improvement within such town, and for its care and maintenance after construction. That said highway, in all towns of one thousand (1,000) and less, shall be maintained by the State Highway Commission in the same manner as all other state highways. Mileage-How Maintained. Section 15. The entire mileage of the state highway system, as established and designated by the commission, except that portion of the same that shall be inside the corporate limits of incorporated towns and cities, shall be maintained by the State Highway Commission under a patrol system, to be provided for in the rules and regulations promulgated by the commission. The entire mileage of county highways, in each county, shall be maintained by the county commissioners under a patrol system to be provided for in rules and regulations promuigated by the county commissioners. Definition-"Hard Surface." Section 16. The term "hard surface" as used in this Act, shall be construed to mean a road surfaced with concrete, brick, water bound or bituminous macadam, or the equivalent of properly bound gravel, or other material to be approved by the State Highway Commission, and meeting the federal requirements. Guide Boards. Section 17. The commission is authorized to prescribe uniform marking and guide boards on the state highways; provided, that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the removal, or prevent the maintenance of, marking signs, guide boards, and danger or warning signals, whether carrying advertising matter or not, erected and maintained under the terms of any contract heretofore made with, or permit heretofore granted by the commission. State Highway Construction Fund. Section 18. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund, which shall consist of all monies heretofore appropriated to the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund now in the State Treasury and such other moneys as may from time to time be appropriated by the legislature. Expenditures. Section 19. The expenditure of the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund shall be under the control and supervision of the State Highway Commission, and all claims against this fund shall be paid on its itemized voucher forms, prepared by the State Highway Commission, and sworn to by the claimant, and all such claims, when duly signed and sworn to, shall be audited by the commission, and upon final approval vouchers which are payable from the state highway fund, shall be forwarded to the Auditor of the State, who shall draw warrants therefor, and said warrants shall be paid by the State Treasurer from the said State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund. Compensation of Commissioners. Section 20. Each of the three commissioners of the State Highway Commission shall be paid upon a per diem of Ten ($10.00) Dollars, per day, for the time actually and necessarily devoted to the duties of the office, and the secretary of the commission shall receive a salary of Thirty-six Hundred ($3,600.00) Dollars, per year, and the state highway engineer shall receive a salary not to exceed the sum of Six Thousand ($6,000.00) Dollars, per year, and all other assistants and employees shall be paid such salary or compensation as may be by the commission deemed just and equitable for the services rendered. All salaries and compensation for services provided for in this section shall be payable monthly out of the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund. Any employee of the commission shall be allowed actual and necessary expenses while absent from the state capitol upon official duty, and members of the commission shall, in addition to their per diem, be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duty, but no expense account of either a member of the commission, or any employee thereof, shall be allowed until the same has been itemized, sworn to and filed with the secretary of the commission. State Examiner and Inspector-Duties. Section 21. The State Examiner and Inspector shall audit the nooks of the State Highway Commission annually, between the 15th day of November and the 15th day of December, of each year, and his report of such audit shall be made in triplicate, one copy thereof to be filed with the governor, one copy with the State Auditor, and one with the State Highway Commission, and said copies of the report shall be filed in each of the departments here named on or before the 31st day of December of each year. Provided, the State Examiner and Inspector, under the direction of the Governor, shall determine the amount of all unexpended appropriated funds remaining to the credit of the state departments and the state institutions, at the end of each fiscal year after all outstanding obligations have been fully satisfied, and shall certify such funds to the State Treasurer who is authorized and directed to transfer such amounts to the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund. County Excise Board. Section 22. When the county excise board shall have levied the tax provided for in Section 10202, Compiled Oklahoma Statutes, 1921, the State Treasurer shall pay out to the county treasurer the amount due said county, from the levy made in Section 10204, to be deposited by said county treasurer in the county highway fund, Repealing Clause. Section 23. Sections 10100, 10116, 10117, 10118, 10120, 10124, 10127, 10205, of the Compiled Oklahoma Statutes, Annotated, 1921, and all Acts and parts of Acts in conflict herewith, are hereby repealed. Provided, that in all places in any of the Compiled Oklahoma Statutes, 1921, or the Session Laws of 1923, providing for the construction and maintainance of the roads and bridges, of the State, where the words "State Road," or "State Highways" are used, the same shall be construed to mean "County Roads" or "County Highways." Emergency. Section 24. