The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-03-27
And Attorney General is
Trying to Unravel the
TangIe

SCISSOR law. Letters are being sent ont
from the territory generals ohice to-
day and a resume OF the new law Is
given. The new law is one Of the most
perplexing things tint thea terri'or
ial administration has had to deai
with for some time and under certain
circumstances serious results might
be brought forward if mistakes are
made in observing the various prcvi-
sions Of the law.
A copy of the letter sent out by The
attorney general is given as follows
Dear Sir: The law regulating the
assessment Of property. passed by tac
recent legislature took effect on the
18th day 81 March Of this year, there
by aboiishins the Office Of county as
SCISSOR. and making it necessary for
the officers provided by the new law
to .ake up the work OF assessment
throughout the territory.
.This change of officials in the
midst Of the performance of the work
Is of SO serious character that all
persons lnuusted with charge Of az
fairs must see to it that the difficult
ties and dangers are made as light as
possible. ana ask it as a personal
favor that YOU as county attorney OF
your county. look after the enforce
mont of the assessment IN your cOun-
ty and give it your earnest personal
attention.
Il call your attention to few OF the
salient features Of the new law. The
township trustee is ex-officio township
assessor. It will be necessary for
linn to give a new bond as provided
by section 3, OF the enclosed act.
should any Of the townships in your
county be too large in extent for the
township assessor to cover the terri
tory and make the assessment within
the time. it Is possible for the coun-
ty commissioners. under section 1914
of the statutes Of 1898. to divide the
township into as many as they see ht'
and in such a contingency | believe
that the county commissioners should
do this. Under article 4. chapter Il,
OF the laws Of 1901. the board Of coun.
n. commissioners has the power to do
apv duty at a special called meeting
that it would have at regular meet
ing. with the exceptions therein enum
Grated. The plat and boundaries
mentioned in section 1914 are not 4
condition precedent TO the organiza
lion of the township The commits
sioners can determine upon the bound
aries OF the new townships and ap
point tile township assessor for the
vacancy thus created and the techni
cal requirements of making and re
eording the plat may be done subse
Quently
THE county clerk should inform
himself Immediately if there are any
vacancies existing in the offices o.
township trustees, or If there are any
who have not qualified and the chair
man of the board of county commits
sioners should Immediately call a spe
cial meeting OF the board and fill al
vacancies by appointment
Each city town or village having
thousand or more inhabitants is made
a separate township, and 1t becomes
necessary to provide an assessor TO
such town The township trustees o
the township in which such city o.
town may be situated will act as town
ship assessor Of all property lying il
the township outside Of the city O
town
Where the city or town is OF les
population than a thousand the town
ship trustee will perofrm all the worl
within the township including tn
town or village. In all Such town
and villages Of a thousand or more in
habitants a new Office is created b.
the act
Il would suggest that you adyis
the various tOWh dllu Nlt3 "tl"ihNs
10 have the mayor and city council o
board Of trustees 10 I'll the Office b.
an immediate appointment, whic
should be followed by an election o
town or city assessor at the comin
spring election. OF course you ca
SEE that 1t would be advisable for tn
same person to be appointed an
elected. See section s, new Jaw
You win note that town and cit
assessors must qualify and give bon
Us provided by section 3, the bond I
be approved by the county commits
doners and filed in the Office Of tn