The Paden News. (Paden, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 21, Ed. 1 Friday, February 19, 1909 Page: 4 of 8
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EIGHT LflWSJRE ENAGTED
BILL DEFERRING TAX PAYMENT
FIRST TO BE SIGNED
OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE IS DOING THINGS
House and Senate Keeping Busy in
Considering Measures and Shap-
ing Up For the Balance of
Session—Other News
IMPORTANT BILLS COME NOW
Guthrie, Okla.—Eight bils passed
by the present legislature have re-
received the governor's signature.
Eight resolutions memorializing con-
gress on various subjects have al30
been signed by the governor. Three
bills are now in his hands awaiting
his signature. A total of 723 bills
have been introduced in both houses,
421 in the house, 292 in the senate.
The bills approved include two by
Williams of the senate appropriating
respectively $100,000 and $20,000 for
the maintenance of tills legislature
and its employes. Another by Wal-
lace of the house appropriates $2,000
to reimburse State Treasurer .Tim
Menefee for printing the state bonds
for the bond is. ue of $1,460,000.
Of the Ave other bills which are
now laws the first was the bill drawn
by Governor Haskell and introduced
in the house by Bryan, Harrison and
Coyne, deferring payment of January
tuxes until the third Monday in April
and providing a method of correcting
Illegal or excessive taxes. Another
is by Charles of the house, allowing
the sale of "sweet" apple cider in the
state, another by Maxey of the house
providing for one trial only for real
property cases. The two other bills
are by Sorrels of the senate, giving
miners a lien on mine property for
their wages and by Russell of the
senate, providing for a forty acre
"county demonstration farm" in each
county of the state except those in
which state agricultural schools are
maintained.
The eight resolutions signed me-
morialize congress to extend time of
entry payments in the big pasture
and Fort Sill military reservation for
three years; to sell the surface of the
segregated coal and asphalt lands of
the state; two resolutions to set aside
the order of the secretary of the in-
terior creating a timber reserve in
Pushmataha, McCurtain and Leflore
counties; to extend the reclamation
service to drainage for the benefit
of the vast bodies of land in Okla-
homa subject to inundation; to add a
portion of the Sulphur townsite to
the Piatt National park, and to En-
act a national law for the protection
of migratory game birds.
Dispensary, Code Commission, and
Municipal Election Bills Set
Guthrie, , Okla.—The senate set
three very important bills as speciai
orders for the first three days of this
week, giving them the right of way
over other legislation. Senator Bil
lups' new dispensary bill was set as a
special order for Monday; Graham's
code commission bill, which is re
garded as an emergency matter be-
cause it is desired that the members
of the commission be named by the
governor and confirmed by the sen
ate before the legislature adjourns
was set down for Tuesday; Taylor's
municipal election bill, which affects
all of the cities of the stajfe, foi
Wednesday.
DEATH BY HANGING RETAINED
Legislature Refuses to Pass Any Sub
stitute—Three Executions
Guthrie, Okla.—The decision of the
Oklahoma legislature to retain hang
ing as the_ official mode of inflicting
the death penalty in Oklahoma,
turning down propositions to substi
tute electrocution for it and to abol
ish the death penalty entirely, ag.wn
calls attention to the fact that there
have been very few hangings in Ok-
lahoma, at any rate in the western
half of the state, although it has been
the legal punishment for capital
crimes since Oklahoma territory was
organized in 1889.
But one man was ever legally
hanged in the territory of Oklahoma.
That was a negro named Miligan,
hanged in 1900 at Oklahoma City.
There were also but four lynchlngs
during the eighteen years of terri-
torial government, and for ono of
them several Oklahomans ere still
serving time in the federal prison at
Leavenworth, Kan. There have been
three legal executions and one lynch-
ing since statehood.
