges made by the invcstigat-
ing com mittce, and among them are
Included the report on the various
sums which were reported to the
auditor as finished projects, but
which examination disclosed IN
many instances had not even been
commenced,
The World has previously carried
this story, showing that the highway
department heads explained this was
done for the purpose OF drawing
money from the treasury prior TO
the lapsing Of .thc appropriations,
such lapses being equivalent to
stopping the work IL a lapscd fund
turns the money ai'propriatcd back
into the general revenue fund and
only another legislative appropri-
alton can withdraw it.
These project warrants are set
forth in the charges made by the
investigators, as well as n rather ex-
haustive report on the truck work
and how that fund was handled out
side of the usual channels, in fact
on personal checks issued by the
highway missioner. although the
governor also had to sign the checks.
Lcccraft Was "A surprise.
Perhaps the report on the conduct
of State Treasurer Lcecraft occas-
ioned the most surprise, although
for the past several days the COM
mittee had that department ION the
carpet
The Leecraft charges are based
on the admitted fact that just be-
fore the close OF the election cam
paign last fall, the state treasurer
allowed Eugene, Kerr, democratic
campaign manager. to send out tele-
grams signed by Leecraft to banks
to allow him to draw on those in
stitutions for campaign funds. lie
admits that such kilograms were
signed and that he had knowledge
Of their being sent, although he dld
not know to whom all OF them were
sent, but many replied to him in
person.
The charges on which articles OF
indictment will be asked against the
state treasurer hinge on construc-
ton OF the law. The kilograms were
sent In the form OF a demand, which
II proven. would constitute malfeas-
anCe in office and subject the state
treasurer to removal from Office un-
der parchment.
Mr.. Leccraft's defense * that 1t
has become a custom in oklahoma
TO raise campaign funds in that
manner, and that while he himself
does not approve OF the method, he
does not consider it unlawful.
Additional charges, according TO
the committee, may be filed against
Lieutenant Governor Trapp, on the
ground of him having purchased
Creek county bonds. tradec them
for state funding bonds, and then
cashed the funding bonds.
Republicans Did II.
While the house was nearing the
sensational charges against state Of
! fIcials the democratic senate Jugger-
naut was making way. and five re-
publican senators Joined in passing
the general departmental appropri-
alton bill No. l55.
Lillard, Fleming and wallace