The Granite Enterprise. (Granite, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 37, Ed. 1 Friday, January 28, 1910 Page: 3 of 8
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THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE
First Message of Got. C. N. Haskell to
the Extraordinary Session of the
Legislature Which Met at
Guthrie, Jan. 20, 1910.
TO THE LEGISLATURE.
Pursuant to Section Seven, Article
81x of the constitution, I have deem-
ed it to tile best interests of the peo-
ple of onr State to convene the Leg-
islative branch of our government in
Extraordinary session, believing that
there is necessity for legislation, the
benefits of which will far outweigh
tfie cost of this meeting, limited, as
I believe it may be, to a brief period.
The people of Oklahoma have en-
trusted the Legislature and,th» Gov-
ernor with certain duties of govern-
ment, which it Is our duty to perform
from time to time as our best judg-
ment may convince us is right, >and
when wo are confronted with official
duty. It devolves upon us to execute
the same without fear of criticism,
and with a firm hand, and with a
determination to do the right, to
make government as beneficial for
the mass of our people, and at the
•sine time as economic as the close
application of genius may devise, and
honesty of purpose promote.
8tate Building.
Tie building of a great state car-
ries with it burdens upon its public
officials and its people that every cit-
izen is bound to appreciate, and It is
jj only senseless or vicious critics that
M -would demand In the beginning those
conditions of perfection and organiza-
tion which can come only with years
of effort. You may rely upon it that
our duty fearlessly and honestly per-
formed, will meet the approval of all
those whose good opinion is worthy
•of consideration.
The organization of a new state un-
der ordinary conditions is a vast un-
■ dertakkig. But the consolidation of
two Territories into one State, as we
have under taken, stands without a
precedent in our American Union. Un-
til the admission of Oklahoma there
■ had been no other newly created
■ state within the last forty years, ex-
cept such as had been preceded by
thorough Territorial organization
with counties, districts, and towns
thoroughly organized and under local
! government, with school houses
bridges, roads, and other improve-
ments already in existence, and the
people experenced in the conduct of
local government.
Our leadlag commercial center (Ok-
lahoma City) shows that during the
last twelve months, hi commerce, in
finance. In manufacturing, and in pop-
nnL , e bas b*rn a" average
of slightly more than thirty-five per
cen. and this nourishing city is but
au index to the volume of statistics
of the entire state from which
enough is already known to show that
remarkable growth has taken place In
all localities of the state.
it is true that the constitution of
the State of Oklahoma has continued
to be the subject of discussion
throughout the Union,-praised by
those who would have honest govern-
ment, ami viciously condemned by
those who would have special privi-
leges. The direst calamities have
beeu prophesied, and the withholding
of foreign capital for Investment has
been the constant threat of those who
would assail a government, not in
theory but In actual praotlce, of the
people and for the people. It has
become so apparent that none is found
to deny that organized special inter
ests, through subsidized press, we re
gret to say, both at home and abroad
have relentlessly and viciously, first
scught to intimidate and then to de-
stroy all public officials of this
state who have insisted that the con-
stitution made by the people of Okla-
homa shall be administered in their
interest.
Has foreign capital been withheld'
I>et us see:
Again, no such state had as much
as three hundred and fifty thousand
population, nor greater than forty mil-
lion dollars of wealth, whereas in
Oklahoma the area of our state, from
which forty of our new counties were
made, was wholly unorganized,—no
county organizations, no school dis-
tricts, no townships, no rural school
houses, no bridges, no rads, and the
local officers necessarily elected
largely of men who had had little or
tio opportunity to gain experience In
the science of local government, and
however capable, it was necessary
for them to have time and experience
to qualify themselves for satisfactory
liulblc service, and in our Lew state,
with almost one and a half million
population and one billion dollars of
wealth, we have fully realized that the
magnitude of contention with which
your officers have to deal is largely
measured by its population and Its
wealth.
To be selfish is but human, antf we
have had to contend with the de-
mands of selfish interests, and to put
ou a bold and determined front to
those who would attain selfish ends at
the expense of the great mass whose
defense is our sworn duty. And
htnoe, I say to you, that It is not to
be taken as in any way indicating
that your Honorable Body, in your
former sessions, failed in any degree
in the performance of any work, that
I found It desirable to have you meet
again.
Banks.
On November 27th, 1908, the state
jnnks of Oklahoma contained twenty-
nine million, four hundred forty-eight
thousand, nine hundred seventy-three
dollars and ninety-six cents of indi-
vidual deposits.
