Hooker Advance (Hooker, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 50, Ed. 1 Friday, January 22, 1909 Page: 2 of 10
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THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT
ON THE STATE'S CONDI-
TION AND NEEDS
PLAGES AGRICULTURE HEAD OF INDUSTRIES
Enters Into Detailed Showing on the
Questions of Railroads, Taxation,
Prohibition and Guaranty of
Bank Deposits
Guthrie, Okia., Jan. 6.—The governor's
mssniiK1', delivered to the iugliilaluru Is us
follows;
TO THE LEGISLATURE:
Pursuant to Suction nine, Article six,
Of the Constitution, 1 have the honor to
Submit the following report, communist
*nd recommendation*.
Our State of oklahoma has completed
Its first year under Hlate government, and
we have reasons to express our gratified
tlon of Its progress, and the fact that lis
fccaslonai misfortunes aro far outweighed
ley Its general prosperity.
The material prosperity of the state can
best be set forth In actual numbers tak-
en from the official reports of the proper
departments.
Agriculture
Vastly in the lead of all other Industries
is found our farm products. The produc-
tion of (he state from the farm and Its
appertlnent products at the market value
foot up tho magnificent sum of two hun-
dred Hiid one million, four hundred and
Sixteen thousand, eight hundred end six
dollars, being an Increase of thirteen mil-
lion, eighty-threw thousand, two hun-
dred and one dollars over the previous
year.
Mineral Productions
The value of tho year's output of coal
for 1908 Is six million, one hundred and
thirty thousand, eight hundred and sev-
•nty-two dollars.
Lead and tine: Two million, two hun-
dred and eighty-four thousand, and
eighty-four dollars.
Oil: Twenty million, six hundred and
•lghty-tlght thousand, seven hundred
and fifty-six dollars.
Total; Market value of minerals, twen-
ty-nine million, one hundred and three
thousand, seven hundred and twelve dol-
lars.
This does not include the value upon
the natural gas production of tho state,
which has been equal to one hundred and
forty billion cubic feet, and amounts to
•even and three-quarter million tons of
coal. Market value cannot he placed
Upon tills valuable heat product because
Its use Is only limited, but it Is well
nown that the above production, mam-
moth as It may be, Is capable of vast
expansion ay need for cheap fuel in-
creases. Tho very fact that this gas
tin be had In many localities at three
Cents per thousand cubic feet or even
less affords the most attractive Induce-
ment for manufacturing concerns to lo-
cate within our state. Indeed, added to
the ntraotivo feature of an unlimited
quantity of naturul gas fuel at nominal
post is the further fact that In various
lines of manufacturing, the raw material,
imlneral, timber and agricultural, pro-
duced within our state, to meet the needs
*f great variety and unlimited quantity;
ina also the furthor fact that the four
freat southwestern states, Oklahoma
exas, Louisiana and Arkansas, while
they have a population of one-tenth of
the entlro union, yet the era of manu-
facture has Just begun, and cheap fuel,
raw material and home markets are com-
bined to make Oklahoma an attractive
fleld for development In the manufactur-
ing line.
The policy of our government from the
beginning has been to retain our natural
gas for consumption within tho state.
Three distinct efforts during tho year
have been made to create an Interstate
fas pipe line to convey tho Oklahoma
fas to outside points In other states, We
pave successfully defeated these severnl
efforts, and with tho case now pending
brought by the County Attorney of Osage
County, at whoso request tho state Is
rendering assistance, and In which case
the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Co.,
t New Jersey corporation which had
filanned to pipe gas from Oklahoma to St.
AJuls and other points, Is the defendant,
we firmly believe that this case will set-
tle the question and for years to come
will end tho agitated question of trans-
porting Oklahoma gas to distant points.
As ji result of that question being set-
tled—that Oklahoma gas cannot ho taken
to foreign factories, wo believe that the
factories will come to the gas fields.
We confidently anticipate as a result
M this cheap fuel being reserved for
Iiome consumption that millions of dol-
srs of taxable and profit producing In-
dustries will be added to the wealth of
Oklahoma.
A variety of mineral products of less
present value are attracting the atten-
tion and capital of our people and some
Substantial progress has been made in
mlnlea marketing tho same.
, Manufacturing and Commerce
For the want of statistics of previous
years. It has been Impossible to make
comparison, but the reports of our Com-
missioner of Labor shows live hundred
and ninety-one manufacturing and Indus-
trial concerns representing thirty-seven
different Industries within the state, and
is conservatively estimated as being an
Increase of thirty per cent over the
previous year.
Merchandise, Wholesale and Retail
Snow a healthy and prosperous condi-
tion In nearly every locality, and the
most conservative estimates of commer-
cial bodies would placo the Increase In
volume at more than thirty-three per
cent.
Banking
1 Tho Individual deposits In the banks of
Oklahoma show a very gratifying im-
provement during the ra.-it year.
December third, nineteen hundred and
■even, individual deposits In national
banks wore thirty-eight million, three
hundred and sixteen thousand, seven
hundred and twenty-nine dollars and
twenty-one cents.
November twenty-seventh nineteen hun-
dred and eight, Individual deposits in
national banks, thirty-six million, two
hundred and eighty thousand, three hun-
dred and forty-six dollars and twenty-
throe cents.
Decrease In deposits during this year,
two million, thirty-eight thousand three
hundred and eighty-two dollars and nine-
ty eight cents.
