The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-01-31

purposes of taxation. There is one
feature of the pending bill that does
not seem to be founded upon substan
tial reason, and that is the provision
that permits the assessor to collect
| a percentage of taxable values OF
| public service corporations. Under
our constitution article 10 of section
p, it is made the duty of the state
board of equalization to assess all
public service corporations. The
county assessor will have absolutely
nothing to do with the assessment,
and | have not yet discovered any
substantial reason why the state,
county or district should pay him for
services he does not render Accord
ing to the last assessment the taxa
BILE values of public service corpora
tions was s1SS,661, ,S2O. If commission
be computed at three-fourths of / per
cent, the lowest rate allowed by the
bill, it amounts to more than $4,000
Under present struggling conditions
in our state and counties, it is hard
to understand why this sum of money
should be taken from the tax fund
of the people and given as a largess
to seventy-siX favored tax assessors.
Capitol Commission.
believe that the capitol commits
sion should be abolished. Certain |
am that there is no excuse for both
this commission and the board of pub
lie affairs, and in the interest of eco
nomy one or the other should be
speedily abolished. One of the chief
reasons for creating the board of pub
lie affairs was that it might look af-
ter the erection of our public build
ings. In carrying out this purpose
of thousands of dollars have
been expended under direction of the
board. Surely now it is as competent
to supervise the erection of our public
builings as it has been in the past.
am fully convinced that a merger of
the work of these two boards into
one will save the people of the state
of dollars, without in the
least impairing public service.
School for the Blind.
have observed that there have
been introduced a number of bills
looking to the permanent location OF
the school for the blind. I feel sure
that you will do your duty in this
matter without regard to local influ-
ences. In selecting a site for this
school but one consideration should
enter into the problem. What is best
for the unfortunate children who
must attend that institution? In an
swering that question three things
should control First, healthfulness
of location second, advantages offer
ed the children, and third, It's acces-
sibility to the children.
AS to the first proposition, almost
any proposed site will answer, for this
is a healthful climate and very few
localities in Oklahoma can be con-
demned as unhealthful. On the sec
ond proposition, experience has fully
that the blind should
be locate near some city or town that
affords best opportunities in the way
Of music, lectures, sermons and high
class theaters. In this state the third
is the most vital one. 1t
IS fair to say that more than rs per
cent of the children who will attend
his school will come from the poor
amilies of the state, many of whom
ire not able to pay travelling expen-
,es in accompanying their children
o the school. Blind children can
lot be left to make their way alone
{ the trip entails changes on rail-
oads. Therefore, the location should
,e as central as possible. railway ia
ilities being considered.
I have no location to propose,
IN the partisan of no town in this
tate: am interested in the matter
olely as the friend of those unfor-
unate children who have to rely up
n you and upon me for justice and
air treatment in this matter.
Extra Session.
The rumor is abroad that I favor
special session of the legislature. L:
iothing could be further from my de- .
Tres, wishes or intentions in the mat
ar. am convinced that you can pass
Il of the laws that the people de-
land during this regular session:
ant to say here. and with emphasis,
lat an extraordinary. condition will
ave to arise before I will ever call