On November 16th, 1909, the state
lanks contained forty-nine million
ceven hundred seventy-five thousand
.our hundred tfal.-t>--three dollars and
forty-one cents of individual deposits,
cn« as evidence conclii.-ive that this
• ast increase of nearly seventy p-r
e*nt in our state ba-V deposits In'a
oinsle }tar was either lrrre=ued
wealth wi'iiin the ®tate, or foreign
money entrusted to our ;,are, we liavo
Nn lo note the fact that da National
• ".ikts within our state also made p
moderate increase within the same
period.
Railroad*.
I am pleased to call your attention
to the fact that within the last twelve
months there has been built almost
two hundred and fifty miles of rail-
way track wlthlu our state, an amount
of railroad construction not equalled
by any one of the other twelve states
touched by the largest single svstem
that passes through our borders.
Oil.
In oil production, Oklahoma is still
in the front rank of oil producing
states, and thanks to the acts of your
Honorable Body, in its last session,
the greatest among the oil handliag
companies has decided to domesticate
its pipe line company In Oklahoma,
serve our people, and trust to their
honesty to give capital a fair oppor-
tulty to earn a reasonable profit.
Natural Gas.
The further development of our
state shows the great value, at least
for the time being, of the deposit of
natural gas within our state. We
still firmly believe that the state of
Oklahoma Is entitled to the benefit
that may accrue from this valuable
product, and we regret that we may
be deprived of the home benefits to
which the people of the state are
justly entitled. We don't believe that
a foreign company can properly be
veGted with power to invade our state
and take away this product against
the will of the state, and the wi3fles
of our people, and we hope that op-
portunity may be found to protect our
state against this unwarranted inva-
sion.
Taxation.
The policy of Oklahoma govern
■frX " 53181 should bear
witn equal force upon all Items of
property, and all sources of profit,
strictly according to the value there-
of, and that one hundred thousand
dollars worth of property should pay
one hundred times as much as one
thousand dollars worth of property,
no more In proportion, and no less.
It was not to be expected that this
rule of common honesty could be pro-
claimed in the Oklahoma Constitu-
tion and carried out in our adminis-
tration of government until the great
powers had exhausted every effort to
avoid their Just proportion of the bur-
dens of government. We know full
well that great combinations of capi-
ta! throughout the world have at all
times opposed every effort in govern-
ment that stood In the way of their
obtaining special privileges, and an
advantage over the weaker classes
and this effort in Oklahoma has made
It necessary for your officers to con-
tend daily for the people's rights, and
this contention we again find, has call-
ed us Into tho Federal Courts to meet
the opposition to equal and just tax-
ation.
Substantially half the miles of rail-
road in our state has not yet paid the
last half of the taxes for the yeai
1908, and this controversy is still in
court, untriet^ for more than a year.
Likewise the revenue due to the state
iS>r the year 1908, fixed by the Legis-
lature upon the profits and earnings
o£ public service corporations, coal
mines, an4 the like, is still withheld
from the state, and 5y n.
junction against the state officials, is-
sued by the courts where those
cases are pending.
Banking Law.
Theorizing may do when we consld-
ei untried things, but two years of
actual experience has qualified our
people to judge of the efficiency of
the Oklahoma hanking law, and I am
proud to remind your Honorable Body
that with a rare exception, and usually
inspired by a selfish Interest, all
others commend your Honorable
Body for the passage of this law. It
has been subjected to the severest
test possible to have occurred within
our state. It has arisen from this
test, supreme in its power, and
blessed by the people for its beneficial
effects.
Some suggest this law needs amend-
ment. You will find, as I have found
no doubt, that this call for amend-
ment is inspired, either by those
friendly disposed who have not care-
fully studied Its provisions, but large-
ly by those who would kill the law by
amendment, and who pose as its
friends when they want but the op-
portunity to destroy it.
Whlttaker Orphan Home and School
for the Deaf.
These institutions will both reoeiv
mention hereafter, but the facts and
figures that I desire with relation to
these have not yet reached me.
Other state officers, boards and de-
partments not hereinbefore or herein-
after specifically mentioned for the
want of detailed reports, I can safeiv
say have made very substantial oro-
giess In the conduct of their work
and such as I am sure will meet the
approval of your honorable body.
Recommendations.
To the following subjects only I
now submit recommendations for
your consideration:
New Appropriations .
