Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-03-29
FOR THE TAX EDITOR.

Here is little tax problem which
We want to submit for the benefit Of
the esteemed Democrat. Last year II
turned in It's plant to the assessor at
valuation of $500. The World
was assessed at $1,000. Now, as a
matter of fact the physical valuation
of the Democrats plant at that time
was greater than the Worlds plant
the reason that il had a job plant in
connection with its newspaper equip
menB but the excess of a thousand
dollars chalked up to the World was
just little effort to make republic
can paper pay the fiddler for its po-
litical CONVICTIONS, and we are not in
clned to make a disturbance over the
distinction made by the democratic
tax-gatherors. However, We We're
hardly prepared for the subsequent
sequences. After the county board OF
equalization had gotten through with
the problem of squeezing out of the
tax rolls enough cash TO meet the re-
quirements OF democratic rule, the
World assessment had been tilted up
10 $4,000. This seemed like confis-
cation, but theworst was yet TO come,
and when the state -equqalizers
finally got through smacking their
lips over the machinery in the World
office It had been raised to S1S,00O0 |
and the Democrat, just In order, we
presume, to not make too great a
discrimination, had been boosted up
TO s12,O00.0O. This is what has hap !
pened to great many other tax
payers in Tulsa.
Sometime ago the Democrat was at |
much pains to show the inequalities |
in the valuation Of the World building |
and other property in the same black |
hut this was Just little bit of spite
work that we passed up as unworthy |
of notice, hut we are a little curious I
to know what explanation It has to |
offer for the raise It got and the dis
proportonate Increase between the .
valuation Of its plant and the Worlds .
plant. And before It starts in, let It /
bear in mind that the assessment was |
made before the World installed It's
new press.
Now, so ahead and let all the tax
payers Of Tulsa sit up and listen at
tentively to what the Democrat has To
say. II 1t finds this too personal TO
be worthy of consideration, We will
give It another chance. There are a
number of property owners who can
furnish II with tax receipts showing
an increase in some Instances of one
hundred per cent during the past
year, and It takes Just about one
third Of the income from the aver
age residential rental property to pay
the yearly taxes and a lot Of people
are finding st more economical to
rent than 10 own their homes These
are plain ordinary facts, and the World
will never be heard pointing out any
of them. except at times when the
pointing out will do some good. and
this Is one Of the times. The Demo
crat says that taxes are not too high In
Tulsa, and we have submitted herewith
some specific cases one Of them so
near its own door that II can explain 1,
without any outside or expert help.
Either the Democrat must accuse IT.
self and the World of trying to palm
off an underassessment, and so far
as the World is concerned II denies
the implication, or admit that there
s favoritism. or an absolute necessity
10 get more money and consequent I
Increase in valuations bordering on ;
terms. Now then. the
Meeting is In order. and the chair I