than by appearing before the regular committee thereof, when in session, after having permission in writing from the presiding officer subject to the approval of the house before whose committee he desires to appear, or by newspaper publication, public address, printed or written statement, arguments or briefs delivered to or upon the desk of each member of the house sought to be reached thereby: Provided, that before delivering such statements, argument or brief, at least twenty copies shall first be deposited with the chief clerk of the house before which such person desires to appear, which shall be subject to public inspection; and no officer, agent or appointee or employee in the service or under control of the legislature, judiciary, or executive branch of government of the State, nor shall any officer or employee under or in the service of the United States government attempt to influence any member of the legislature to vote for or against any measure pending therein affecting the pecuniary interests of such person, excepting in the manner herein provided in the case of legislative agent. Any person acting as legislative agent or counsel shall counsel shall first make application in writing to the presiding officer of the house before whose committee such person desires to appear, stating his name, age, place of residence, name of person, firm, company, or corporation he is acting as agent or counsel for the amount he is to receive per day, week or month, and when said application has been approved by a majority of such house such actions to be entered upon the journal of the house granting the permit, thereupon the presiding officer thereof shall issue to such agent or counsel a card containing substantially the following:

Oklahoma..

To the chairman, or any member of the committee on of the (house or senate)‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒of‒‒‒‒‒‒ representing as (counsel or agent) is interested in. legislation, and is receiving, or is to receive $

per..

as shown by his credentials as represented to the presiding officer of the (house of representatives or the senate), and the said____________is hereby authorized by the (house or senate) to appear before any committee of the (house or senate) to make any arguments or submit any briefs or testi

mony relative to any bill or resolution relating to the said proposed legislation.

(Signed).

Speaker of the House

or

(2176 R. L. 1910)

President of the Senate.

1474. Rights After Approval of Application-When the application of any person to act as legislative agent or counsel, has been approved as provided in this article, by majority of either house, such person may appear before any committee of the house granting the right to such person to act as legislative agent or counsel and make oral or written arguments, or submit briefs or testimony for or against any bill, bills, or resolutions relating to the proposed legislation: Provided, that either house shall have the power at any time to revoke any permit issued by either house. When any such permit is revoked the holder thereof shall not be recognized by the legislature or by any committee or member thereof as legislative agent or counsel. (2177 R. L. 1910.)

1475. Employed Agents--No person employed for a valuable consideration to act as legislative counsel or legislative agent, for any person, corporation, or association shall go upon the floor of the legislative hall reserved for the members thereof, while in session, except on invitation of the house or senate, the same to be determined by vote thereof. (2178 R. L. 1910.)

1476. Corporations-No corporation, either foreign or domestic, shall appear before any legislative committee except by regular officer who shall submit himself for cross-examination by the presiding officer of said committee and furnish books and papers necessary to throw light upon the subject of which he desires to call the attention of said committee. Any individual citizen of this state shall be permitted to appear individually or by attorney whenever he has an interest in a question before the legislature, but no attorney shall be allowed to appear before any committee on the same subject more than twice during the session of the legislature. All argument in favor of or against the measure shall be submitted to a committee in open session. (2179 R. L. 1910.)

1477. Bribery-No person, firm, or member of a firm, corporation, or association shall give or offer any money, position or thing of value to any member of the state legislature

to influence him to work or to vote for any proposition, nor shall any member of the state legislature accept any money, position, promise or reward or thing of value for his work or vote upon any bill, resolution or measure before either house of the legislature. (2180 R. L. 1910.)

1478. Penalty-Any person or member of any firm, association, or corporation, violating Sections 1475 and 1476 and every person causing or participating in the violation of either of said sections shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not less than ten days nor more than twelve months, or by a fine of not less than two hundred nor more than one thousand dollars. (2181 R. L. 1910.)

1479. Penalty-Any person or member of any firm, corporation or association violating the provisions of Section 1477 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than two or more than five years, and by a fine in the sum of not less than one thousand nor more than five thousand dollars. (2182 R. L. 1910.)

1480. Free Speech-Libel-Every person may freely speak, write, or publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions for libel, the truth of the matter alleged to be libelous may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous be true, and was written or published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted. (Sec. 22, Art. 2, Const.)

1481. Libel Defined-Libel is a false or malicious unprivileged publication by writing, printing, picture, or effigy or other fixed representation to the eye, which exposes any person to public hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy, or which tends to deprive him of public confidence, or to injure him in his occupation, or any malicious publication as aforesaid, designed to blacken or villify the memory of one who is dead, and tending to scandalize his surviving relatives or friends. (2380 R. L. 1910.)

Indictment, see sections 399 and 400.

Held to be a protection to a class as well as to an individual. Information approved. Crane v. State, 14 Okla. Cr. 30, 166 P. 1110.

1482. Privileged Publications-A privileged publication is one made;

First: In any legislative or judicial proceeding or any other proceeding authorized by law.

Second. In the proper discharge of an official duty.

Third: By a fair and true report of any legislative or judicial or other proceeding authorized by law, or anything said in the course thereof, and any and all expressions of

opinion in regard thereto, and criticisms thereon, and any and all criticisms upon the official acts of any and all public officers, except where the matter stated of and concerning the official act done, or of the officer, falsely imputes crime to the officer so criticised.

In all cases of publication of matter not privileged under this section, malice shall be presumed from the publication; unless the fact and the testimony rebut the same. No publication which, under this section, would be privileged, shall be punishable as libel. (2381 R. L. 1910.)

Words upon which slander are predicated are to be taken in their plain ordinary and popular sense. Smith v. Gillis, 51 Okla. 134, 151 P. 869.

1483. Penalty-Any person who makes, composes or dictates such libel or procures the same to be done; or who wilfully publishes or circulates such libel; or in any way knowingly or wilfully aids or assists in making, publishing or circulating the same, shall be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not more than one year, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or both, and shall also be civilly liable to the party injured. (2382 R. L. 1910.) ·

1484. Criminal Action-Defenses-In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth thereof may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it be made to appear by the defendant that the matter charged as libelous was true, and in addition thereto was published with good motives, and for justifiable ends, or was a privileged communication, the defendant shall be acquitted. (2383 R. L. 1910.)

1485. What Constitutes Publication-To sustain the charge of publishing libel it is not needful that the words complained of should have been read by any person; it is enough and sufficient evidence that the accused knowingly parted with the immediate custody of the libel under circumstances which exposed it to be read by any person other than himself. (2385 R. L. 1910.)

1486. Newspapers Reporting Official Proceedings-No editor or proprietor of any newspaper, shall be liable to prosecution for a fair and true report of any judicial, legislative or other public official proceedings except upon proof of malice in making such report, and in making such report of public official proceedings, malice shall not be implied from publication; but libelous remarks connected with matter privi