[ I ask for new appropriations fcom
the genaral revenues of the state as
fellows: in order to aid our Attor-
ney General in employing an assistant
counsel whom he doomed necessSfy,
and in which I concurred, for the de-
fense of the state in the two cent
fare and freight rate cases, I set
aside two thousand dollars from this
year and three thousand dollars from
next year's appropriation made for
me to be used in special investlga
tions, employment of counsel, etc. I
did this because I believed the inter-
est of the state could best be served
by my turning this fund in to all
the Attorney General, and I am sure
he expended it wisely, and I now ask
that you appropriate similar amounts
to reimburse the fund from which the
same was taken.
deem 14 proper to call your at-
_ tlon to the public records of tho
By various acts of our legislature In
former sessioas we have under con-
struction at McAlester, a state peni-
tentiary. One hundred acres of
ground was acquired as heretofore re-
ported by a donation of the people of
that community and a very substan-
tial and suitable wall and buildings
have been under construction for
some time and are now nearing com-
pletion. About one thousand prison-
ers are now being detained at McAl-
ester, a part In the federal jail leased
to the state temporarily, and a part
in temporary enclosures on the new
prison grounds. The state warden
has made a remarkable record up to
date, not only In the economic main-
tenance of this institution, but in the
safe keeping of the prisoners. He has
had less than one per cent of es-
caped prisoners during the year 1909,
notwithstanding a high barbed wire
fence charged with electricity has
been his only prison wall. You had
also directed us at a former session
to purchase, not exceeding two thous-
and acres of adjoining land as a part
of the state prison grounds, and upon
which a goodly part of the provision
for prison support might be produced,
it was thought at the time that these
grounds could be paid for out of the
four hundred thousand dollars appro-
priated for buildings and appurte-
nances, but as the Attorney General
ruled otherwise, the grounds have not
been purchased, but I have, to hand
you herewith a contract made by the
Secretary of the Prison Board, J. P.
Connors, showing the opportunity for
the state to acquire the surface rignt
to about fourteen hundred acres, at
substantially ten dollars per acre and
also to advise you that this is but a
■mall part of what this property would
cost if purchased from individual own-
ers, but the state has been favored
by a low price fixed by the Govern-
ors of the Choctaw and Chickasaw na-
tions and approved by the Interior De-
partment as a friendly concession
D»,». puuuc recoras oi me
atste Auditor's office, which would show
n»e r«H«on why a higher Ftatc* levy was
vo'-I^ second year than the first
It is as follows.
of the legislature at its last
fntTIIw 1- state made a levy of one-
hit* #a *?ne j"1*11, not for state purposes
rphi^pr ^ i°n to a,rJ common
cnooisi if the state, (beintr intended to
lp. thf weak country districts).
,n ,th* building <* the Public
the Attorney Gen-
. .. . .jL.7, me Aimruey urn-
lhRt certain of tlie public
bullfjln^ billn were not definite enough
"Plosion to require the pay-
' r the buildings to be made out of
ln£ i=«°Heef}f of the sale of Public build-
L/LP and therefore that they must ba
K„ *or °,,;t of the state tax revenues.
/«?...•. IaJ'ed practically another one-
"■ one ml" a,,d then the defl-
ln 1 flrst year's governmental
* oct-asloned as above stated by
5 up #f franchise, gross produc-
and special privilege taxes by de-
whe federal court, it became nec-
W this year'a tax levy to make
Penal Institutions. £!m . 'J0,"*1 ,cv-y of substantially one
e the P'ace of these unpaid
corporation taxes, so that from these rec-
hl J71 th« «ate Auditor's office it will
ne observed that for the expenses of
i...!, / ?r 1 government, the state tax
lew Is In fai t, one mill only: and I have
n<re the pleasure of advising your Hon-
.°dy aml people of Oklahoma
„ M... Is P°ssible i)v the enactment of
-it "'e additional legislation, which I shall
J.iL ? n or In subsequent messages,
submit for your consideration, for us to
the entire expense of state gov-
rnment with no direct tax levy what-
ever for state purposes.
The office of the Secretary of State, un-
o.r our ne-v corporation laws of - your
"f<t legislature, the office of State Insur-
< ommWsloner. under .the benc»Vlal
H'lon' ,of tha Constitution, are both
turning into the Btate. greatly increased
LTnr with some added provis-
lons made to the collections made
through the auditor of the state, we iUiail
ca»e you concur with me In
legislation, which I do here
"O" hereafter recommend, to derive
.L e*Pe'ise of state government
™.T„JsPeoial privileges, franchises,
corporations and other incomes so as to
I r 1 *■ tha People of the state wholly
poses y *ny ta* ,or ,ute pur"
Taxation.
Agriculture.
