The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-11
ILLEGAL EXPENSE
BILL IS CHARGED
Taxpayers Sue for Funds
Spent by County to
Buy Automobiles
Sll,956.3O IS ASKED
'Ten Citizens May Force Com
missioners to Return
Money to Treasury

e,iit. the outcome OF which may
,rfact every county in the state. was
filed IN district court wednesday
against the members OF the board
~ county commissioners, person
,lly in which the state OF Oklahoma
and 4 $. Miller and others are SEEK
,ng the return of s11,956.30 TO the
,aypayers' Golfers of Tulsa county
which IL is alleged was illegally ex-
rerded by the com mission for auto
mobiles In several departments In
,be county government. Different
o. automobile firms from whom the
autos were purchased are made
rodefendants IN the suit.
The question involved in the suit,
a. was said was whether a county
hoard OF commissioners could legally
purchase automobiles and other
equipment for official use, where
necessary without such pur-
chase having been provided for In
the state statutes. Attorneys for the
state and taxpayers aver that the
commission cannot make such pur-
chase without It having been off
cIally provided for in the statuatory
Affects All Counties.
That the final decision In the case
will affect more or less severely ev-
ery county commission board in the
state was the statement of promi-
nent attorneys and county. officials
wednesday. 1t was said that many
county boards over the state have
been making such purchases where
ever they have found 1t necessary.
The suits filed Wednesday fol-
lowed a petition signed by the re-
quired 10 resident taxpayers and
presented to the commissioners the
first OF April OF this year requesting
that the board institute suit at that
time against the companies from
which they had purchased the auto
mobiles and in this way recover the
money. which the taxpayers alleged
was illegally spent. This the board
failed TO do. the petition filed
Wednesday states.
Ten Taxpayers Sign.
The ten taxpayers whose names
we're affixed TO the first petition
the petition for suit wednesday
shows were these: s. 8. Miller
James Smith. Guy Planchon. A. p
Mayfield f. C. Chamberlain. w
W. Williams, ]. C. Williams. Zen
Teel. w. Wyatt and w. NJ. Martin
Besides the purchase price OF the
several cars, Ine pIulHtlllS III lHt
suit also seek to collect a 30 per
cent penalty which the law assesses
they say, for misappropriation OF
funds by public officials.
The largest single suit brought
against a codefendant motor com
pany was against the Foster-Davis
Motor company for the sum OF ST..
725 which 1t Is alleged was paid bJ
the commission for a Buick touring
car. out of the road and bridge fund
This amount added to the so pei
cent penalty amounts to s3,460.
The second largest suit is for 81
345 against the board of commits
sioners and the Southwest Nash Mo.
tor company which with the penalty
provided by law amounts to s2.690
The same company Is made CO.
defendant in second suit for SS45
which is for a touring chassis sold
10 the commissioners.
Ryan Motor company are code
fendants in two suits for Ford cars
one Ford touring Of the value o.
1916 and the other a Ford coupe Il
the amount of s747.15. The latter
two cars were paid for out of th'
poor and insane fund. the petition
AYERS.
The Fred Shaw Motor corporation
are also defendants In a suit to re
cover 500 paid for a Gardner road
ster.