The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1909-07-30

GNNhitNi 0hiNp July ~ Aae GA
other Of the freak laws" which the
republican partisan press has been de.
crying so bitterly, is bearing fruits
which promise in the future to take
the burden of taxation for the support
OF state government largely off the
shoulders of the individual taxpayers
OF the state, is proven by the records
of the state auditors Office showing
the first years operation of the gross
revenue and production tax.
100000 cash now in the state treas
ury and property held under execution
for S57,O0O00 more, which in all prob
ability will be collected within 80
days, is the tangible evidence of the
material benefit in one year to the
people of Oklahoma, of one demo
cratic measure, fearlessly and Ell
eiently enforced by State Auditor
Trap
The 100000 already collected comes
entirely from the oil, gas, lead and zinc
and asphalt producers, and represents
only small proportion of the revenue
that will come to the state when all
of the provisions of the gross revenue
and production tax law become oper
ative. The law really consists of two
distinct branches, and only the gross
production provisions have been in ef-
feet for the current year The first
tax under the gross revenue feature
Of the law win not be collectable un-
til October /, 1909,
The $4,000 collection of which is
now sought by the state auditor by
llevy and execution, is due from the
coal mining companies that have re-
sisted payment of the gross produc-
tion tax. When these taxes became
delinquent on July / of this year, Au-
ditor Trapp immediately issued his
warrants against the property of the
coal, companies to the sheriffs Of
Pittsburg, LeF1ore and Latlmer coun-
ties. now hold property valued at sew
eral hundred thousand dollars, pend
ing hearing in the district court on
an injunction sought by the coal com
panies to prevent the sale of this prop
erty to satisfy the warrants.
While the revenue, under the gross
production sections of the law will
amount this year to about st25,OO0, 1t
probably will be only small part OF
the funds derived from the law when
the provisions for gross revenue
tax on public corporations are put In
, operation Under the gross revenue
provisions public service corporations
are required to pay tax on their gross
receipts for each fiscal year. Where
such corporations do business wholly
within the state the tax is computed
on their total gross receipts
: Where corporations do an inter
, state business the tax is to be com
puted in such proportion as the gross
receipts from business In Oklahoma
bear to the total gross receipts of the
corporations. Although the law was
enacted by the first legislature thu
corporations named in the law are re
quired to pay their first annual as
! sessment for the fiscal year endinl
/ June 80, 1903. and for each fiscal yea
J thereafter. Such tax Is made due ant
collectible on or before the first dal
OF October Of each year. 50 the frs
9 tax collection under this branch o
the law will occur the first of oetobe
next
For the purpose Of determining thu
amount Of such tax the managing OF
iicer or agent Of each corporation 4
required, on or before October ! eacl
Z year. to report to the state auditor
2 under oath the gross receipts of sucl
: corporation from every source what
I soever, for the fiscal year ending Jun
i 80 last preceding Should the stat
= auditor deem the returns Of any col
i poration incorrect he is given powe
Z. 10 require such corporations to furnis
, any additional information deemed I
. be necessary for the purpose Of con
putting the amount Of said tax, and I
7 examine the books and records q
z such corporation. Whenever II sha
3 appeal to the state auditor that an
= public service corporation has wilfulI
i made an incorrect entry or return q
: It's gross receipts Il is his duty to al
= certain the correct amount and con
= pute the tax thereon, charging the co
= poration with the cost OF such invest
= cation.
Should any public service eorpOri
tion fail TO furnish the report of Il
gross receipts by October /, 1t is mad
the duty Of the state auditor to fort
with cause an examination to be med
f..4~ A. tsatt. a..N rannv.xlk 80 axxy ottr