The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-12-08

state board Of equalization-a board
composed o. seven state 0 Gals, the
powers OF which are limited 70 Ieyying
taxes for state purposes. Ninety per
cent Of ali taxes paid il this state are
levied By local, county. municipal and
district officials. Il Is thus apparent
that whatever relief is given 70 the
taxpayer must come largely from these
local officials.
AZ no time in the history Of Okla
homa has there been a greater need
for economy in the administration Of
the Affairs OF government than exists
at this time. For three consecutive
years the crops grown in this state
have been attended with more or less
failure and the ability OF the people
10 meet the ordinary expenses OF liv-
ing has been correspondingly limited.
Must Pay Debts.
Imbued with the Oklahoma spirit of
'oare and do our people. without
proper consideration in all instances.
have incumbered the taxpayers with
many debts; these debts must be paid;
the only way TO pay them j sto gather
the money in the form OF taxes from
the people of the state. The interest
on these debts is a fixed charge that
cannot be reduced, and the only relief
from the exactions Of government that
can be given to the people must come
by reducing the ordinary current ex-
.penses Of government
l feel 1t IS incumbent upon every de
.partment Of government state. county,
municipal and district, to reduce to
the very lowest possible limits consis-
tent with efficient government. the ex-
.penses thereof. Every Official that
can possibly be dispensed with with
out impairing the administration Of the
peoples affairs, should be dispensed
with, and no man should be kept upon
the payroll of any district, county or
.of the state simply as a reward for po-
liticaI services. personal friendship or
otherwise-unIess it appears that the
position he occupies is a necessary one.
and there is return to the people in ac-
tual service the full value of the com
pensation he receives from them.
The state board of equalization, in
the discharge of its sworn duty. made
many increases in the valuations OF
property in this state; the total run
ming about 100000, 900, or nearly 90
per cent advance over the original re-
turn. In many localities, in distribut-
ing this raise, the local officials, with
out regard to the advice of the attor-
ney general, have applied a percent
age basis in the distribution of the
raise, and in every county where this
policy is being pursued some men are
having to pay more than their share
of the taxes.
1t was the duty of the county board
of equalization, under the opinion of
the attorney general, to distribute this
raise equitabIy. and to apply it in in,
stances where the property had not
already been assessed at its actual
value 1t has also been brought to my
attention that in many counties the
excise boards have for all local pur-
1900 -l,-foxf H. ,,o~r5r,,,Y,, e,,,o,,,,f v,r
yided for by the laws of this state;
and the complaint is made that in
many counties the levy made it far in
excess of the legitimate needs for gov
ernmentaI purposes. 1t occurs to me
that it sthe plain duty of the excise
boards, in eases where the levy has
been made upon the basis of the orig
inal rendition of property, to reform
that levy and make it comply with
conditions after the state equalization
board made its raise, and where the
assessment in any county or district
has been raised to an amount equal to
80 per cent of the original rendition,
then the levy III that district should |
be one-third less than it was under the
old rendition If this policy were pur-
sued in every county in the state, the
tota lamount of taxes gathered would |
not be in excess of the maximum limit
under the old rendition, thus saving |
the taxpayers of the state thousands.
yes, millions of dolars.
No Changes Made.
This letter is being written in a gen
eral way to every excise board in the
state. | am not charging that any of
the conditions complained of exist in
your case, but I am simply calling this
matter to your attention in the hope /
that if it Is possible for the burdens of
taxation your county or district to /
be lightened, that you will take steps |
to that end In the inter
nretatiOn of the law where there is !