The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-01-20
Tasatlon.

Taxation.
The policy of Oklahoma govern
ment is that taxation should bear
with equal force upon all items oi
property. and all sources of profit
strictly according to the value there.
OF, and that one hundred thousand
dollars worth Of property should pay
one hundred times as much as Cae
thousand dOllars worth OF property.
no more in proportion. and no less.
1t was not to be expected that this
rule OF common honesty could be pro
claimed in the Oklahoma Constitu.
tion and carried out In our admins
tration of government until the great
powers had exhausted every effort 20
avoid their Just proportion of the bur.
dens of government We know full
well that great combinations of capi.
tai throughout the world have at all
times opposed every effort in govern.
ment that stood In the way OF their
obtaining special privileges. and an
advantage over the weaker classes,
and this effort in Oklahoma has made
II necessary for your officers to con.
tend daily for the peoples rights, aud
this contention we again find. has call.
ed us into the Federal Courts to meet
the opposition to equal and Just tax.
alton.
Substantially half the miles of rail.
road In our state has not yet paid the
last half OF the taxes for the yeaI
1908. and this controversy is still in
court. mtried for more than n year
Likewise the revenue due To the state
for the year 1908, fixed by the Legis-
lature upon the profits and earnings
of public service corporations, coal
mines, and the like, Is still withheld
from the state, and nro, ,ao-od by N.
junction against the state officials. Is
sued by the courts where those
cases are pending.
Banking Law.
Theorzing may do when We consid.
er untried things. but two years Of
actual experience has qualified our
people to Judge of the efficiency of
the Oklahoma banking law, and | am
proud to remind your Honorable Boly
that with a rare exception, and usually
inspired by selfish interest, ali
others commend your Honorable
Body for the passage OF this law. II
has been subjected to the severest
test possible TO have occurred within
our state. II has arisen from this
test supreme in it's power, and
blessed by the people for its beneficial
effects.
Some suggest this law needs amend.
ment. You will find as have found.
no doubt, that this call for amend
ment is inspired. either by those
friendly disposed who have not care
fully studied its provisions, but large
ly by those who would kill the law by
amendment. and who pose as It's
friends when they want but the op-
portunity to destroy It,
Judge this law by its record. We
do not mean to say that we are rot
a: all times ready to listen to those
who would promote Improvement IN
this law, and yield to their judgment
!. necessity be shown therefor, and
to all such we will lend patient ear.
ard welcome their advice. and vet
this law, like the two cent fare, the
railroad rate, equal taxation. and the
extending of foreign gas pipe lines
within our state. has been assailed in
'h' 'htl al N.bul 70 vi Nlt 'llblls uAl
] have the confidence 70 believe that
the right of state to reasonably con-
troll its own corporate creatures. the
right to protect the people of the state,
the right to afford stability to fin
ance, and safety to the business in
terests of our state will not he In.
vaded by the great Court which will
pass final judgment upon this ques.
ton.
! mention the above as few Of the
saids made upon -+ha constitutional
provisions of our state so that our
people may realize that while their
officers have been burdened with the
ordinary cares of organizing new
state and administering its govern.
ment, they have had the added tre-
mendcus burden of defending the peo-
pie and their constitution against
these determined assaults.
Other Departments.
Due to the fact that this eXraordi.
nary session was only determined
upon few days ago, the various
other departments of government
have not had sufficient time to fur.
nish me with their reports and sta
tistics so that will at this time be
prepared TO make very little specific
mention of the other departments.
other than to say that the good work
OF our state Corporation Commission
is going forward, as in the year be.
fore. embarrassed here and there by
court injunctions, but yet making
record that speaks well for their eff.
iiCiency and determination to properly
administer the law
Our educational department while
it is the chief item of expense through.
out the state, is also one of its great
est benefits and Is attaining high
standard OF efficiency.
or the new institutions the State
Normal School at Tahlequah, accom-
modated by the buildings purchased
from the Cherokee Nation, is making
an excellent record,
The State Normal at Durant, and
the state Normal at Ada, and tae
~ A. IL L.. ..t.f