The sum total of agriculture
throughout the state In the volume of
wealth produced, is a subject of con-
gratulation. but I regret that the tin-
, . favorable season caused distress in
consfiT^tinn" «' i!/ bu'ldl®«- under a some localities, and yet with the great
nf thl h written at the command variety of products of which Oklahoma
o. the honest ,)eople of our state, you soil is capable of production, the gen-
be oommended for the good eral average has been good and re-
work or the First and Second Ses-
*'ons« and it Is not surprising that
there is more good work to perform.
Vfe are not here to criticise the Ok
lahoma Territorial Legislature, which
«eventeen years preceding state-
hood accumulated a code of in wo I irv~" 7
uhe 8tatB '"Merited, and which ' constltut'«"aI
might have been sufficient for state
government, in
suits have advanced our state as
whole to a higher place among the
other states of the Union.
ITS/
the spirit of falir-
ness and liberality, we prefer to say
that changed conditions, a greater
population and greater development
might have necessitated. In some de-
gree. a different code of laws. Let
that snbject be buried with the past
and Jet us live in the present, and'
continue amending the Oklahoma Ter-
ritory laws wherein their amendment
may benefit our people, and make
them to fit modern conditions,and the
protective features which our consti
tutlon guarantees to our people.
Before asking your Honorable Body
«o enter upon the cnnslderallon of the
matters to which I shall call your at-
tention, i want to thank you for the
ISgood work of the past, and in extend-
- ing ay thanks to ihe Legislative Body
I trust that no one will fall to real-
ise that my thanks are to your entire
[membership. I have often, and do
tigalH. congratulate myself that In the
•ousWeratlon of laws in the past
your members, regardless of political
affiliation, have g«ven mo many r^s-
on« for feeling grateful for your can-
uld and courteous consideration
, 0 «rea' Creator gave Oklahoma a
oil and climate fit to be one of the
grandest states in the Union. He
tored lis hills and plains with Im-
mense wealth—mineral, oil and num-
■rous other deposits of great value,
t rests alone for the people of this
late to avail hemsclves of natures
muntles and opportunities to make
Jklahoma an abiding place where
loraes of happiness and plenty may
ibound. The last year has been one
/ continued progress and develop-
ment. Complete statistics of th
Two Cent Fare and Freight Rates.
I regret to advise you that the con-
certed and determined assault upon
provisions which
you and I are here to protect, have
reached In every direction where the
few might profit by a heavier burden
of the many. The actual experience
of the last two years shows conclu-
sively that a two cent railroad fare,
with free transportation to none, ana
a uniform rate to all. have given the
railroad companies a larger earniug
than the former rate of three cents
to the masses, and free transporta-
tion to the classes, and yet Oklaho-
ma's two cent faro and freight rate
laws are assailed In the Federal
Courts, and no one can tell with cer-
tainty what the end may be. but ln
view of the great care and wisdom of
those in the constitutional conven-
tion, who drafted these provisions. I
cannot conceive how It is possible for
a Federal Court to Interfere with our
two cent railroad fare law, nor the
provision for regulating freight rates
Those provisions that afford an ade-'
quate remedy at law in all cases
where a two cent fare or a freight rnto
ruling of our Corporation Commission
are alleged to do an Injustice to the
transportation company, certainly
should protect these provisions against
Interference by a Federal Court
Due to the fact that this exraordl-
nary session was only determined
upon a few dajs ago, the various
other departments of government
have not had sufficient time to fur-
nish me with their reports and sta-
tistics so that 1 will at this time be
prepared to make very little specific
mention of the other departments
other than to sny that the good work
of our state Corporation Commission
s going forward, as in tho year be-
fore, embarrassed here and there by
Hate's progress are not vet available oourt l,'|',nctlo,l£. but yet making a
>ut enough Is known to Jmtlf}! <55- ' wel1 for ,h"'- ""
speaks well for their ef-
ficiency and determination to properly
administer the law.
Military Expenses.
The state militia incurred an unus-
ually expense, but in my judgment a
necessary expense, in suppressing riot-
ing and other various conduct In Ok-
mulgee and McIntosh counties known
as "The Snake Indian Uprising," and
for which bills were incurred amount-
ing to six thousand three hundred
eighty dollars and ninety-seven cents,
and I ask that you appropriate an
amount of money necessary to liqui-
date said bills.
The State of Oklahoma now has
substantially 1,200 insane' patients
under its care. About 575 are kept at
Fort Supply Asylum, and about 625
are still kept under the provisions of
the Oklahoma Territory contract at
the private Institution at Norman. As
to the condition and conduct of both
these institutions. I hand you here-
with the complete detailed reports of
our State Charities Commissioner,
Miss Kate Barnard . You will find she
has carefully and fully analyzed the
subject, and I commend these reports
to your careful consideration.