PERISH IN PLAYHOUSE
THEATRE AT ACAPULCA BURNS
AND LIVES ARE L08T
NUMBER DEAD PLACED AT THREE HUNDRED
Americans Among Victims—Moving
Picture Film Starts Blaze and
Disastrous Conflagration Fol-
lows—Other News
Plan to Reduce Membership
Guthrie, Okla.—A change in the
size of the membership of the two
houses of the legislature is contem-
plated by a joint resolution intro-
duced by Senator L. K. Taylor, pro-
posing an amendment to the consti-
tution of the state. This amendment
provides that the senate shall con-
sist of not more than forty members
and the house of not more than 100.
The house at the present time con-
sists of 109 members and the senate
of forty-four. The amendment also
provides that no county shall take
part in the election of more than
two senators or six representatives.
Under the present provision four rep-
resentatives is the maximum for any
county.
Senator Taylor believes that both
houses are too large at the present
time and that there should be only
eighteen or twenty in the senate, with
possibly sixty or seventy-five In the
house.
Senator's Death Incentive for Bill
Guthrie, Okla.—Following the death
of Senator George O. Johnson of Ft.
Cobb, from asphyxiation by natural
gas, Senator Clarence Davis of Sa-
pulpa introduced a bill to reguhjte the
use of natura lgas, which prohibits
the use of gas stoves without-stove
pipes and the use of rubber hose or
leap pipe to make connection with
such stoves.
The first section of the bill makes
it unlawful for any plumber or gas
fitter to connect up with pipes for
natural gas any stove, furnace or
grate until it is provided with a suit-
able flue, pipe or chimney to carry off
the fumes from burning gas, or any
gas escaping into the stove, to the
outside of the building. And equally
stringent prohibition is laid in the
following section against any person
using or allowing to be maintained on
his premises any stove not so equip-
ped. The third section deals with the
rubber or lead pipe connections.
A fine o£ $10 to $500 is provided for
violation of any of the sections, with
the further proviso that the defend-
ant may be held liable in clrll action
State to Have F.escue Home
Guthrie, Okla.—The Holmes Home
and Hospital at Guthrie is to be made
a State Rescue Home under the terms
of a bill introduced by Senator Cun-
ningham. The state is to pay the
corporation which now controls the
home a rental of $1 per year for the
property which it now occupies in
this city.
The home is to be under the con-
trol cf three trustees appointed 'jy
the governor, to receive $4 per day
and expenses for the time devoted to
the home, and a superintendent at
$1,200 per annum. The superintend
ent is authorized to receive into the
home all white women and girls who
are dependent or destitute or com-
mitted by a court of record. Provi-
sion is to be made for the adoption
of infant children of inmates by fam
ilies throughout the state when pos-
sible. If this can not be done they
are to be transferred to the state or-
phan home.
An appropriation of $18,000 is made
including $5,000 for support of 150
inmates, $5*000 for furniture, hospital
supplies and sundries, and $8,000 l'or
salaries and traveling expenses.
Repeals Plan for Court Houses
Guthrie, Okla.—The senate passed
on third reading a bill by Memmin-
ger, repealing tjie present law for the,
building of court houses on the ren-
tal plan, after adding a proviso that
would exempt ttie court houses al-
ready built" or contracted for under
that plan. The law was recently de-
clared unconstitutional by the su-
preme court, but the senate desired
to make assurance doubly sure.
Other bills passed finally were by
Cope repealing ,the law for the ap-
pointment of county auditors by coun-
ty commissioners, and two bills by
Brownlee legalizing bond elections
at Kingfisher and Geary, which were
by vote of the senate placed on third
reading as they came from commit-
tees, without being referred to the
committee of the whole.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES
One big piece of work which the
legislature did not set out to do at
the start, but which promises to be
one of its most important acts la the
passage of some measure affecting
the capitol location. This .metosure
now seems almost certain to be the
CMnton Graham hill which will come
up in the senate the latter part of
this week. This provides for a tract
of land near some city to be selected
by a commission chosen by the su-
preme court for a capitol site. Cities
which are, candidates for the honor of
the capitol pi ay enter the race by put-
ting up sufficient .funds to defray the
cost of the popular election and the
final decision of the site will then
be submitted to the popular vote. The
Campbell Russell "New Jerusalem"
bill, though favorably reported from
committee, does not appear to have
much chance.
