The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-12

Documents
Guthrie, o. T, Dec. 1.-(SpeciaD-
Governor Renfrow has been petitioned
to call a special session of the legisla-
ture this winter. This is the last re-
suit of the over taxes.
The petitioner is H. C. Chapman of
Dkeene and his petition is as follows:
To his excellencey, Hon. VIM. c. Rem
frow, governor Of Oklahoma Terri
tory:
We, the undersigned citizens and
taxpayers Of tire territory Of Oklahoma,
would respectfully represent to your
Excellency that the unprecedented and
almost utter failure of crops for the
past harvest and the equally unpreced-
ented low prices obtained for those Of
the preceding year have left US abso-
lutely unable to pay our taxes for the
year 1895 without greater sacrifices than
our means viii admit of. We therefore
earnestly and respectively pray that
you speedily call the territorial legis-
iatur5 together in special session to
pass an act suspendins the forcible col
lection Of taxes for the said year for a
reasonable time to enable US to acquire
the means with which TO pay them and
for such other and further legislation as
fare Of the territory.
In connection with the tax trouble
the Guthrie Leader republishes a report
of the action Of the territorial board Of
equalization last June, as well as the
united county commissioners petition
10 the territorial board, adopted a Ok
Iahoma City. The documents are inter
esting in the light OF subsequent events,
and are as follows:
Guthrie, o. T, June II, 1S95.-Agree-
R'ble to the provisions of Article l, Of
Chapter 43, Of the session laws of 1895,
the territorial board of equalization
met in the office of the territorial audi
nor in the city Of Guthrie, at $50 o'clock
y. m, Monday, June II, 1895, the follow
ing members being present: T. J.
Lowe, territorial secretary, and L. D.
Cameron, territorial auditor; Governor
Renfrow was absent on account Of sick
ness.
The board organized by electing T. ].
Lowe president, and Z. D. Cameron,
secretary. Returns Of assessment not
having been received from the counties
Of Day, Grant, Noble and Pawnee, the
board adjourned to meet at 10 O'Clock
the following Thursday, June 90
Guthrie. o. T., June 20, 1S95.-The
foard met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: IT. ]. Lowe, president; E. D.
Cameron, secretary.
On examination and comparison Of
the returns Of assessment from the
several counties the average rate Of val
uatiOn Of Kingfisher county was found
10 be the highest. and in the opinion OF
the board, the most equitable, and the
most nearly in accordance with the law
requiring all property to be assessed at
its actual cash value. The valua ton OF
Kingfisher county was therefore adopt
ed as basis for equalization. The sec
rotary of the board was directed TO
compute from the variuos returns Of
assessment the percentage required TO
be added to each for the purpose Of
equalization on the above basis.
Board adjourned to meet at o'clock
p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The board met at the time designated.
From the compilations Of the secretary
of the board 1t was found necessary TO
make the following per centum increase
in the valuation of the several counties,
and it was by the board ordered:
hlhhHSheF .---. -..-- ..-...-.--....-
Beaver .---- .--.- .-...... -.......s. 40
Canadian .............. ........ go. A.
cleveland .-.-.. ....... 70
ID 1890 $4,000 ..... 5000. 80
u 49, $1,000 ---- ..-..-......- 80
SrarHeIu-- -.--- ..-.-...-..-.-.-. %
1IdHI 80 1890 5000 -.'-----.-.-.'-- 90
nay ---.-.-- ------ .-.-.-.--. $3.50 %
Llncoln ---.--- .-....------.--..-.-- 81
Logan $1,000 .-....-. .'.-.......- 80 -
NOBLE -.---.-.---...--. .--.. .-.- --.- %
CkIahoma --.--- .-... go. $500 ..---- 50
PaWnee $1,000. -.-.. see. -..-.... 20
Payne ........ ..-.. -. $1,000. .-... =. p
Roger Nils ....-....-. --....
NaSnlta $4,000. ..........-.-.. 90
oodS $1,000 -. AZ
Woodward ..-.- .--...-.... ....... 40
The following levies for territorial
purposes, for the year 1895. were order
"a and the territorial auditor was di-
rected to certify the same 10 the sew
er3l counties for collection:
For general revenues mills on the /
dollar.
For normal school fund.- mill on
the dollar.
For university fund-1r mill on the /
dollar.
For bond interest fund-l2mill on the
dollar.
For board of education fund l-lO mill |
on the dollar.
The auditor was directed TO forthwith 1
make the necessary returns Of the find /
ings of the board TO the several county 1
clerks as by law provided.
The board adjourned sine die.
r D. CAMERON.
Ter. Auditor and Secretary Of Territor- |
la Board Of Equalization.
Per 4. Q. NICHOLS, Deputy.
COMMISSIONERS PETITION.
Following is the resolution drawn up |
by the commissioners OF Oklahoma |
..,r-4v- r,r,asa-, I'D n IA rarvi+ a
board:
Whereas, The county commissioners
Of the various counties of Oklahoma
territory in convention assembled. after
careful consideration and consultation /
lind that the property Of the several
counties in the territory has been re-
turned at about one-half its actual cash
value. Therefore, be ii
Resolved. In view Of the facts above
set forth we deem il expedient 10 re-
quest the territorial board Of equaliza-
zion 10 raise all Of said property in the
several counties in said territory 10 a
nearer cash basis Of value than We find
Il returned 10 us.
SUPREME COURT PROUD.
The Guthrie Capital has the follow
Ing:
The attorneys and many people Of the
territory will remember the case of
VS.. Cameron. territorial au-
oitor, for the collection OF the plain
tiff's salary as StenOgrSpner OF the sec
ond legislature.
The supreme courts o. Idaho. Wyou-
ing and Arizona had decided that a ter
rito-ial legislature has no right TO con-
tract bills for service such as Rraith-
vast performed. and Il could not be paid
legally out OF the federal appropriation
f0r the expenses OF the legislature.