The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-09-18
WHAT THE TAy-FERRfT
SYSTEM MEANS

Editor Leader; The last Legislature
passed bill providing for the appoint.
ment of tax-ferrets by the board OF
county commissioners OF the several
counties of the state. This system IS
by no means a new one. TaX-ferrets
have been IN existence fer over thirty
years in some of the oder states and
have always proven to be one OF the
best laws adopted by any legislature
The founder Of this bill was Mr.. Pitt
man, of Enid. The bill Is number 2i5
and provides for the appointment of
taX-ferrcts by the beard Of county com
missioners.
The county commissioners OF Logan
county appointed John Adams and
Paul Williams as taX-ferrets. These
two young men are Oklahoma boys
MIR. Adams homo being Crescent and
Mr.. williams has always lived 10
Guthrie, both are graduates from the
University of Michigan IN the law de
partmcnt aud are thoroughly acqualni
I'd with the laws Of titles, mortgages
and corporations.
In Oklahoma as well as some of the
)lder states we have what we call pro
,ioncrs realizing that, and also finding
that each year there was less moneys
| and mortgages given TO the assessor
aud that each year Oul taxes were be-
coming higher wcrc urged to look into
the cause ON record Ia the register
| If deeds flicc of t6is county we have
record OF all mortgages given in TINS
/ county IN the county clerks Office
We find the records 10 contain copies
If all the assessment sheets that have
! been issued with the individuals sig
nature and showing exactly what was
/ given In TO The assessor IN East Guth-
rie fcr the year 1907 the total amount
Of mortgages handed in to the asses
scr was only S2.00O0O while practic-
ally all the money loaned IN our town
IS in East Guthrie.
The taxferrets are able by the record
Fin the register OF deed S office to locate
IAN the mortgages and have been able
ltc estimate now that there are about
La million dollars worth of personal
property that has escaped taxation. II
this was paid into the treasury OF 10
gan county 81 would reduce our taxes
so much thai the beard OF county com
lmissiOners would be able 10 reduce tht
levy for the running expenses OF the
county about one half
People have been unable TO under
stand why their taxes We're so higi
lli IS simply because we have so man,
people cwning thousands of dollars
worth OF personal property IN our coun
lty and not paying one cents worth o
Iiavxes on II.
Mr. Pntinan, orlginator ~ tnis law
lhas been chosen IN % OF I've counties
of the state as taN'ierreter TRN-terret'
have beent appolnted in nearly every
lcouniy In the state. The mbvefnent i
lcertainly worthy OF every taxpayers
! honest support and is one thar is gain
ling in faycr every Gay. II notonly max
rs the burden Of taxes upon the poor
Imam much lighter but ii encourage
tpeople ia, invest IN property instead o
kholdihg their .1uop 81 Taxation on rea
IhropemY az q, rqle'is much lower lAai
Ion nersonaf pponeflEf The man who
owns a 10000 90 lot pays on the cast
value OF Il while the man who loans
: the same amount avoids the taNatioi
n simply because his property Is not Nle
lible and does not tell the assessor ina
he has that amount OF money,
While talking 70 the chairman OF ta'
. board Of county commissioners tn'
other day. he stated taat the people Dc
not realize the Importance OF paying
these back taxes at this time For M
reason. had not the present board Q