The game law, pass©,! by the sen-
ate, Js saM to be doomed In the hou se,
principally on account of the gun tax
erovisloo wfaloh It contain*.
Mexico City.—Between 250 and 300
people were burned to death and a
large number injured in a fire which
stroyed the Flores theater in the
city of Acapulco. The news of the
disaster reached the capital late, tel-
egraphic communication with Acapul-
co being destroyed owing to the fact
that the telegraph office adjoining the
theater was destroyed, all wires be-
ing put out of commission.
The Flores theater was a wooden
structure and over 1,000 people were
crowded into it to witness a special
performance given in Conor of Gov-
ernor Damon Flores, of the state of
Guerreria, who was visiting the port
at the time. One of the numbers of
the program consisted of a series of
moving pictures. While the operator
was exhibiting these a film caught
fire and a blaze was quickly commu-
nicated to some bunting which had
been used for decoration purposes. In
an incredibly short time the flames
spread to all parts of the structure.
There were but three narrow exits
and the panic stricken audience dash-
ed to these, many falling and being
crushed to death, thus choking the
way to escape with bodies.
The screams of those imprisoned
were terrifying and heart rending.
Owing to the rapidity with which the
fire spread and to its intense heat, it
was impossible to attempt rescue
work and those imprisoned were lit-
erally roasted alive as the fire burn-
ed with little smoke and few were
suffocated.
Many pitiful scenes of grief are
being enacted on the streets of the
little west coast port. Men, women
and children are wandering from
place to place hunting for relatives
or friends. Many of the dead are
from the first families of the state,
the affair at the theater being a social
event of considerable notice and callt
lug out the wealthiest and oldest
families for miles around.
In some instances entire families
were wiped out of existence. The
municipal authorities have caused
large trenches to be dug and in these
the remains of the dead were laid. Ac-
cording to messages received from
there any recognition of the dead was
an impossibility owing to the fact
that the bodies were burned in most
cases to a crisp, so hot was the fire.
Telegrams sent to the American
consul at Acapulco by the Associat-
ed Press asking for the name^ of
the American dead have as yet not
been replied to.
OKLAHOMANS DO HONOR
Great Banquet Held at Oklahoma City
—Governor Speaks
Oklahoma City, Okla., Feb. 12.-
With Governor Haskell and other
leading officials of the state present
to pay their tributes to the memory
of the "First American," the celebra-
tion of the one hundredth anniversary
of the birth of Abraham Lincoln in
Oklahoma City formed a fitting center
to the observances held generally
throughout the state.
The climax of the day's program
was the great banquet at the Audi
torium in the evening attended by
Governor C. N. Haskell and other 100
members of the legislature and other
state officers. The governor's ad-
dress on "The Lesson of Lincoln's
Life" was a serious, powerful, orator-
ical effort well worthy of memorial-
izing the martyred president.
Governor Haskell's speech on "The
Lessons of the Life of Abraham Lin-
coln" was the leading feature of the
banquet and was listened to with rapt
attention by the audience, which fre-
quently interrupted the speaker with
its applause.
Yield to Roosevelt
Sacramento, Calif.—Yielding to the
pressure brought to bear by President
Roosevelt and Governor Gillett, the
California assembly retired from its
previous position on the anti-Japanese
matters, reconsidering the former
vote on the segregation of Japanese
students in the public schools and
finally rejecting the measure by a
vote of 41 to 37.
The fight for the suppression of the
bill was won only after many hours
of heated debate on the floor. The
struggle started at 10:30 o'clock in
the morning on the presentation of
a resolution by Assemblyman J. P.