In state banks. November twenty-sev-
nineteen hundred and seven, individual
deportts, seventeen million, two hundred
ail fifteen thousand, five hundred and
thlrt>-flve dollars and forty-four cents.
In state banks, ovember twenty-sev-
enth. nineteen hundred and eight, Indi-
vidual deposits, twenty-nine million, four
hundred and forty-eight thousand, nine
hundred and seventy dollars and nlnety-
ilx cents.
Increase In deposits this year, •welve
Snlliion, two hundred and thirty-three
thousand, four hundred and thirty-five
dollars and fifty-two cents.
Thus it will be seen that the net ln-
cr-iasM In rational and state banks com-
bined (luring the year has been ten mil-
lion. one hundred and ninety-five thous-
and and fifty-two dollars and llft.v-four
t« nts. being equivalent to a little more
than twenty per cent Increase in the
ni • i it of individual deposits In all tho
hank* of the state. < 11 Is fair to say
Ihi' ah.-.ut thirty national banks reorgnn-
Is-"1! ns sli'.te 1 finks during the ve:ir,
(UbsUir.iia.iy a.-count* for nearly ail tae
two million dollars of decrease in na-
tional banks, so that the national banks
ail:: exl«t:'ii; have substantially held
their own during ihc year. While the state
bank* without tho addition of these new
acquisitions from tho national hunks
allow n net gain of substantially ten and
afie-quartrr mi'llon dollars deposits, equal
to sixty per cent gain In deposits during
the last year.)
\Ve m gh. also add that the state
)-at>ks are in excellent condition and un
#er thorough inspection and regulation of
the Stat# Hanking Department, and • hat
Oklahoma has the remarkable record ,'or
the year just closed out of a total of over
five hundred state banks, there has not
been n single bank failure during the
year, and only one small bank closed and
Ciu; for gross violation of the state bank-
ing law—the violation consisting of
managing officers borrowing the funds de-
posited in tho bank and upon failure to
comply with the Dank Commissioner's
order to replace the borrowed money, tho
bank was closed, the depositors paijd
within forty-eight hours, and within less
than three months, the department had
liquidated tills bank to the point where
ttio draft on tho state guarantee fund had
been entirely replaced, and assets re-
maining, equivalent to about fifty-five per
cent for the stockholders.
Wo congratulate tho people of our
state on the success of Its banking law
and commend the banking department of
the state upon Its vigilant and efficient
discharge or management of that de-
partment, and the bank officers upon the
assistance they have rendered the depart-
ment In making the hanking business
safe and generally satisfactory to the
people.
It U also fair to tho national banks of
our stale to say that we have every rea-
son tii believe they aro In a safe and pros-
perous condition.
Tho bank guarantee fund has lost
nothing during the year, und the cost
of administration has been less than the
Interest earnings of the guarantee fund,
and while Oklahoma Is tlie pioneer in a
guarantee luw In recent years, we con-
gratulate our people on the stable condi-
tion produced In banking circles, the con-
fidence and approval of the people, not
only within our state hut in two-thirds
of the other states of the union, whose
people iiavo added to tho bank deposits
of the Oklnhoma state banks.
Railroads
One of the Important featured In the
development and commerce of the state
Is our moans of transportation. Wo have
now fiftv-six hundred and ninety-five
miles of railroads operating within the
state owned and operated by a total of
twelve different companies, including the
six large railway systems Of tho south-
west. These twelve corporations operate
their various lines extending Into a total
of thirteen states (Including oklahoma),
und two territories.
During the last fiscal year these several
railroad companies have constructed a
total of one hundred and thirty-six miles
of new road in Oklahoma, and a total of
only one hundred and thirty-nine miles
of new railroads In all of tho other twelve
statcB and territories. It Is true the
amount of railroad construction in Okla-
homa during the y'ear is much less than
it: former years, yet as Oklahoma alone
has had as much new railroads built
within tho year as all of the other twelve
stales and two territories combined, we
aro bound to feci that Oklahoma has done
well in the presence of existing condi-
tions. This small amount of new con-
struction Is practically due to the fact
that after ten years of reckless expan-
sion and frenzied finance In the United
States, the depression came in the fall
of nineteen hundred and seven so that
when statehood began in Oklahoma the
country at large was suffering from a
business depression that almost com-
pletely suspended development and even
regular commerce and manufacturing
throughout the entire United States, and
In the preseneo of this continued depres-
sion throughout tho entire year, I believe
Oklahoma can fairly bo congratulated
upon the fact that its mileage of actual
constructed railroad Is substantially equal
to what these twelve companies have
done In the other twelve states and two
territories.
Oklahoma is criticised by the intense
partisan, as well as by those intensely
greedy, of having legislative nnd consti-
tutional provisions claimed to be destruc-
tive to business enterprises, but since
the great financial centers of the East
have not during tho one year of statehood
Just passed financed any amount of rail-
road construction in any state equal to
that In our own state, and In nearly ev-
ery state even much less or none at all,
wo do not ooncede that the laws of the
State of Oklahoma have paralyzed the.
energies of the great financial centers of
the East.
One Illustration taken from the report
of the Gulf. Colorado A Santa Fe rail-
road may be Interesting to those who
want the truth.
This company has ono hundred miles
of railroad operating in Oklahoma, the
remainder of this system being in the
state of Texas.
Gross earnings apportlonel to Okla-
homa's ono hundred miles, one million,
three hundred nnd thirty-five thousand,
three hundred and eighty-one dollars and
thirteen cents.
Operating expenses: Six hundred and
elgiity-three thousand, six hundred and
eighty-six dollars and seventy-six cents.
