The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-16
Usage TAXATION LAW
ArouSeS Indignation in Con-
tiguOuS Counties.
MOVEMENT NOW ON FOOT
To Test 1t to the Limit
Charges of Doodle.

Guthrie, o. T, March 15.-(Special by
telephone from Pawnec)-At a meeting Of
the citizens of Pawnee county held Al the
court house in Pawnee Monday evening.
March g, George W. Means presiding and
c. W. Aforphis acting as secretary. the
following preamble and resolutions were
adopted:
Whereas, Under the existing law the
counties 70 which the Indian reservations
were attached for judicial purposes must
extend the benefits and privileges Of their
respective local governments in said res
ervatlons the same as in the county
proper; and.
Whereas, The county attorney Of Paw
nee county must prosecute the offenses
committed in the Usage reservation, and
the sheriff, county clerk, treasurer, as
SCISSOR, register of deeds, county commits
sioners and other officers must perform
their official duties as officers of this
county in the Usage reservation the same
as II said reservation was actually a part
Of this county; and,
Whereas, This county is liable for the
care Of both the pauper and insane Until
committed to the care Of the territorial
insane asylum and paid at the last quar-
ter of March 4. 1899, the sum Of 500 there
for; and,
Whereas, We have already expended
for supplies for the Usage reservation
court at Pawhuska the sum of $3.50 and
afforder TO the Usage residents the same
use and advantage Of our county records
as we enjoy; and,
Whereas, Until late, taxes were levied
by this county against the property sub
ject 10 taxation IN the Usage reservation
for the following funds, to-wit: Terrific
rial, salary, contingent, court, supplies,
bridge and judgment covering expendi-
lures made in carrying on local county
government IN such reservation the same
as in this county, except in the matter of
bridge building which improvement the
Indian agent in said reservation alone
prevented; and,
Whereas, It is a general principle Of
law commonly acquiesced in by intelligent
and enlightened people, that the expense
for the preservation of law and order must
be borne by the community enjoying the
same; and, applying said principle TO the
Usage reservation, the latter should bear
its just and proportionate share of the ex-
penses incurred by it for the benefits re-
ceived from local government; and,
Whereas, The late Oklahoma Iegisla-
ture, through the influence of bribery and
other corrupt practices, at the instigation
Of certain railways, cate barons and other
land residents having financial interests
IN said reservations in Oklahoma, passed
a law providing immunity from taxation Of
all property in the reservations except for
the territorial and court funds; and.
Whereas, The said act of the legisla-
ture is apparently illegal and void; and.
Whereas, The county OF Pawnee,
through committees Of her representative
citizens, repeatedly waited upon members
Of the late legislature soliciting their i'm
partial and fair consideration of her pro-
test against the enactment Of any law
repeating our late revenue law aforesaid;
and.
Whereas, Councillor Biddison, Of this
district. pretended at first to exert him
self in opposition to the repeal Of said
law, making a rabid speech against the
passage Of the same in his purported op-
position, but wholly failed TO make any
reasonable opposition TO prevent the pass
age Of said bill; refused to cooperate with
other members Of the legislature to secure
its defeat: treated with extreme indiffer-
ence, avoidance and contempt the several
representative citizens and committees
that were sent by this county to Guthrie
10 assist in the battle against the iniqui-
Jous wrong of such measure; and.
Whereas, Councillor Biddison has dis
played utter neglect to secure the enact
ment OF any public benefit and has by his
actions returned for the votes Of this
county contemplate scorn and disdain;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the county commission
ers Of this county. by proper resolutions
TO be duly passed by them solicit the CO.
operation OF Canadian and Noble counties
in the matter Of testing the legality Of said
act Of the late legislature; and be it fur
Their
Resolved. That we, the people Of Paw
nee county. in the just exercise Of our
sovereign right TO Judge the public record