Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-04

spent a total OF nearly $4,000 less
than the latter for government. For
the same period oklahoma collected
$299,055 from the same sources.
The sources from which these reNe-
nues were derived are as follows;
Municipal court fines, water service
building permits, garbage service, I'M
pounding, occupation taxes, PLUMBING
inspection, engineering, libraries,
parks. int tareSts, rents, There are other
interest and rents. There are other
charges levied upon the public 10y the
authority Of the cities and towns. In
fact, everything from weed cutting TO
rat killing. In some cases practically
all revenues collected in this way are
turned into the city treasures, and
in others much of ii is retained as fees
for the service by the parties collect
ing II. In some cities occupation tax
is high and applied to many vocatlons
in others scarcely any is collected, and
he same is true of special licenses
and privileges.
The larger the cities the greater the
per cent of the total expense goes for
administration. For illustration, the
administrative expense of the city Of
Woodward is less than $1,000, includ-
ing the salaries, insurance and office
5upplies. The total reported cost last
year was S3S,979, and the balance OF
the money was spent as follows;
Light plant, $1S.390; water works and
fire department, $9,9lO; police de-
partmcnt, $3.50; street Improvement
$1,000, park improvement S979.9li
cemetery $500, and health officer
$100. This apportionment Of city eN-
pense will apply to great majority Of
the towns of this size and smaller.
These towns have the counc,lmanlc
form of government and I'm most cases
salaries do not attach TO any oftice
except the clerk, attorney and mayor
who acts as police judge.
The most important conclusion 10
be drawn from what can be learned
in a general way about town and city
government in oklahoma Is that the
state has given very little attention to
the question Of governing these sub
divisions. Practically no benefit Is
being derived from the experiences
of each other and to deal with differ
ent cities in oklahoma is very similGr
to dealing with different states.
A statewide municipal league has
been organized, but this movement Is
volunteer and without official recog-
milton. 1t is possible that 1t may ac-
complish something along the line OF
harmonZing and bettering municipal
government, but it would appear that
there are many questions that should
have state attention Town and city
government involves more money than
state government and yields inn
measurably greater benefits TO the
citizens affected. In fact, it means
more to the protection, comfort
health, peace and prosperity of the
people living In these cities and towns
than all other agencies of government
combined, and is Of state as well as
local importance.
About the only item that can be in
telligently discussed in connection
with the total cost Of town and city
government in this state is their
bonded Indebtedness. The fact that
practically all Of their improvements
have been made within the past few
years is responsible for an obligation
of S25,S44,3S4, not including some
thing like one-half that sum that re-
mains unpaid in the form OF city trust
bedts for paving and other special
improvements. The interest on this
debts for paving and other special
the average rate, amounts to 81, ,421,-
1I annually If the average tenure
of the bonds is twenty years the law
will require that $t,272,217 be placed
in their sinking funds each year. This
amounts TO more than one half of the
total money levited and collected in
indirect revenues last year. In other
words If II were not for the fact that
these towns and cities are paying for
needed improvements the burden Of
meeting their obligations would be less
than one-half of the tax now levied.
(The next article Of this series will
l'cover Oklahoma's proposition Of ma
tional government eNpense.)