Taxes: Fifty-one thousand, eight hun-
dred und twtenty-five dollars and twenty
cents.
Rents for equipment and other prop-
erty: Fifty-seven thousand, one hundred
and nineteen dollars nnd twenty-six
cents.
Interest on funded debt: ninety-four
thousand, ono hundred and eighty-eight
dollars and ninety-four cents.
Net profit: Four hundred nnd forty-
eight thousand, five hundred and sixty
dollars and nlnety-s'oven cents.
iienco it will be seen that after the
Interest on the funded debt, presumed
to represent substantially the cost of the
road, hus been deducted, there was stiM
a net profit of four thousund four hundred
nnd eighty-five dollars per inllo to give
to the stock nnd the road has an actual
net profit on whatever money, if any, was
Invested In that stock.
This one Illustration taken from tho
official report made by tho railroad com-
pany Itself, and while It is no doubt
somewhat above the average In the en-
tire state, It certainly refutes tho charge
that Oklahoma railroads aro oppressed
by our laws so as to deprive them of
a fair profit on tho cost of construction.
I would say that upon this same rail-
road for the four months that have elaps-
ed slnccn the above annual report was
made tills report shows an increase In
Its net earnings for this said four months
over the same four months of the pre-
ceding year, of thirty-nine thousand, two
hundred and sixty-three dollars and
twenty cents, on thU one hundred miles
of raiirond within the State of Oklahoma.
We also note from the records in the
office of our State Corporation Commis-
sion report made by the officials of the
nock Island system, of Increase In pas-
senger revenue for the four months end-
ing' October 31, 190$, eighty-five thous-
and, eight hundred and forty-nine dol-
lars and fifty-three cents as compared
with the dame four montlis of last year,
and it Is well known that that period of
the year nineteen hundred and seven
was recognised In railroad circles as be-
ing tho banner year for railroad earnings
In the history of the system. Mention Is
made of the Rock Island system because
of the fact that It traverses many of
the slates where tha two-cent passenger
fare became effective about tha same
time hs tho two-cent fare was made
effective In Oklahoma.
We know that Oklahoma needs a large
pmount of additional railroad mileage and
therefore It must offer under Its laws a
fair opportunity for Investment nnd aa
opportunity to earn a fair profit for the
service It renders tho public, and we sub-
mit that the above statement completely
refutes the charge that Oklahoma's con-
stitutional and legislative provisions are
either oppressive or destructive to rail-
road enterprises, nnd that it is fair to
presume that whenever there is money
available for new construction anywhere
in the United States, Oklahoma offers
sufficient inducement to attract the nec-
essary capital for legitimate enterprises
We also call attention to he fact that
out of the entire railroad mileage in the
State of Oklahoma during this year of
general financial depression, that the
Oklahoma Central Railroad of one hun-
dred and twenty-eight miles, is tho only
railroad property that hus been placed
under a receivership, and that the insol-
vency of that company was not In any
way due or traceable to the laws of our
state, but that long prior to statehood
that eompmy had become utterly In-
solvent. .lue to the fact that its cost of
i onsruetlori had never been provided, anc
that Ms construction accounts maturing
were the solo and only reason for re-
eelvership. That under the provisions of
our constitution, the State Corporatio
Commission has exempted the Oklahom
Central Railroad from the provision r
the two-cent tare. Tills road traverse
only, has gone into the hands of the In-
solvency court or Its rocelver within the
entire first year of statehood, and that
ono single exception is the Oklahoma
Central Railroad, the Insolvency of which
is explained above.
Two-Cent Fare
The two-cent railroad fare in Okla-
homa has by tho Corporation Commission
been suspended as to one-ninth of the
operating mileage of the state, and upon
tho other eight-ninths, tho limit of pas-
senger faro Is two cents per mile. Ex-
perience of one year shows us that while
tho people of tho State of Oklahoma
have saved during tho year from this
source alone a greater amount, of money
than Is required for state taxes to con-
duct the sta e government, yet the rail-
roads have increased in their passenger
revenue.
Wo can briefly jum this matter up In n
few words, Oklahoma laws do not permit
class favoritism, Evory citizen of our
state who travels, puys tho name rate
and as that rate is now two cents Instead
of tho former rate of three cents per
mile, the railroads have every passenger
paying the same ratu and a larger num-
ber of people travel, and as a result the
railroads tr«ut all passengers alike and
receive a greater revenuo themselves.
Population
As compared with tho Federal census
taken in the month of July, nineteen
hundred and seven, wo find that the
state census taken under the direction of
the Btute Hoard of Agriculture as of March
first, nineteen hundred and eight, shows
that during that seven mouths an In-
crease of thirty-one thousand and eighty-
four In the population of the state. As
this does not Include tho spring and
early summer when our immigration is
heaviest. I believe It is fair to estimate
that during tho year our population has
Increased not less than seventy-five thous-
und, bringing tho total population of the
state up to fourteen hundred and ninety
thousand. This is certaitfly a gratifying
growth.
