The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-12-04
gather the money in he form OF tax
O. from the people OF the state. The

charge that cannot De reduced. ana
the only relief from the exacuOn.
Of government that can Re given TO
.H. people -gst come .sIlc!ng The
ord.uarr current cypcns4s OF go,e-n.
ment.
2 feel d. &. incumbent upon ever
department Of Goycument-state,
county. municipal and district-to r
duce 70 the very lowest possible lin.
us consistent with efficient govern
ueHL the expenses thsreoG Every
official that can possibly be dis.
scaecd without impairing the ad
.a.r.stra,ion Of thu peoples affairs.
Should be dispensed with, and NJ
man should be kept upon the pay
ron Of any district county or OF the
state. simply as a reward for poiltica.
so.,iccs, personal friendship or other
wise. unless II appears that the posi-
uJu bee occupies is a necessary one
and there is returned 10 the peyDle
I'm actual service the full vale CT.
the compensation he receives iron
them.
The state board of equalization, IN
the discharge OF It's sworn dut", made
many Increases in the Valuations oI
property in this state, the tc'Il run
ming about $iOO,OOO,OOO. or nearly 80
per cent advance over the Ori. g.I
rcturn. In many localitic. IN DIS
tributinF this raise, the local off Ala
aithout regard 20 the aivlc" Of tie
attorney general have applied Il Ie.
centage basis in the distribution OF
the raise, and in every county wnere
this policy is being pursued some
men are having to pa more than
their share OF the taxes
It was the duty OF the county
beard of equalization, under tn ol III
ion OF the attorney general. to f,s
tribute this raise equitably, and t.
apply it in instances where the prop.
erty had not already been assessed
at It's actual value. 1t has also been
brought TO my attention that in
many counties the excise boards have
for all local purposes levied the max
imum amount provided for by the
laws Of this state; and the com
piaint is made that in many coun-
ties the levy made ~ far in excess
OF the legitimate needs for govern.
mental purposes. It occurs TO me
that it is the plain duty of the cx- |
else boards, in case whore the levy |
has been made upon the basis Of the |
original rendition of property, to re-
form that levy and make it comply |
with conditions after the state equal |
i2ation board made its raise, and !
where the assessment in any county |
or district has been raised to an |
amount equal to 50 per cent of the
original rendition, then the levy IN
that district should be one-third less
han it was under the old rendition.
If this policy were pursued in every
county in the state, the total amount
Of taxes gathered would not. be in
excess of the maximum limit under
the old rendition, thus saving the
taxpayers OF the state thousands,
cs, millions OF dollars.
This lcttcr is being written in a
,cncral way to every excise board
In The state. am not charging
Ina. any of the conditions complained
,, exist in your case, but am
simply calling this matter to your at
.cniion in the hope that if it is pos
ihlc for the burdens Of taxation in
.our county or district to he tighten
'd that YOU will take steps ncces-
.ary TO that end In the interpreta
ton Of the law. where there is a
1oubt in your mind, let me urge that
hat doubt be resolved in favor Of
he taxpayer This is certainly the
Just thing to do, and | holievc it
sin not only be approved by the
,coplc of the state. but by tho courts
Is well.
The time has come when the pub
ic officials of oklahoma must stand
.orth and practice the most rigid
economy in the administration OF
government This is what We were
elected for; this is what the people
'aye right to expect of us, and this
$ what they are demanding at our
lands
/ am sure that you will receive this
cttcr in the spirit in which it is writ
en-. 1t is not intended as any inter
erence with your administration Of
lfTairs but is to call attention TO |