Transue, of Los Angeles, affirming
the right of the state to govern its
schools, but withdrawing the Japa^-
nese segregation measure because of
the president's objection to it, and
lasted until 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
when Grove L. Johnson's motion fur-
ther to reconsider was defeated on a
tie vote, 38 to 38.
The school bill is still to be consid-
ered in the senate, having been pre-
sented there by Senator A. Caminetti,
but there is little chance that the
measure wil be approved when it is
brought up.
TD
ROOSEVELT LAYS CORNER STONE
IN CENTENNIAL CEREMONY
PRICELESS TREASURES ARE CACHED IN BO)
Constitution of the United States ana
Other Documents Placet" in the
Foundation—Celebrations at
at Other Points
Acapulco on the west coast of the
state of Guerreri, is one of the three
important ports on the Pacific coast of
Mexicofl Nearly all of the steam-
er lines make it a port of call and the
harbor is accounted the best in Mex-
ico.
Entire Town Destroyed
Greenville, Miss.—Reports receiv-
ed here from Cedar Bluff, Miss., state
that the town was practically de-
stroyed by a storm late Monday after-
noon. Five houses were completely
blown away and timber fell in all di-
rections. The storm came from the
northeast, was accompanied by a
very heavy hail and mowed a swath
about 200 yards wide. Wires are all
down and the tracks are blocked with
debris, i
Huge Fine is Paid
Jefferson City, Mo.—Henry S.
Priest, of St. Louis, and H. Clay
Pierce, chairman of the board of the
Waters-Pierce Oil company, filed in
the supreme court of Missouri their
acceptance of the terms imposed upon
the company by the recent ouster or-
4er of the court. The $50,000 fine
was paid.
For Separate Sts.tehood
WaBhington.—The long struggle
of Arizona and New Mexico for state-
hoed was rewardod Monday Insofar as
the house of representatives is con-
cerned, when that body, under sus-
pension of the rules, unanimously
passed the bill granting separate
statehood to Arizona and New Mexlc^
Prohibition Is Killed
Columbia, S. C.—After a sensation-
al filibuster lasting several days, It
appears that prohibition has been
killed in this state. The senate has a
majority of four for local option and
the boute U equally as close.
Montana Against Japs
Helena, Mont.—That the proposed
anti-Japanese legislation would be fa-
vorably acted upon by the lower
branch of the state assembly was th<S
prediction made by several members
of that body. The memorial to con-
gress it is now asserted, will be mod-
ified in accordance with the recom-
mendation of the committee on labor
to which it has been referred. -
Fallieres to Honor Artists
Paris.—President Falieres shows
great interest in the salon for paint-
ings and sculpture by women which
he will open this week. The Duchess
d'Uses is at the head of this society.
Feminine artists have surpassed
themselves this year, it is said, con-
tributing works which would honor
the two older salons.
Medford Adopts Curfew
Medford, Okla.—Now that the cur-
few is in effect the boy3 under 18
years of age are careful to get home
before 9 O'clock. The city dads de-
dare there wil be no violations tol-
erated and the first one to suffer ar-
rest will be held up as example of
what is to he done with them.
Cold in Texas
Dalas, Tex.—Snow fell in many
parts of Texas and the coldest weath-
er of the winter prevailed. The mer-
cury in some places registered zero.
Miners Have Night School
Wilburton, Okla.—The state school
of mines has opened night sessions
for miners who have to work during
the day and are unable to attend a
day school. A number of men who
are desirous of availing themselves
of the opportunity, are moving to
Wilburton with their families and
enroling. The tuition is free.
Charge Liquor Violation
Muskogee, Okla.—Because he vio-
lated the liquor law, is the reason
given by Judge C. W. Raymond's
agent for asking an order of court
to force Paul Rial, proprietor of a
drug store, occupying a building own-
ed by Judge Raymond, to vacate. The
ouster notice was served on Rial.