Chilocco Mission.
I am advised by the Honorable Bird
McGuire. our member of Congr"ss
from the First District, wherein tho
Chilocco Mission School is located
and who, fortunately, is Chairman in
the House of Representatives at
Washington, of the committee having
such matters in charge, that tho Uni'-
ed States Government may deem 't
wise to give the State of Oklahoma
°f said Chilocco Mission property
which consists of buildings costing
practically a half millon dollars and
embracing over 8,000 acres of valu
able land, and I therefore ask that
you, at the earliest moment possible,
pass a Joint resolution properly auth-
orising our said member of congress
to express the desire of the State of
Oklahoma to have said property, the
same to be used as an asylum for the
c!Ve of Insane patients. And further,
that all of our delegation in congress
be earnestly urged to aid and support
the effort to secure said property for
tfce state. I find, on investigation,
that this property is ot such character
as to be immediately available for the
comfortable care and keeping of prob-
ably as many as 600 patients, and I
believe that we should, at the earliest
possble moment, provide a place
where the patients can be trans-
ferred.
The constitution of Oklahoma fixed
a maximum limit of tax levy, for each
of the state county, township, school
district and incorporated towns. While
this was unusual as a constituional
provision, the experience of the other
new states to the north and the north-
west of Oklahoma had shown us the
necessity for restraining the tax levy-
ing boards, particularly in the early
years of statehood. It was a well
known fact that local government of
other new states had been controlled
in nearly every locality by the boomer
element, anxious for sudden and ab-
normal development and Tar too sel-
dom interested in the permanent wel-
fare of the community; in fact, dis-
posed to acquire sudden riches out of
boom conditions and then remove to
other parts before the penalty of ex-
travagance in the form of tax burdens
should overtake them and thus leave
to the stable, permanent citizen, the
blight upon his community, the inevit-
able result of hasty development in
public improvements and the extra-
vagance of such methods and thus we
today, can appreciate the great bene-
fit that we have had from this con-
stitutional provision. When these
maximum levies were placed in our
constitution, it was not believed that
it would, except on rare occasions, be
found necessary to make tax levies
anywhere near as high as these max-
imum limits, but Oklahoma, like oth-
er n°w states, has been subjected to
the influences which would proceed at
a reckless rate, bent on extensive,
extravagant expenditures,
Public Building Warrants.
Anticipating the sale of public build-
ing lands and the use of the proceeds
of such sale to pay for the erection
Real Estate Appraisements.
,.vhv«,ap?,ra,sem,nt of R"a' Estate for
f?em^i every twelve months Is a
tremendous and unnecessary expense,
h, reeommend that real estate valuations
Ih,.^ . °nce every four years, and
that new Improvements only be apn^n'sed
"cars™0 Pr°Perty during Intermediate
Feet and Salaries.
With but one or two slight except'ons.
tne present fees and wlarles of countv
-T,7S.,nre Btl" r'filiated by the laws
Tr* Stfi,te '"h'rlted from OkHhom*
Invito I an'L.are in sunh choatic and
f,?i 7™ condition that I find from care-
ful Inquiry throughout the state, there
not over a half a dozen
c™ . /7 J P,,n,ue *he same policy of
and I fin* rr an1 sa,Hrv alike.
?f?n r„ h.at ,1"'re !' substantial rea-
»h»i in v,atlornpv' differing a* to
what this territorial legislation renllv
Knit J every Instance It
fleer 1 I,hera"v in favor of the of-
"T ,. For the purpose of establishing cer-
taintv as to the mea-iine of the law and
for the purpose of economy of irove
nT^' rerJm,rI1Pn'J <hat you adopt a
, ,aw,- coverlnsr the suh.lect
r<ne.ll 3j ' 1 Wl'h to he dls-
t.nctlv underst>od as favoring fuU mm-
pensation f° every public officer, acco-d-
nnMie°n . Berv,re he performs. The
ru^Uc must expect lo pav their officers
nLL fi?rjPCn,at'°n. ani1 1 therefore do not
e * V mal{e Ihe salaries of pu'<-
V3 lo*er than Ju-tice and fair
dealing demands, hut on the other hand.
