The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-03-18
THE AKIN BILL.

Tx AMIN Dill.
In the past few months We have all
heard much discussion relative to the
so-called Akin bill which proposes the
abolition of fourteen of our state in
stitutions
On the one hand we have witnessed
an oyerweaning desire on the part of
the taxpayers In the counties in which
not state institution is located to get
their names upon the petition required
by law to bring the Akin bill to vote,
and on the other, we have. likewise,
heard a terrific hue and cry on the
part of the towns in which are located
the state institutions proposed to be
abolished in opposition to the meas
Iure.
This phenomenon IS a manifestation
of bot hextremes. The sane and prac-
tical course undeniably lies about mid
way between the two.
The Akin bill, if anything, is a tax
reduction measure. 1t proposes TO
abolish fourteen of our state institu-
tions, and why? Obviously. for no
other purpose than to reduce taxes,
Let us see. however, where the Akin
bill will lead us: For the mainten-
ance of the fourteen state institutions
proposed to be abolished by this bill.
the legislature appropriates annually
the sum of $S56, 600 On the per capita
basis this is but drop in the bucket
of the amount of money we pay out
each year in the form of taxes. Some
one has figured it out that on each
81, 900 valuation we pay total Of 26.S
cents to produce this amount. Clearly,
therefore, the Akin bill is of little ma
terial help in the way of reducing tax
alton.
The Oklahoman agrees with all well
informed men that this state has too
many state institutions. We could dis
pense with at least half a dozen of
them without in anywise crippling our
educational system. But the Akin bill
goes entirely too far. 1t proposes a
wholesale onslaught upon the educa-
tional system of the state, which Is
neither justified by existing conditions
nor warranted by sane regard Tor
the future welfare of the state.
The san, practical and sensible way
of .abolishing the needless and unnec-
essary state institutions is for the leg
islature to refuse appropriations for
the maintenance of them for the pres
ent. The time in all likelihood will
come within the next decade or so
when all these state institutions will
be needed in order to properly educate
the youth of the state. But that time
is not here at this date. In the mean
time we should cease maintaining un-
necessary institutions in order to re-
duce taxes to the lowest possible limit,
and yet not destroy the entire educa-
tional fabric in the state in order to
give vent to pent-up tax-burdened feel
|ings.
AS we have remarked before, the
tax burdens under which we are at
this time smarting, are due in little
measure to the amount of money which
lis collected for state purposes. The
trouble lies at home. We are spend
ing altogether too much money for
the maintenance of county and munic-
ipaI government We are voting too
many bonds; spending too much money
in building public institutions and in
dulging in the luxury of too many
public Improvements in order to enjoy
a low tax rate.
Let us not, however, jump from the
rying pan into the fire in order to re-
|duce this burdensome expense. Let
us go about pruning the expense items
in sane and reasonable way with
out doing violence to the educational
System of the state which we have
striven so hard to establish upon a
high plane, and at the same time re-
solve anew to send men to the legis-
lature who have the courage to vote
NO whenever an appropriation bill
comes along ng--Okiahoman.