Education
The state of Oklahoma has Its univer-
sity at Norman, Its three Normal schools
at Alva, Weatherford arid Edmond, its
University Preparatory school at Tonka-
wa, Its main A. & M, College at Still-
water, and Its Colored Agricultural and
Normal school at Langston. These In-
stitutions were In existence in Oklahoma
Territory prior to statehood. During the
year there has been added the District
A. & M. eollego at Tishomingo.
The total enrollment In attendance at
all the above schools tho last year was
four thousand six hundred and eighty-
one. This year the total enrollment Is
five thousand seven hundred and sixty-
five, an increase of eleven hundred and
eighty-four student's In these Institu-
tions, each and every ono showing an
increase over the previous year's enroll-
ment, and while tho various Boards of
Regents In charge of these state educa-
tional Institutions have installed many
new members of the faculty, it is evident
from the increased enrollment and par-
ticularly from the improved condition of
tho institutions that tho changes were
esential and have proven beneficial.
Common Schools
At the beginning of statehood, the com-
mon school department of the state gov-
ernment found a condition not existing
In any other new state in the last gen-
eration. In this: That the Indian Territory,
substantially half of our new state, had
no common school system organized, and
thousands of children outside the incor-
porated towns and cities were wholly
without any school facilities. During the
year twenty-two hundred new schools
have been established, almost all of
them within the Indian Territory portion
of the state, and school facilities thereby
provided for approximately one hundred
and forty thousand children.
There Is probably no branch of our gov-
ernment which required the extensive
labors devolving upon the common school
department, and while great progress has
been made during the year, 1 urge care-
ful consideration of tho detail report of
the State Superintendent of Public In-
struction, with a purpose of facilitating
the work of that deparm'ent, and Im-
proving the common school facilities of
the entire state.
In connection with the common schools
I am pleased to call your attention to
the report of the Secretary of the Com-
missioners of the Land Office, which has
In charge tho rental of the state lands,
and handling of the cash permanent com-
mon school fund. The report of the Sec-
retary for the year ending December 31st.
190R. shows cash collected during the year
eight hundred and flfty-one thousand,
nine hundred and thirtv-elght dollars and
twenty-three cents. In order to ascer-
tain the amount received from land ren-
tals, deduct sixty-eight thousand eight
hundred thirty-one dollars and eleven
i ems. being Interest collected during said
year on farm loan and bank depo-slts of
five million dollar fund, leaving the
net amount of seven hundred eighty-
eight thousand one hundred seven dol-
lars nnd twelve cents collected as land
rentals.
I call your attention to the fact thnt
the largest amount of land rentals col-
lected in any year previous to statehood
In the year nineteen hundred and
when the sum total of five hundred
forty-five thousand four hundred and
thirty-eight dollars and thirty-six cents
collected by the Secretary of the
Land Department, so that this--first year
f statehood shows an Increase over ihc
largest year of territorial government in
Lhe amount of cash collected from land
•enlals of two hundred forty-two thous-
and six hundred sixty-nine dollars and
seventy-six cents that in the year nine-
teen hundred and five It cost five and
fortv hundredths per cent to cover the
expenses of the land leasing department,
whereas, In this first year of statehood It
cost four and fifty-two and one-half
hundredths pbr cent to cover the expenses
of the same department.
This increase of substantially a quar-
ter of a million dollars In the amount of
cash received from land rentals, and the
decrease of substantially one-fifth of the
ost of managing the leasing .department
s certainly a proper subject for expressing
our thanks to the Secretary in charge
of this department of our government.
Let ii be understood that the sixty-
three thousand and odd dollars interest
earned on the five million dollar fund
only represents the actual cash collected
by the Secretary, that over two million
dollars of that fund, invested in state
and county bonds, have not yet paid to
he Secretary of the Hoard the Interest
accruing thereon, and that much of the
farm mortgage money already loaned has
not yet matured its first interest.
School for the Deaf
At the beginning of statehood, the
school for the Deaf was located at Guth-
rie with an enrollment of one hundred
pupils. Since the beginning of state-
hood, this school has been removed to
the city of Sulphur, and has a present
enrollment of ono hundred and eighty-
five pupils.
Okfahoma School of Mines
The last legislature authorized the es-
tablishment of a school of mines In the
city of Wilburton. This school has been
arranged for, and will be opened within
tho coming week.
Whltaker's Orphan's Home
This Institution located at the citv of
Pryor Creek existed for years by the
private aid of Mr. Whltaker, supplement-
id by the aid of the federal government.
The year nineteen hundred and seven it
enrolled eighty children. The state by
proper legislation took charge of this In-
stitution last spring, it now has one hun-
dred and ten children enrolled.
School for the Blind
This Institution Is now at the town of
Ft. r.ibson. it existed by private sup-
port prior to statehood, with an enroll-
ment of fifty pupils. It is now under the
control of the state by proper legislation
and now has enrolled, or on the list of
applications, a total of one hundred and
fifty.
Text Book Commission
Under act of our last legislature, i
State Tex; Hook Commission was creat
rd, which after extended hearings, adopt
c,i basic and supplemental school text
port of said
iductlve part of our state an.
construction Is completed an.
"eminently financed, its futur
te of Oklahoma, and under ou
ws and regulations will be on
,iiJ prosperity, ana not of in-
Indlan schools, had their own distinct
organization, text books even there vary-
ing In different localities. The rural
communities of Indian Territory had
practically no schools. The population
coming from different states had a great
variety of text books.
To narrnonlze the entire state, made
it Impossible to proceed to a condition
of text book uniformity without Intro-
ducing a new book into most localities.
The school book publishers In most In-
stances, evlen after contracts were made
with the state, proved technical In ful-
filling their contracts, and many attempts
were made to evade strict fulfillment of
their contract, particularly In the line of
exchange of old books for the new adopt-
I books desired nt the exchange price,
being half the price of the new books;
but by vigorous Intervention, as com-
plaints were made to us from numerous
localities, that condition was finally-im-
proved, but still owing to the thousands
f communities In the state, it was ex-
eedlngly difficult to keep the situation
well under control, and Insure proper
ompllance with contract.