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this Act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. Approved March 14, 1924. CHAPTER 49 SENATE BILL NO. 46. Validating Board of Education Contracts AN ACT validating certain contracts heretofore entered into by Boards of Education in Independent or Consolidated School Districts of the State of Oklahoma, in Counties having a population of more than 116,000 inhabitants, as shown by the last Preceding Decennial Federal Census, and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA : Section 1. That all contracts for the construction of Public School Buildings and improvements heretofore entered into by the Board of Education, in any independent or consolidated school district of this State, in counties having a population of more than 116,000 inhabitants, as shown by the last preceding decennial Federal Census, wherein the actual cost of construction of such public school buildings or other improvements has exceeded or does exceed the amount of funds legally available for the construction of such public school buildings or other improvements, are hereby declared to be legal and binding and a legal and binding obligation against such school district in the excess of such contract price over and above the amount of funds available to pay the same; provided, that such excess cost represents actual cost of construction therein without fraud or collusion by or between members of said Board of Education, and any contractors or sub-contractors engaged in the construction thereof. Same-Validated. Section 2. The acts of the Board of Education in contracting such indebtedness, where the same was and is in good faith and without fraud or collusion are hereby validated and declared to be legal and binding upon such school district, and the Board of Education is hereby authorized to enter the appearance of such school District in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of having the said claim reduced to judgment against such School District, and any judgment so rendered by any court of competent jurisdiction is hereby declared to be a valid, legal and binding judgment upon such district. Emergency. Section 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this Act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. Approved March 14, 1924. CHAPTER 50 SENATE BILL NO. 48. Commissioners of The Land Office. AN ACT amending Paragraph "Z-4," Section 111, Compiled Statutes of Oklahoma, 1921, relating to the Commissioners of the Land Office, making appropriation for said Department, repealing certain and conflicting statutes, and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: Section 1. That paragraph "Z-4", of Section 111, Compiled Statutes of Oklahoma, 1921, be, and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: "Z-4. Commissioners of the Land Office: Secretary, $3,000.00; Assistant Secretary, $2,100.00; Law and Executive Clerk, $2,750.00; Cashier, $1,800.00; Record Clerk, $1,500.00; Assistant Cashier, $1,500,00. Lease and Sales Division: Chief Clerk, $2,100.00; Bookkeeper (lease), $1,500.00; Two (2) bookkeepers ($1,500.00 each), $3,000.00; Transfer Clerk, $1,500.00; Four (4) Stenographic Clerks ($1,500.00 each), $6,000.00. Farm Loan Division: Chief Clerk, $2,400.00; Chief Title Examiner, $2,750.00; Two (2) Assistant Title Examiners ($2,400.00 each), $4,800.00; Mortgage Clerk, $1,800.00; Bookkeeper, $1,800.00; Two (2) Bookkeepers ($1,500.00, each), $3,000.00; Filing Clerk, $1,500.00; seven (7) District Land Appraisers ($2,100.00 each), $14,700.00; six (6) Stenographic Clerks, ($1,500.00 each), $9,000.00. Provided, that the Commissioners of the Land Office shall divide the State into seven (7) appraisers' Districts, and such district appraiser shall reside as nearly as practical in the center of each District, and each District appraiser shall receive actual traveling expenses, including oil and gasoline for his car, necessary to the performance of his duties in appraising and examining lands offered as security for farm loans out of the permanent School Fund, and in collecting from lessees, purchasers and borrowers of this Department, and that each district appraiser shall be a freeholder and practical farmer, who shall have had at least five (5) years' experience as a farmer and shall be acquainted with land values. Provided, that each district appraiser shall own, maintain and use a car in the performance of his duties as such district appraiser, and shall pay all expenses incident to the upkeep of said car. Oil and Gas Division: Oil and Gas Agent, $2,500.00; Bookkeeper, $1,500.00; Stenographic Clerk, $1,500.00." Appropriation. Section 2. There is hereby appropriated out of any monies in the Treasury of the State of Oklahoma, not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1924, and June 30th, 1925, the following sums, or so much thereof, as may be necessary for the purposes therein mentioned, and no other: 2,000.00 State Grants, and Contributions (bond Premium) insurance. Equipment: Section 3. That Sub-Section, entitled "Commissioner of Land Office," and all items thereunder, of Section 1, Chapter 49, Senate Bill No. 107, Session Laws of Oklahoma, 1923, and all laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith, are hereby repealed. Emergency. Section 4. It being immediately necessary for the preserva |