Ihe public is entitled to have a delntte.
fair salary law and I believe that if the
«C*re^l Pa'd 10 S,"~h officer*
rfn.Ei™ 2'. m' 1ro,m thp Public are In-
dustriously collected and turned Into the
county treasuries, that It will not be
unreasonable tc expect these fees to fur-
nish a fund sufficient to pay the salarv
accounts to all the county officers and
?ce i*. I? .,1 d-L.tnn: asI< that Injus-
don* the officers, but I do ask
well e the tax Payers as
Usury Law.
The constitution of Oklahoma under-
took to provide an lr.tere.t and u««iry
Sli*' Compared with the Oklahoma
Territory law it r?duced the leeal rate
cf interest from eieht per cent ilown to
six percent and the contract rate frs-,in
twelve percent down to ten percent and
provided :i penalty for usury There 1*
toubt In the minds of many peop1" as
to whether this provision of the consti-
tution is self operating and I And that
doubt so general that I have had care-
f.tl investigation made am satisfied
that tne constitution is re If oreratlnir nn.i
.. sal" interest and usury pSS"
J" E" 1.ef.l1,.I?I^.-a"l.t.>:erefore need no
I School wand Department.
| The school I^and Department of tti*
«tate includes, it the present time, four
departments. First—the I^nd Leasing*
department. Second—the Farm Mortgage
Tjepartmett. Third - the I^and Selling
Hepa? tmsi*!. and Fourth—the Qulntennial
Appraisement Department. The present
method of conductlr.pr those departments
Ht • the expense and salaries,
pr, rk Mre and incidental expenses, ia by
direction of the Board of T^nd Comml3-
sjom»r»^as provided in the constitution
and is the same method as practiced,
during- the entire history of this depart-
mc-nt undor the Government of Oklahoma
Territory. There are some who believo
that the legislature should pass a law.
rerognisintf the several official and cler-
j wP°*it,ons ren'»*r*d for the conduct
or thin department and make appropria-
tions for the payment of their salaries
and incidental expenses. It will be re-
emmbered that at every former session
of the legislature. I have submitted thia
same question and asked the legislature
on each such occMlon to use its own
Judgment, free from any advice from me,
to whether the old Oklahoma Terri-
torial method should be continued, or
whether a new method should he adopt-
ed. I say here again, as I have said be-
fore. that as a matter of dollars and
rents to the tax payers of Oklahoma, It
will make no difference whatever. If
th« expense of conducting this depart-
ment is paid out of the state treasury.
It would add that much additional bur-
den to the cost of stale government, but!
would leave a similar larger amount of
monev to be distributed for common
school purposes. On the other hand If
ho old territorial method is continued.lt
»;iil reduce the amount of money to be
distributed for common school purpose*
and will to '_he same extent reduce the
^mount of the cost of state government,
s.'mnlr a matter of swapping dol-
nd I have ne opinion to express. I
shall be content with what the legisla-
ture derides Is proper In this regard and
T therefore again submit It to vou for
consideration at this session and' in do-
M'g so I bear to advise you that within a
-ew days there will be ready for your
consideration a separate report as to the
doings and expenses of each one of the
four subdivisions of the School T,and
Department above mentioned, but I am
now prepared to eive you some general
results Of three of said subdivisions.
Land Leasing Department.
For your information we pive you the
last two full years of territorial govern-
ment with Its expenses and results and
the first two full calendar years of state
government with its expenses and results
Received from the leasing of
public lands year 1905 t345.4»S.3<l
Expenses for the year 22,835 13
the expenses being 4.19 percent of the
etoss receipts.
For the year 1906, Receipts. .$n.",7 82(5 <!ft
Expenses 24.788.03
the expenses being 4.81 percent of the
cross receipts.
Under Statehood.
Receipts for the year 1908 J724.341 60
Fxpen«es .... 27,329.54
the expenses being 3.77 percent of the
gross receipts, the srross receipts having
increased thirty-three percent in the year
190* as compared with the year 1905
For the year 1903, gross re-
ceipts I«77,082.8»
l'.xpenses 30,782 06
the expenses beini? 4.54 percent of tho
gross receipts. The increase In the re-
ceipts for the year 1909 as compared
with the year 190« being twenty-six per-
cent. We would add that delinquent nay-
nienta for the year 1909. which has just
endt-d, will later show total for the year
10"9 considerable in excess of the amount
already collected.
Farn Loan Department.
Total amount of the principal of the
permanent school fund is 15.038 643 6*
which Is Invested as follows: ' '
In ti rut mortgages on improved
farms 12,992,770.8S
Invested In current expense
bonds of forty-flve different
counts in the state 1.094 500 0ft
Ralance of cash on hand, sub-
ject to Investment in farm
"*>rt*a*es 951.372.500.00
This cash on hand is deposited in a
total of one hundred and sixty-one banks
scattered over the entire state.