Earthquake Sufferers at Vatican
Rome.—A number of survivors of
the earthquake suffering from wounds
were received at the Vatican hospital
hospital. They were brought from
Messina and Regglo by the Spanish
Bteamboat Catalonia.
Hodgenville, Ky., Feb. 12.—Hence-
forth the birthplace of Abraham Lin
coin is to be marked by a pile ol
stone. The emancipator of a race,
and more than that, the liberator ol
the thought of a nation, builded his
own monument in the heart of the
world, and appropriately the physical
structure which has now found a be
ginning at the place where Lincoln
first saw the light, takes the simple
name of a memorial. It is to be a
simple but classic building of gran
ite, and it is hoped that it may be
completed some time next fall when
the then president, Taft, will officiate
in dedicating it as the present presi
dent, Theodore Roosevelt, today offi
elated in laying its foundation stone
The corner stone laying took place
after appropriate forensic ceremonies
which were participated in by the
president of the United States, Gov
ernor Augustus E. Wilson of Ken
tucky, Former Governor Joseph W.
Folk, of Missouri, president of the Lin
coin Farm association; the Hon. Luke
E. Wright, secretary of war, who
spoke as an ex-Confederate soldier;
the Hon. James Grant Wilson of New
York, who represented the Union sol-
diers, and I. T. Montgomery, of Mis-
sissippi, a negro and an ex-slave.
THREE NATIONS PRAISE MARTYR
Ambassadors of England and France
Speakers With Bryan
Springfield, 111.—Amid a scene ol
unrivalled brilliancy at the state ar-
mory, where thousands of electric
lights shed their dazzling illumination
upon a most artistic array of national
colors, three nations paid their tribute
to the emancipator and to each other.
F.r e n c h Ambassador Juzzerand
borught the message from France.
British Ambassador Bryce the eulo-
gy of England, while William J. Bryan
of Nebraska, and United States Sen-
ator J. P. Dolliver of Iowa, laid Amer
ica's wreath of respect at the feet ol
Lincoln.
This was a fitting climax for the
remarkable all day celebration which
took the distinguished guests men
tioned above and two score others,
through the old Lincoln home, past
the old court house where Lincoln
practiced law; by the building where
his office was located, to the old
church where Lincoln worshipped and
where his name yet appears upon the
pew he occupied, and to the burial
place of the martyred president.
An impressive feature of the cele-
bration was the scene at the Lincoln
tomb when Robert T. Lincoln, son ol
the martyred president, stood beside
the sarcophagus in which the remains
of hi3 great father rest and stood i
silence with many other distinguish
ed guests around him. At the base oi
the monument old soldiers who had
responded to Lincolns' call to arms
stood with fixed bayonets.
Haskell Hearing March 1
Muskogee, Okla.—Governor Has-
kell's preliminary hearing on the In-
dictment charging him with conspir-
acy to defraud the government will
take place Monday morning, March 1,
at Vinita.
Sleuths to Serve State
Guthrie, Okla.—After a lively dis-
cussion the senate set its seal of ap-
proval upon Attorney General West's
use of secret service methods of ob-
taining information in his suits
against the pipe line companies, by
voting down a motion to strike from
the deficiecy appropriation bill an
item of $2,000 "for gathering evid-
ence in various cases."
Cattle Dying In Texas
San Antonio, Texas.—A protracted
drouth which has held Llano county
in Its grasp since early last fall has
reduced stockmen to the extremity
of chopping leaf laden branches
from trees to provide food for their
starving cattle. The water is vary
scarce and cattle are perishing.
F«l Through Floor Into Fire
Milwaukee.—Two companies et
firemen who were fighting lire in the
plant of the Johns Manvllle company,
manufacturers of steam pipe, tell into
the lower floor when the roof collaps-
ed. Five of them are dead and
number of other* are still missing.
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Jones, E. F. The Paden News. (Paden, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 21, Ed. 1 Friday, February 19, 1909, newspaper, February 19, 1909; Paden, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc139680/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.