Wo were unfortunate again In the fact
that with thousands of teachers In the
state, the variety of opinion as to the
nerlt of different text books, was very
great, and a text book or policy that
met the approval of some would natural-
ly be vigorously opposed by other. This
natural difference of opinion makes the
enforcement of laws or rules more dif-
ficult for the want of local co-operation
We can only express the hope that men
will realize that It Is Imposble to adopt
the views of many persons or elements
who do not agree among themselves, and
wo still find It proper, in our opinion, to
recommend to the legislature a further
careful study of the text book question.
Insane Asylum
At the beginning of statehood the In-
sane patients of tho state were being
cared for at a private asylum at Norman
under contract at an annual charge of
two hundred dollars for each patient.
There were then five hundred and eighty
patients In the care of the state during
the year nineteen hundred and eight.
The asylum at Fort Supply, owned by
the state, having been placed In condi-
tion for the accommodation of patients,
this was hegun about May, nineteen hun-
dred and eight. At the close of the year
the Fort Supply asylum had five hundred
and one patients, and while the organiz-
ation of this institution and tho expense
of many things incident to fitting It for
use has probably Increased the cost that
will be entailed after the asylum Is in
complete condition, and for which I have
not been supplied with accurate figures,
I am advised that the complete report
will show an average cost per annum of
approximately one hundred and sixty
dollars.
The present capacity of the Fort Sup-
ply asylum having been reached, the
state Is yet utilizing the Norman asylum
under the old contract, and has now three
hundred and eighty-seven patients cared
for at that asylum.
It will be observed the uniting of the
two territories into one state, as well as
the ordinary incr'ease in the population
of the state, has Increased the number
of insane patients during the year from
five hundred and eighty-eight to a total
of eight hundred and eighty-eight, and
while the asylum privileges of both these
institutions is more satisfactory than the
conditions one year ago, yet the state is
much in need of a second asylum under
its own control and with a total capacity
of at least twelve hundred.
State Prison
At the beginning of (statehood the
state prisoners were being kept at the
Kansas state prison at Lansing under a
contract of forty cents per day, equivalent
to one hundred and forty-six dollars per
annum for each prlsonier.
■Vt the beginning of statehood there
were about three hundred and seventy
prisoners. During the year the Board of
Prison Control created by the last leg-
islature provided for establishing a
prison at McAlester, Oklahoma, and for
temporary purposes leased ihe Federal
jail located thereat, and In August began
the removal of prisoners from Lansing,
Kansas, to McAlester, the purpose being
to temporarily use the Jail while building
a prison upon a tract of one hundred
acres of land donated to the state by the
people of that locality, utilizing prison
labor as far as possible to create the
prison building, after which the general
purpose in mind being to utilize prison
labor' in construction of public highways
throughout the state.
From time to time numbers of prlson-
s have been brought from Lansing un-
til there are now at the date of a recent
monthly report, one hundred and fifty-
five prisoners at McAlester. It Is the
lief of the Superintendent of the prison
that he can rapidly provide for about a
total of four hundred prisoners at the
present McAlester prison, nnd In about
ninety days from this date be able to
care for the entire state prisoners at
McAlester.
here are now five hundred and sixty-
two male and thirteen female prisoners
at Lansing, being held under the former
territorial contract at forty cents per day
each. The cost of maintaining the pris-
oners at McAlester is running about
twenty-four cents per. day each. Of
course, when these McAlester prisoners
no employed at constant labor, the cost
of maintaining and guarding and other-
wise caring for tliern when engaged in
laily labor will Increase to perhaps thir-
ty-live or forty cents per day, but this
s only an estimate, but I call your atten-
lon to the fact that when the cost is
Increased there will be beneficial work
done for the general welfare of the peo-
ple of the state.
In addition to the prisoners at Lansing
and McAlester, there are approximately
ono hundred and fifty-five prisoners in
tho various counties of the state await-
ing direction as to where they shall be
transported and confined, so that the to-
tal number of state prisoners now va-
riously confined is about eight hundred
and eighty. This increase In the total
number of prisoners Is due to the fact
that Indian Territory, now a part of the
state, had added its quota of prisoners
to those of Oklnhoma Territory and sub-
stantially doubled the number.
The reports filed with the legislature
with this message state the necessities
of this department and speak for them-
selves.
The contract under which our prison-
ers are being held at Lansing, Kansas,
expires the thirty-first day of this month,
and provision will need be made for a
short time for extending this contract or
otherwise providing for about four or five
hundred prisoners.
In this connection, the report of our
State Charities Commissioner upon the
condition and practices at the Lansing,
Kansas, penitentiary, should be taken
Into careful consideration. I call atten-
tion to the fact that upon the complaint
made in said report, the governor of the
State of Kansas appointed a commission
of five members and requested that a sim-
ilar committee from the State of Okla-
homa be appointed to fully investigate
the same. This commission has been
appointed and concurred in by the State
Board of Prison Control of Oklahoma, and
said investigation Is now being had and
an early report mnv be expected.
I suggest that this report will doubt-
less furnish tho legislature the informa-
tion necessary to determine whether or
not our state should see an extension of
the contract for further keeping of our
prisoners at the Lansing penitentiary.
