The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-11-07
PAYERS
ORGANIZE
ALEAGUE
O'Brien Elected as PreSi-
dent Test Suits viii
Be Started

There never has been time since
statehood when the property owners
Of chickasha were not paying more
than their proportionate share Of
state taxes" declared Dennis a,Drien
in his remarks at the opening Of tho
meeting Of tax payers at the city halK
last night 10 substantiatc this state.
ment Mr.. O'Brien read from Oklahoma
City papers showing the valuation flx-
ed on property tor taxation there as
compared with similar property here
and he concluded that property here
was assessed higher than in other
cities and therefore ChIckasha paid
more than her share Of state and
county taxes
The meeting was called particular
y 70 take action, with reference to
certain paving matters. Between 4s
and 50 citizens were present although
the number would probably have
been larger II there hadn't been some
misunderstanding as to the date. The
net result Of the proceedings was the
forming OF permanent organization.
known as the Chlckasha Tax Payers
League with officers as follows:
president Dennis O'Brien: vice presl-
dent c. NJ. HolIingsworth; secretary,
A. B. Thompson OF those present
36 names were placed on the men,
bership roll A board Of directors
will be named and the organization
perfected at future meeting.
In explaining the objects OF tho
meeting Mr. 0'Brlen tonk up the his
tory 81 tax fnattafs III cillckaslla. no.
ing back to 1908. and brought out
many interesting facts, Discussing
paving Assessments. he contended
that the one percent collected as in-
terest on the paving bonds in excess
Of s percent. the rate Of interest borne
by the bonds, should be returned to
the tax payers. He also argued that
that the 1S percent interest on de-
linquent payments was excessive and
that the cost Of paving street and al
ley intersections should be borne by
the city as whole, the arguments
on these points being the same that
were sei forth in the recent publish.
ed statement Of the League.
Il believe Mayor Burton is doing
his best to relieve the tax payers and
] believe the aldermen. all Of whom
are tax payers are ready 10 do every
thing in their power for us II the way
is pointed out by which they can do
il" said Mr.. O'Brien. eve have no
fight to make except for the relief
which we think Is due us and let 1t be
understood that there is no politics
in this organization"
Following Mr.. OBrien, G. M. Hob
lingsworth was called upon and he, in
his talk covered much the same
ground in regard to paving affairs.
Il went before the council, said he.
~and | found the aldermen willing to
grant relief but according to the
opinion Of the city attorney they
could do nothing. We must take the
matter to the courts" ;
City Attorney Hammerly made a
talk explaining the low governing paw
ing 4 want to say that am thor.
oughly in sympathy With the purposes
Of this organization said he Il ana
anxious to SEQ these matter carried
20 the supreme court for decision and
win do everything in my power to as
sist in the movement AAEff. AfEff EEHHanifnefly.i
then explained that the Z percent I'M
terest on payments before maturity
and is percent after maturity were
made mandatory BY the legislature
and the city had no option in the
matter. Relief must be sought IL
the legislature and in the courts. The
City must comply with the law IN.
I'll the courts said otherwise.
Mr.. O'Brien stated that small as
sessment, probably 80 cents to dol
lar would be required Of the mem
bers to meet the expenses Of litigation
. in the test suits to be instituted. He
. pointed out what could be accomplish
J ed by the League Ia The future ss
) pecially IN the matter Of bringing
down property assessments. A mum
ber Of other citizens expressed theiI
} views. It is expected that the League
J will be in shape to begin work within
a short time. The preliminary orgsnl
! zation had already started tie move
. uaant