Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-08-09
THE FIGURES ON
running A CITY
\ "pOLlTIC\L PLAY" COULD
LOWER LEVY, SAYS MAYOR.
COMPILING annual REPORT
Statistics quoted by the Yard Re.
peal Of Occupation and roll
laNCs Is EnrUutC.

HtaIu IIum Nhe state auditor as 20 tho
exact proportions Of the Tulsa city
Valuations, there Is much speculation
ON the part Of tax payers as to what
levy viii DO imposed upon Tulsa
property
Tho city Of Tulsa, In the budget
for the county excise board,
on which that body might base tho
levy for Tulsa, asked for u sum OF
100000, approximately, for the gem
eral expenses of the city Of Tulsa for
the present fiscal year.
As this amount was nearly $4,000
more than was collected during tho
past tsca year from taxes. there was
not a little comment ON the matter,
ana yesterday Mayor Martin answ-
cred these questions. Tho mayor
stated that II the present admlnistra-
uon wanted "to play politics" IA
much lower amount for general ex-
pcnses might have been asked.
The administration could have
played politics" declared Mayor Mar
tin, "and could have finished It's
term which viii end next May on u
much lower levy than Is asked, but
tho next administration would have
been left without a dollar, and would
have been In a boat not dlsslmilar to
the one which this one was in when
We took offlce-no money, at least,
and maybe a bunch Of debts outstand-
ing"
That would be politics, but It
would not be business, said he. The
mayor added that It Is the interests
Of the people that should be served,
and not any selfish political game.
Commission form Of government Is
tho business government OF municipal
rule, and the welfare Of the city Is
at stake, The commission was ac-
copied the trust as sacred honor
when thoy took the oath OF office,
and tho administration declared that
It would bo a betrayal Of their eonfl-
dence to play politics"
Mayor Martin has gone into the
matter Of why tho larger amount Is
asked for in the budget IN an argu-
montauvo manner. The mayor Is
lawyer and no handles the matter as
II ho wero speaking to convince
jury.
Tho amount Of the levy for last
year was S71,135.O2" declardh tho
mayor, and even though the sum
asked this year, 100000 Is actually
larger, It Will provide but little more
for tho running OF tho city, Last
year the city asked for about the same
amount, but It was not able to get It.
The excise board has not yet made
tho levy, but II has assured us that II
a seven mill levy will give us that
amount, 100000, they will make the
levy II necessary. II tho valuation Is
moro than enough 10 give US 100000
with a seyen-mlll levy, OF course, the
levy will not DO seven mills, but viii
be proportionatoly less.
III tho assessed value Of the city
property is S20,OOO.OOO, as some peo-
pie think It Will bo, then we would
only require a levy OF five and one
fourth mills for general expenses"
Tho mayor conunuodi 'Tho city
from July I, 1910, to July 1, 1911,
paid bills Of tho yoar before to tho
amount OF $4,000, Tho only bill
which we did not pay was made dur
Ing the year 1909, a sum Of 1880,
due to Jack Crosblo for tho viaduct
over tho Frisco tracks. Tho follow
Ing bills for 1910 wero also not paid
on July 1, 1911 Balance due on in-
olnerotor, $3.50; duo to Eureka Con-
struction Company for paving as
sumed by tho city"
Here the mayor paused and ex-
planned that that amount should not
bo included, as the bill Is not sup
posed to bo paid out Of tho general
funt but Is expected to be paid in
bonds
III not paid In bonds" stated May
or Martin. relative to the unpaid paw
Ing claims, tho plausible way for
paying them is Tor judgment to be
taken against the city and collect one
third Of Il each year.
I'VE could have paid the s3,750
duo to Jack Crosbio and the S8.750
due tho inclnerator people, but that
would have left the city without tho
right to draw many warrants dur
Ing the months OF July and August. 50
we thought II would be Better TO wait
until after the new levy comes In be-
fore paying these two bins.
"Now Just how we were able 70
run the city and pay the bills and pay
up the past Indebtedness Is hard
matter TO point out but as soon as
the city auditor makes his annual re-
port. which has not been made yet,
though expected daily we think Il
VIII be shown, when compared with
the annual report made July 1, 1910.
Just whore the reduction was made"
The head Of the city has made
statement which shows In detail the
receipts of tho city OF Tulsa, compara-
lively, for tho two years, taken into