Pardons, Paroles and Reprieves
There is filed herewith, as provided by
law. a report of all pardons, paroles and
reprieves granted since my report to the
last legislature with the reasons there-
for.
Territorial Accounts
In accord with an net of the last legis-
lature, I have caused investigation to be
made into the territorial accounts which
investigation Is near completion and will
be reported at an early date.
Peace and Order
I am pleased to call the attention of
your honorable body, as well as the peo-
ple of the country at large, to the fact
that while our state is new and enforce-
ment of law began without organization
in a large part of our state, and with
peace and good order largely In the
hands of the local communities-while
al sentiment was the chief means of
ot in this
■■■■■■
lynching or mob execution within the
tate.
Gencraly speaking for the prosperity of
Oklahoma. railroads. manufacturing
plants, mines, mercantile and other indus-
tries. we are pleased to call to the at-
tention of the country at large as well
as our own people the fact that no en-
terprise of over fifty thousand dollars
capital in the entire state, except one
books, as shown in the . .
Board, and while the difficulty of harmon-
izing the unusual conditions in the slate M
was very great, yet we are pleased to | j0
call attention to the fact that a material j maintaining peace and ord
saving to the people of the state is evi- I r>ntlre vear there has not !
.lent; and the standard, of text books
much Improved. It is probahle that the
people in different parts of the state
scarcely appreciate the difficulty of set-
tling the text book question.
Oklahoma Territory had its own school
system quite well organized, but <sven
here the text books were not uniform, but
varied In different parts of the Terri-
tory. In the Indian Territory, every in-
corporated town had its school under its
own distinct control, with practically no
degree of harmony among the different
towns and cities.
The Interior Department schools, called
Prohibition Enforcement
The department of liquor traffic and
prohibition enforcement provided for in
Sennte Bill No. ni of the last legislature,
has been one of the most difficult to con-
duct.
The dispensary department, providing
for the sale of liquor for medicinal and
mechanical purposes, under the charge
of the State Superintendent, as shown In
his report herewith, was operated from
the passage of the law in April, 1808, un-
til after the 'election, November 3, 1908,
when the canvassing of the voto on the
dispensary question showed a majority
of the votes against continuing the local
dispensary, and In my Judgment, the peo-
ple generally voted on the question In
tho belief that they were repealing arti-
cle 1 of said Senate Bill No. 61, which
included the local dispensary. I there-
fore proclaimed the local dispensaries
closed, since which date, the District
Court of Logan County has held that said
Article 1 was not repealed. I directed an
appeal from the decision of said District
Court to the Supreme Court, where the
case Is still pending, and I have refused
to re-open the local dispensaries until
the Supreme Court shnll have decided the
case, and I espoeclally express to you the
hope that the will of the people shall be
respected in all matters of government.
I want to assure this honorable body
as well as the people of the state that
local public officers must have the active
support of the law abiding people of the
community before Just complaint can be
made for the failure of the local officers
to fully succeed in the discharge of their
duties.
I believe that on the whole, it may
properly bo said that the enforcement of
prohibition has proved it practicable, and
that with greater effort and popular sup-
port. the enforcement of this law can be
as complete ns other misdemeanor and
criminal statutes.
I hope your honorable body will look
Into this question and provide proper as-
sistance and relief for these courts.
It will bo remembered that Senate Bill
No. 61, as It finally passed, eliminated all
provisions originally contemplated giving
the governor any degree of power in the
mutter of enforcement, further than^ to
encourage and advise local officers. This
we have done with the utmost energy and
diligence, and will continue to do, but I
feel that If the governor is to be held
responsible by the people of the state for
law enforcement, such responslblllyt can
only Justly attach if he is given reason-
able pow'ers of enforcement.
Taxation
In our state, as well as in every other
civilized government, the burden of the
cost of government is an important con-
sideration. Our people want public im-
provements, additional facilities, peace
anil order maintained, and other matters
of public interest or necessity provided
and conducted. In a great state, this
means a volume of money, and thereforb,
taxation of our people and property.
The first principle of taxation la equity.
Let all classes of property and sources of
profit contribute their equal and Just
.share to the cost of government. Our last
legislature provided vurious sources of
revenue; direct taxation, license fees,
franchise, gross revenue, inheritance and
other measures, and your state Board of
Assessors and Equalization has exercised
its best judgement for the current year.
In the assesment of railroad and other
public service corporations, it was the
opinion of the Board that the former
assessment in Oklahoma Territory had
been far below the average of private
property in general, and while public ser-
vice corporation property had the pre-
vious year, In Oklahoma Territory, been
valued at a sum total equal to one-
seventh of all taxable property, in the
opinion of the State Board, this year,
the valuation of public service corporation
property was raised greater in proportion
than the valuation of other private tax-
able property, so that this year the public
service corporations in addition to other
gross Income and special privilege tax.
will he two-sevenths of the general taxes
of the state on an ad valorem basis.
The State Board believes that no in-
justice was done the corporation property
even In this great increase of valuation,
as will be found by considering the net
earnings of these various corporations,
and from the further fact that out of all
of the vast number of public service cor-
porations, onlv two—namely the Western
Union Telegraph Company and the Pull-
man Palace Car Company—appealed from
the valuation fixed by the State Board.
The State Board levied by direct taxa-
tion, only one and one-quarter mills on
the dollar, for state purposes. We be-
lieved that a rigid enforcement of the
gross Income and other special privilege
taxes, fully warranted this low per cent
of direct taxation for state purposes, and
that with a few years' further develop-
ment of the state, the state government
will be able from year to year, to de-
crease the per cent of taxation for state
purposes.
