The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-06-26
TERRITORIAL BOARD OF
E0UALTZATION MEETS
he Levy Reduced sN-tenths Of 81 NIL
Proceedings OF the Board.


/ The territorial equalization board
has just concluded an important ses-
sion, particulars Of which are given
officially below. 1t will be seen that
! the board, as usual, is looking after
interests OF taxpayers and the people
/ generally by the orders msde. The
/ lew is reduced 6-l0 Of a mill. Returns
were received from all but three
counties. Following is the work Of
/ the board:
In pursuance OF the provisions Of
sec. ], chapter 43, Session Laws Of
/ Oklahoma, 1898, the territorial board
OF equalization Of the Territory Of
/ Oklahoma met in the auditors office,
/ in the city of Guthrie, on the third
/ Monday OF June, same being the 18th
/ day OF June, 1896
Present, William c. Renfrow presi-
dent; f. ID. Cameron, secretary, and
/ Thomas J. Lowe
I II appearing that the returns from
only fifteen Of the twenty-three
counties Of the territory were on file
with the auditor, on motion board ad-
/ journed until Saturday the Goth day OF
June. 1896 w. G. RENFRow,
/ r ID CAMERON, President.
Secretary.
/ Saturday, June 20, 1896.
! The territorial board OF equalization
convened at the auditors Office pur-
suant TO adjournment
Present, William G. Renfrow, presi-
dent; f. d Cameron, secretary, and
Thomas j. Lowe.
1t appearing that the assessors re-
turns from all the counties have not
been filed with the auditor, on motion
board adjourned until o'clock, m,
Monday, June 2e, 1896
w. c. RENFRow,
| + n. CAMERON President.
Secretary.
Monday, June 90, 1896.
Territorial board Of equalization
met pursuant to adjournment.
Present, William c. Renirow, presi-
dent; Il ID. Cameron, secretary, and
! Thomas j Lowe.
1t being ascertained that the re-
turns from all Of the counties had
been filed with the auditor, except
those from three counties, to-wit:
Pawnee, Garfield and Greer, and that
the county clerk in Garfield county has
been enioined by order of the court
from certifyin ing the assessment returns
from the county to the auditor and
that this, the fourth Monday in June
is the last day fixed by law for the
auditor TO transmit TO the various
county clerks, the rate OF territorial
tax to be levied in said counties as
| fixed by the territorial board of equal
ization, on motion IL is ordered that
the board proceed to examine the
various county assessments on file, and
10 equalize the same, and to decide
upon the rate OF territorial tax TO be
levied for the current year.
On examination it appears that some
of the county clerks in making the re-
turns for their counties have failed to
give the mum Der of acres Of land, and
that said returns are indefinite, uncer-
tain and incomplete in other respects,
aud bat an intelligent comparison Of
values placed on the several classes Of
property In the various counties is
practically impossible. said eXamina-
tion further discloses the fact that
where the number and valuation of
property Is given there seems TO have
been a uniform and concerted action
on the part OF the assessors in return
ing property for taxation at much less
than its actual cash value. In fact, a
comparison Of the returns with the
census returns discloses that the as
SCISSORS placed different valuation
upon property for the purposes Of tax
alton than that placed on the same
property in the census returns.
However, IA examination OF the re-
turns does not disclose that the rule
OF uniformity has been violated. Under
the construction OF the statute that
the power OF equalization vested in
this board does not authorize a change
IN the aggregate OF the assessment as
returned to the auditor, it seems that
no equalization of these returns is nee
essary. In fact, the assessments re-
turned from the several counties APP
pear To be uniform and equal.
1t is therefore ordered by the terri
torial board of equalization OF the ter
ritory Of Oklahoma, that the various
returns OF assessments from the sew
eral counties of the territory now be-
fore rs being those from all of the
counties Of the territory, except the
three hereiub before named, as equal
lied by the several county boards of
equalization and certified by the clerks
to the auditor, are hereby ordered and
directed 10 be certified back TO the sew
eral county clerks, as the valuation
adopted by said board for revenue
purposes for the current year.
IL is further ordered that the valua-
tiOn as fixed in Pawnee county by the
county board of equalization be and
the same Is hereby adopted as the val
uation hXed by this board for revenue
purposes in said county for the cur
rent year; that the same order is made
in regard TO the valuation fixed by the
county board of equalization Ia Greer
county.
il is further dered that the valua.
tion as fixed by the county board of
equalization in Garfield county, or as
the same may be hereafter modified
by the court in the proceedings now
pending to correct the same. be and
the same Is hereby adopted for reve-
nue. purposes ina said county for the
current year
On motion IL was ordered by the
board that telegraph lines where not
already returned by the railroad com
pabies and assessed by the territorial
board OF railroad assessors be valued
at forty dollars per mile for the arst
wire Of lines, and ten dollars per mile
for each additional wire.
On motion il is ordered that the rate
Of general territorial tax for the year
1896. shall be three mills on dollar
valuation as hereinfore fixed, and that
I'm addition to this there be levy OF
one-half mill for the erection and sup
port Of a territorial normal school, aud
one-half mill for the erection and sap
port OF territorial university on the
valuation as herein before fixed.