RETRENCHMENT MEET NO PEACE GATHERING

Sapulpans all agree curtailment is needed, but how to get it the question

SAPULPA, Okla., Jan. 29, — (Special)— It required the skill of the chairman, John F. Egan, to keep a bunch of orators at Sapulpa’s tax league meeting the other evening from coming to blows. The hors de combat attitude came about through the impugning of the motives of a number by one of the speakers, H. M. Watchorn, and in a twinkling there was an attitude of war assumed and the shorter and uglier word was rapidly exchanged, regardless of the presence of a number of ladies, and blows were only averted on the suggestion that the matter could be settled after adjournment, at which time cooler heads prevailed and the threatened war was over.

The threatened breach of the peace was due to a divergence of opinion as to the proper way to retrench. Everybody agreed that it was time to do that; and that the way to save was to save; but there was a wide divergence of opinions as to the most effective method.

Two suggested methods were before the meeting for adoption, one that of the committee appointed at a former meeting to suggest and amendment to the charter, and the other changes suggested by Judge Burke, attorney for the league. The former was adopted by a close vote, and the same committee was instructed to prepare an initiative petition for presentation to the voters for the signature of 25 per cent of the last vote cast in the city.

The total of the changes suggested amount to a reduction of about $10,000 in round numbers annually, and practically does away with the salaries of the mayor and commissioners, while a number of minor officers are eliminated by the consolidation process.

Previously published in Tulsa Daily World, January 30, 1912.