/^r,r£?, beginning up to the 31st day
of ^„n'!>er' this fund has earned a total
kL ,', '6"M 22 Interest already collected
amn!. ^ •t-tte- We also give you the
S o JiV r of mon*y distributed by tho
Lai,d I'epartment to the common
Oklahoma Territory for the
ar 1907 and tha amount distributed
the yea~mS°n S°h<>01" °f the State f°r
1907. January distribution $309,996.06
July distribution 33,935.70
further vitalixlng legislation.
Game Law.
The game law has demonstrated a rev-
enue producing caoacltv mich ■rentl-
Ihan orlginailv contemplated by m„,. of
IS. I understand that there Is n iw a
urrtns of about fifty thousand doHar-
in the license fund. ar
I recommend that the law be so amen*
;i^^'?ted and ful
rot.?' for the last year of Ter-
™orlal government $343,931.76
Statehood1- n f°r the year 1909 under,
January distribution $500,281.00
luly distribution 250,246.00
Total for the year 1909 $750,527.00
p.rnper however, to call your at-
twji he fact that approximately
f a .r^ thousand dollars of the
tMie distribute! for the year 1909 was
interest money on the permanent school
°J wM h there was none the last
iC2ri„ territ"rial government, but still"
the Increase from land rentals Is cer-
tainlv complimentary to the present ad-
ministration of this department. I wouiJ
also add that the January distribution for
the year 1910. about to be marie, will
['PS r'vlTu^'fun^ofT''"1 ,in«" ^ ^ T "niton doltar, th.*exS£
etit of all surplu
act of the fir=t legislature. .
™ *" ~ directed to carefully
department be made out I
revenue nindVf the" .ta^ hale® tlJ^w0' ^Dnr'mVnt~ — ™
— • ' le h,Ne tlle ben-I appraise all the public land of the state
p_rfpar<^. a part of the land
careful geo-
descrlptlon
pprtlM-
and of the
Mini ' liJi! Unjust to the
mountain coun-
little inquiry will show vou
'if injustice results from
of various public buildings authorized j relief." Which m?ght'bePi^anetedh?n1 certain
at former sessions of the legislature, | .'f, I10'-1''"", which
J'Ott also authorized the issuance of ■ f'V'ther experience underaThebU|awf has
public building warrants, indefinite as | ^h''£n li'J3 0®erat'0J- has ceased to
to date of payment. I now call your I necessary, but'we do feel" that* thT'neo0
attention to the fact that the value of L're ™? tled !o ^ """"tain districts"
these warrants is greatly depreciated ; sidered. and a game law"! HkehCunto°n»
in the financial markets by the fact i srrc^t Ha,p ,,ke °k!a-
iliat there is no definite time fixed j vastly .nrfer-nt coMdm^n. ne^d°"0 have
for their payment. I also remind you nuthorlx-nl and' availed of by
that the state wl„ not get a dollar's | ^
:°rt.h.0f^r0Perty ,f°r " WarrRnt th8t ' , W aCiournment of ,hn lMt
must bi> discounted by the contractor '"'ature, ^ the rodo Commission provided
and therefore it Is advisable for "the ci4N
state to have this warrant so amended
that it will bring par in the hands of
the contractor who accepts it on a
building contract, and to do this, I
am advised by bankers that a definite J p">j't
lime should be fixed for tho pavment
of any such warrant. I therefore rec-1 of your Holy, j shali be giad 'to concur
oiumend th it you amend this law so j ln ™n»i<i*ratio»i of the subject,
that a definite time for payment may n-ce's:.uP"ywo'r'k ^r "all ^'the ^op!e of'the
fixed, not only for the warrants i M u P°orl>' done, it t* worthless,
heretofore authorized, but for such as j nnt 'a' o'f ^orTZX'Tola,li JLc
jou may luthorize at this session fori ha"n,lv °" Poorly, its importance t
. - of the state.
1 recon. ncnd that a co-nmlttct, he ap-
meet wlri "'ti 1 i- IOU5^ nnd Senate to
Mttr n ll,e Cominission, and
e^refuliv inquire into th-» progress made
ho met hod j adopted, and all things per-*
ta-nlng to said work, and fron, such re-
' >°u,.r .Honorable Body, havlnn de-
I «i,m?M ii U coura,i should be pursued,
, L',RnnJ° .rp?111'-3 further action
an°SIy „ndviso ,he department and
all Jhny Who might call for Information
■haracter of each tract of land.