As to the gross production tax, the act
of the first legislature was necessarily an
experiment, and time only could demon-
strate whether or not Injustice, in the
form of double taxation, had been impos-
ed upon any class of property. A strong
appeal was made to the legislature to
exempt oil from th'e gross production tax,
upon the ground among other reasons,
that such a large volume of the oil pro-
duction would be found on hand at the
annual assessment date, and required to
pay the regular ad valorem taxes; that,
therefore, it would not be subject to an
additional gross production tax. At that
time, in my communication to the legis-
lature, It will be found that I suggested
that if this claim proved true, the future
legislature could be depended upon to
carefully investigate the fact and deal
justly with the question. In pursuance
thereof, I recommend that your honor-
able body do investigate, with a view to
ascertaining whether injustice is beina
done to this class of property, and If you
find that injustice results, you will cer-
tainly create strictly equitable conditions,
in this regard, as well as in any other in-
equities that may exist in the department
of taxation.
EVERY ITEM OF PROPERTY AND
SOURCE OF PROFIT NOT SPECIALLY
EXEMT UNDER TUE CONSTITUTION
OF THE STATE. SHOULD REAR ITS
FAIR SHARE OF TAXES: NO MORE,
AND NO LESS.
Excessive Taxation.
Just as the State Government has had
Its unusual burdens incident to the or-
ganization of this new State, so have the
county and district authorities, particu-
larly in the forty counties of former In-
dian Territory, had even greater duties
and embarrassments to contend with.
They began Statehood without local or-
ganization, and in many Instances, with-
out former experience. The State laws
were In a chaotic condition, and the great-
est posible difficulty confronted local offi-
cers from the indefinite character and un-
certainty of our laws and the seeming
conflict between Inherited Oklahoma Ter-
ritory laws and the new laws passed by
the last legislature; as a result, in many
school districts, townships, incorporated
towns and counties, the constitutional
limitations on tax levies were over look-
ed and tho necessities of tax money for
the conduct of local affairs were over esti-
mated, so that in numerous parts of our
State, district and county levies were
made In excess of the constitutional lim-
itations; also, in many cases, where
within the constitutional limitations, the
levies were excessive, because they cov-
ered subjects or provided a much greater
sum of money than local necessities re-
quired.
On account of complaints as to exces-
slvo taxation, I began some six weeks
ago, a careful investigation and called
upon the State Examiner and Inspector
to aid In the Investigation, and an effort
to relievo tho tax payers from these ex-
cessive levieB. This investigation con-
vinces me that the department of the
State Examiner and Inspector can he of
inestimable benefit to the tax payers by
being, by proper legislation, brought In
direct connection with the revetuie de-
partment of the state, and made a part
of the necessary machinery controlling
taxation. The State Inspector and Ex-
aminer's Department has now, at my re-
quest, two of Its special examiners in the
field, aiding and advising county and
district authorities in the reduction of
levlw where excesses exist.
In this connection, I want further to
recommend an immediate emergency act
extending the time beyond January 16th
for the payment of the first half of the
taxes for the current year. It is may
belief that individual tax payers should
be relieved of the burden of employing
their own lawyers and litigating to pro-
tect themselves against tho payment of
excessive taxes. Not only for the pur-
pose, of sovlng this individual expense of
lawyer's fees and other costs, but reliev-
ing local courts of the vast multitude of
aw suits that would grow out of ex-
cessive taxation if authorities 0f tho
staje did not intervene and aid in cor-
recting the excessive tax levies
'n* po«',U, 'I10 governor briefly men.
tions the official reports of the various
li'ryS'Kf,"1'1'"
First Year
Summing up the first year of state cov-
we beg to remind ymir honor-
able body and our people, that your public
ni«Ct Hi«avi! .. heyond question, the
oH in h undertaking .ever experienc-
ed in the organization of a new state.
The unusual experience on*
state out of two territories widely differ,
ing in territorial laws and conditions
would, of itself, present many difficulties,
but when we contemplate that one of
tli^se territories had no territorial form
of government, no county, no township
or school district organization, that forty
counties carved out of that unorganized
territory began their county government
on the day of statehood, that not one of
these forty counties had any organiza-
tion or money to conduct their business;
that the entire first year of statehood
and more, would have to elapse before
there would be any cash in the county
or district treasury thereof, other than
borrowed money; that. In addition to
these unusual conditions, with a million
and a half of people and more than a
billion dollars of property values to cre-
ate a contention Incident to such vast
conditions, the first year of statehood
has certainly had Its trials and tribula-
tions for all public officials, and yet, the
credit of the state and of the counties
has been maintained at a high standard.
I do not believe that county warrants
have, in any locality, gone below a cash
value of ninety cjknts on the* dollar,
except, possibly, very small warrants,
and in a few localities, and ns a rule,
these warrants have been held up to
ninety-five per cent or higher. Ihls
strikes me as an excellent record in view
of the fact that In the old Oklahoma
Territory counties after organization and
stable conditions had been established, I
am advised that county warrants were
often marketed as low as sixty-five cents
or even less, on the dollar, and In other
western states, in their infancy, It has
been the experience of a majority of
such states, that reckless taxation and
extravagance has, during the first few
years of statehood, almost destroyed the
public credit.
