13th Oklahoma Legislature

The 13th Oklahoma Legislature was the 1931 meeting of Oklahoma's legislative branch, consisting of the Oklahoma Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives. It convened in Oklahoma City during the administration of Governor William H. Murray, a former speaker of the Oklahoma House and a participant in the state's constitutional convention. The regular session ran from January 6 through April 11, 1931. The legislature operated during a period when Oklahoma's political institutions were still developing and the state was confronting serious economic and governmental pressures associated with the early Great Depression. Governor Murray entered the session with a substantial legislative program and used his political influence in the organization of the House. With the governor's assistance, Carlton Weaver, a Wilburton newspaper editor and one of the youngest members of Oklahoma's constitutional convention, was elected speaker of the House. J. T. Daniel served as House majority floor leader and resisted some of Murray's proposals, demonstrating that the governor's influence did not eliminate disagreement within the legislature. W. G. Stigler served as president pro tempore of the Senate. One of the session's principal enactments was House Bill 1, which created the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The measure established a central state tax-administration body and became a significant institutional development in Oklahoma's fiscal government. The legislature is also notable for the first instance in which redistricting was undertaken outside the procedures and requirements specified by the Oklahoma Constitution. That action is an important feature of the session's constitutional and political history, even though the available reference material does not provide a detailed account of the maps, legal consequences, or subsequent challenges. The 13th Legislature was not a commercial company or consumer-facing brand. Its identity derives from the numbered term of a public governmental institution. Its two chambers represented Oklahoma constituencies, considered bills, and performed the legislative functions assigned by the state constitution. The term ended with the close of the regular session on April 11, 1931, after which it was succeeded by the 14th Oklahoma Legislature. Because it was a historical legislative term rather than a continuing organization under this specific number, it is treated here as a completed or defunct governmental entity.

The 13th Oklahoma Legislature met as Oklahoma's state legislative branch in regular session from January 6 to April 11, 1931. Its work took place in Oklahoma City during the governorship of William H. Murray, who had previously served as speaker of the Oklahoma House and had been a member of the Oklahoma constitutional convention. The legislature consisted of the state Senate and House of Representatives and operated within the political and economic circumstances of the early 1930s. Murray played an important role in shaping the organization of the House. With his support, Carlton Weaver, a Wilburton editor and one of the youngest members of the constitutional convention, was elected speaker. The session nevertheless contained meaningful resistance to the governor's agenda. J. T. Daniel, the House majority floor leader, opposed some of Murray's proposals, illustrating the limits of executive influence over the elected legislature. W. G. Stigler held the Senate's presiding leadership position as president pro tempore. The legislature's best-known institutional measure was House Bill 1, which created the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The commission represented a move toward centralized administration of state taxation and became a notable part of Oklahoma's governmental development. The session also marked the first occasion on which redistricting was carried out outside the requirements established by the state constitution. The available account identifies this as a significant procedural and constitutional event but does not supply detailed information about the districts, the legislative vote, or any resulting litigation. The regular session concluded on April 11, 1931. The 13th Legislature was then followed by the 14th Legislature. Its significance rests on its governmental actions and political leadership rather than on commercial activity; it had no products, campaigns, consumer offerings, or corporate ownership structure.

• 1931

  Regular session convened

  [1]13th Oklahoma Legislatureen.wikipedia.org

  The Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives opened the 13th Legislature's regular session in Oklahoma City on January 6, 1931.

• 1931

  Carlton Weaver elected House speaker

  [1]13th Oklahoma Legislatureen.wikipedia.org

  With Governor William H. Murray's assistance, Carlton Weaver was elected Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

• 1931

  Oklahoma Tax Commission created

  [1]13th Oklahoma Legislatureen.wikipedia.org

  House Bill 1 established the Oklahoma Tax Commission, creating a central state tax-administration institution.

• 1931

  Redistricting conducted outside constitutional requirements

  [1]13th Oklahoma Legislatureen.wikipedia.org

  The session was identified as the first instance in which redistricting was performed outside the procedures required by the Oklahoma Constitution.

• 1931

  Regular session adjourned

  [1]13th Oklahoma Legislatureen.wikipedia.org

  The regular session ended on April 11, 1931.

A historical Oklahoma state legislative body whose 1931 session is associated with the creation of the Oklahoma Tax Commission and an early instance of redistricting conducted outside constitutional requirements.

• 1931

  Creation of the Oklahoma Tax CommissionStrategy

  Background

  The legislature considered state taxation and administration during its 1931 regular session.

  Action taken

  House Bill 1 created the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

  Aftermath

  The measure established a centralized institution for Oklahoma's tax administration; the available reference does not specify later organizational changes or financial results.

  Source

• 1931

  Redistricting outside constitutional requirementsOther

  Background

  The session addressed legislative districting in a manner identified as unprecedented in Oklahoma's legislative history.

  Action taken

  Redistricting was undertaken outside the procedures and requirements specified by the Oklahoma Constitution.

  Source

1. 113th Oklahoma Legislatureen.wikipedia.org