This work has
to the ,
Its ccnd't'oo and value rni, WI),k has
The total cost has been sub-
"ver.aye of three cents per
bout one hundred
111 not burden vou
at this time, the
comnletion.
"tantially an
acre. Or a total of
thf-isand dollars. I
'"•Ith further details
w<71Mnt<; he in your hands
vrii. rTu. days. I t frommen<l that
a= tn llh«,7?',S ,","on t:> ,h- proposition
L'"" ,c,her ".""t the legislature may.
under the provision, of the constitution;
mer,r Ko VmPth" ' hv wh'ch this depart-
Htovlsl and"?.?a'0,1 ,,0,h
n, t» iklth '*.Le Koverntnent and if so.
mav r , '' >tlon that you
max mike for the conducting of thM
f-om tZ7, ",f,hni ("'.Ur" drawn
,rom the tax funds of the state or from
the earnings of the department.
Also the»e
growing e|t|(
part of the
their limits.
Duo to an error, no doubt In en-
rolling, the appropriation bill at the
last session of the legislature for ap-
propriation then made to maintain
the school for the blind for this vea-
and next year, was, in the opinion of
the Attorney General, rendered lnvnl-
!l\ and 1 therefore ask you to re-en-
act such appropriation bill validating
the appropriations then Intended to be
made. This will not increase the cost
or state government this year, as the
amount of this appropriation was in-
cluded in the total cost of state gov-
ernment heretofore made and was for
the sum of twenty thousand dollars
for oach yoar. <
additional buildings and grounds.
State Taxes
Your state officers have, fra.n the be-
ginning. strenuously worked for economy
and we challenge the world to show any
Items of extravagance In your state ad-
nilnlntr.itlon. The first year of state-
,al"lou®l> "ur state constitution
authorised a maximum levy of three and
one-half mills, we mado tho lew one and
one-fourth mills and this, supplemented
by incomes from other sources, would
have fully provided the cost of state gov-
ernment, had not our other legitimate
revenues been withheld by Ihe public
«er\ ice corporations, protected by tho in-
Junctions Isdticvl by federal courts The
second year of statehood, being tho year
mini 0l£ i,ax ievV,wa! two one-half
year * double the levy of the flr»t
Special Improvement Tax.
I call your nttention to tha complaint
by many people that street paving and
the bull Png of sidewalks, and the tax-
ing of the expense thereof to the abut-
ting property owners is being complained
at for the reason that almost unlimited
authority is vested In the public boards
of control, and practically without con-
slderlng the wishes of the property o*rn
era in the dUtrlct or a.nng "the'.tr^
uiK.t, w.iioh such improvements are to
be made and I recommend that you pro-
vide that before any street shall 1*. so
Improved, and the cost thereof taxed to
the abutting ownors, that such property
owners must, by petition in writing to
Ihe extent representing a maiorli^ S
the front feet petition tho propb,
board for euch improvement.
a-e perhaps a doxen of the
"S .and towns In the western
state, which embrace within
or Immediately adfolninc tho
orm;:hr^t:; :irepu,h,ic ,an"
n-l*ln£ sjlV n°i prP,"nt law auth-
nt i . w 7J value of these tracts
of land tor additions to these cities Is
so much greater than their value'for
rBh&r? Stress-
t.'!V . . lea sod lUHr
\aluo Instead of ,at four percent of their
actual appraised value.
As one illustration, one tract of lanfl
iJrH^hf't T.*11 nt ,lxtv-five thousand do|.
f^rm n"'il.00""?1 POMlbly be leased for
j"™ at over two hundred dot-
iof. a i are *c'veral other tracts of
land in suostantially the snme '"onditlon
Jn^recomn.end thai vou look InTo" the£
United States Constitutional Amendment.
By speo'al mes«Mire with in n div n«»
Lw°' ' f'11,1 transmit to you for your con-
sideration end such action as vou 4een»
proper, a pmposed amendment to tho
of :J,? (TnIted author
orll i i ° a income tax i
am delayed In transmitting this matte*
to you. as I desire to have the bonertt
p i |ie consideration of your Honorable
ik! of opinions giveu upon
this subje.-t by eminent men in other
H L Rru! whoso opinions may he a
light to \\d well worthy of our considcra-
I
tlon.
■NMMSIMIMi
Roipectfully submitted.
C. N. HASKKLU
ni>f*sa.
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Charles E. Hill and Sons. The Granite Enterprise. (Granite, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 37, Ed. 1 Friday, January 28, 1910, newspaper, January 28, 1910; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc402877/m1/3/: accessed April 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.