Summing up the above conditions, Ok*
lahoma can report to the world:
An Increase of seventy-five thous-
and in Its population;
An increase of over thirteen mil-
lion dollars In its agricultural pro-
ductions;
An increase in the aggregate of
practically twenty per cent of Its
other productions, its manufactures
and commerce;
An increase of its mileage of new
railroad constructed equal to, or
greater than any state in the union,
and much above the mileage of other
states';
A net Increase of ten and one-quar-
ter million dollors in its bank de-
posits;
An Increase of two thousand, two
hundred organized school district;
An absolutely clean sheet as to mob
violence resulting in mob execution
and iynching;
And Its state government conducted
at a less expense to tax payers than
any other state In the union with a
population as low as even one mil-
lion people.
Oklahoma asks Its own people as well
as the people of the other states of the
union, and tho world at large, to Judge
our state, our people and our laws from
the truth as to conditions, rather than
from criticism and unreliable reports. Let
the facts speak for themselves! The pol-
icy of Oklahoma has always been to mete
out equal and exact justice to the weak
and the strong alike—to the small prop-
e:ty and to the large property, giving
each and all the protection of the law en-
forced in like manner as to all, and
with a view to encouraging enterprise
and development of our state, and if in
any particular the laws of our state cio
not muusrie up to the standard, the pol-
icy of Ck.'phcma should certainly be to
make them so. But the mere fact tnat
suue may < amor against our laws ani
conditions. Is :iol in itself concius'vo and
may not be honest evidence to the fact
that our laws need changing. Special
interests seeking special privileges are not
always a reliable source of information
or just crit'cism. There are those who
seek, tndi.ectly, to form or wield publlo
opinion for personal ends; If we are In-
sane on any sublect, let us return to san-
ity, but emphatically, let us not be con-
vinced that we are Insane unlers honest
criticism has first shown us that we are
not dealing fairly with all elements of
Industry and ail classes of property and
people.
In short, I believe the people know
that civicism by the subsidized press or
other rt presentatlves of Interests that
seek to thrive on greed and graft is )f-
ten manufactured and circulated for the
di-ect purpose of Intimidating the ef-
forts of the public official. Let us sug-
gest that when these vicious and vlo- >
lent criticisms are presented to us, that
a most appropriate question should arise
In our minds:
Who Is paying the press or the Individ-
ual to circulate these vicious criticisms?
Whcte interest is back of the effort
to discredit the public officer and the
reputation of the state?
And when you have asked- the question
and ascertained the facts, you need not
be surprised to learn that the effort at
defaming the officer or the reputation of
tho state arises because the special in-
terest has found it impossible to influence
such special officer and therefore seeks
to destroy his power for the public good.
Rest assured that the special interests
never turn a hand or pay a dollar to dis-
credit a public officer or the reputation
of the state excepting only to promote
their own selfish -Interests.
Oklahoma and Its public officers have
survived all these vicious assaults, and
are still without fear or favor enforc-
ing obedience to the law against the
strong as well as the weak; compelling
the payment of taxes of Interests here-
tofore favored and practically exempted
from taxation, and will continue to do so
regardless of the probable continuation of
assault, and asks not only the support of
your honorable body, but tho people of
the entire state in every particular where
our work promotes public welfare.
Needed Legislation
In adition to the suggestion as to leg-
islation mentioned In connection with va-
rious statements of existing conditions
above, the general policy of the legisla-
ture is one in which the public is great-
ly Interested. It Is asserted by some of
our people that there should be an ex-
tensive revision and changing of exist-
ing laws and even to the extent of
changing provisions of the constitution.
In this connection I will say that there
has never yet been called to my attention
definitely any particular section which I
believes Justifies the name of radical or
unjust laws so far as our industries and
business of the state In general Is con-
cerned.
Here are some of the features of gov-
ernment, however, that I believe n6ed
your attention:
The building of court houses, whether,
by sale of bonds or rental notes should be
submitted to a vote of the people of the
county.
Our election law nteeds material revl-'
slon, simplifying Its methods, economiz-
ing Its cost and making it efficient In
many respects. It was generally under-
stood at the time the present law was
passed at the close of the last session
that for want of time to give it more
careful consideration it wan then accept-
ed and approved, with the understanding
that after tho holding of one election Its
defects could be remedied by subsequent
legislation.
There is no class of public improve-
ments needing attention so much as the
building of public highways within this
state. This is of so much importance
l^at J £eliP,ve the people might well
afford by the sale of bonds or othorwls®
to Incur indebtedness running for a se-
ries of years with easy tax payments for
the purpose of creating good publlo
roads, and In this connection I hope that
prison labor can bo utilized to cover the
Revenue Law
Laws providing the detail of all the va-
r ous methods and subjects of taxation
should receive your immediate considera-
tion. and great care should be taken to
so harmonize existing laws that equal
and just taxation only may be assessed,
and in no instance should the laws permit
the collection of a greater amount of
taxes than are absolutely required for
the public necessities.
\\ith these, and a few other questions.,
which wlH be presented to you us soon as!
I have had Hn opportunity to study the
reports of officers and recommendations
of citizens of the state, I would only add
that there may be more virtue and ben-
efit for the state out of a few laws than
from the passage of too great a volume
of legislation, and expressing my faith
in the integrity and ability of your hon-
orable body to conserve the interests of
the people in the legislative affairs of
this state, I respectfully submit this
message, with the accompanying reports.,
CHAS. N. HASKELL. V
Governor.
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Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Moffitt, Jesse S. Hooker Advance (Hooker, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 50, Ed. 1 Friday, January 22, 1909, newspaper, January 22, 1909; Hooker, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc273275/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.