The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-12-13
TAXATION A VERY
IMPORTANT QUESTION.
specIpl to Daily Leader.

| oUftAuf W itNAlt iAtAhtls
Muskogee. l. r.. Dec 1l.--If one
asks the close student OF constitu.
tional affairs. one who has an init.
mate knowledge of the big things now
confronting the constitutional conven-
ton. what Is the most important
question before that body, he win
say taxation
One reason why he says this Is be-
cause upon its solution depends large
~ the action on many other matters
that at first do not seem germane, but
are in reality dependent upon this
question. The matter of county lines
certainly will be affected by the tax
question: so will prohibition, to GER
tain degree; so will the location of
all state institutions. it's effect ON
corporations and above all. It is like
ly to affect money and investments
in the entire new state.
Ask a mans opinion about large or
small counties aud he Immediately
commences TO talk about taxation to
support county government, no mat
ter whether he is for a large or small
county. Talk about schools and you
will Immediately start discussion
about taxation.
Talk about the salary OF state, coun-
ty and legislative or judicial officers,
and there is an immediate reference
to taxation The fact is. when the
two territories asked and received
statehood they accepted big prob
lem, which is where are we to get
the money to support the new local
government"
To complicate tho matter. Indian
Territory, with its vast natural re-
sources. outside OF incorporated towns.
is practically nontaxable At least
IS Der cent of the land cannot be tax
ed. This means that the towns have
got TO bear the majority of the tax un-
less relief is secured.
The Indians land is free from tax
alton. and. as rule. his personal
property is not Of great value. Okla
homa territory is not confronted with
this condition. and. therefore n State
wide tax system cannot possibly be
found that will be adaptable to both
sides OF the state to advantage.
II has been suggested that an in
come tax is the only one that will
reach all classes I'm Indian Territory.
Many Indians own land and have oil
Or gas leases that net them many
thousand dollars per year. and the
land is worth hundreds OF dollars per
acre. but it is not taxable
There are also agricultural, grazing
and coal leases that bring big roy
altics, and from land that is exempt.
The income tax would reach this
class of property
The large per cent of nontaxable
land in Indian Territory is almost sure
to cause most of the counties to vote
bond Issues TO build county buildings
and maintain county government
TO start the first few years OF local
government But this will only add
interest on the bonds for long per
iod of years, and make the taxes that
much higher
II the land titles lie largely in the
Indians, IL win create. in sense. a
landed aristrocracy. because the taxes
will be high. and 1t win have a ten
dency to keep the lard in the hands
Of the Indians and out Of the hands of
white men. who would have to nay
taxes on 1t the minute they purchased
It.
The lrdians are natural politicians
and thee are going to run for office
Just the same as a white man. This
will Immediately bring out the fact
that they are not taxpayers, though
large property holders. and that they
won't yap local government to which
they do not contribute support.
So II some genius with tax sys-
TEN that would be suitable equitable.
satisfactory TO all and at the same
time raise enough money to support
a local and state government should
arise and point the way for the con
sttution makers at Guthrie, the rest
of their troubles would be made easy
in comparison to the tax goblin.