Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-25

sumo her accustomed position Of first
place.
Representative Thomas +, llensley
Of Canadian county, fair and able
man, also prominent candidate for
speaker Of the house, proposes a bill
which. while II does not lower the tax
to the producer, yet II does provide n
more equitable division of the tax to
be given TO the oil counties. especially
for ruads.t II provides for twice the
amount the oil counties are now re-
ceiving for roads as well as the present
amount for schools
One sixth to state.
The state highway department is TO
receive onc-siXth OF the total amount
for state roads generally In the state.
\ liberal amount Of this would he
given no doubt. TO the oil counties
However this IL In the discretion Of
the department
very proper amendment TO the
lIenslcy bill would be THAT the state
highway department should appor-
-tion 81 in amount of said tax jointly
with the oil county that will cNpend
81 in amount Of its portion OF such
tax for permanent roads" This Is
highly desirable and equitable for all
portions are bcncficially Interested in
state highways thru the oil country
which generally is n very rough coun-
try and neccssitates a high cost per
mile in building good roads.
Such roads In oil counties must be
built while the production Is flush
else the burdens would he too enor-
nous 10 be borne by ordinary taxes,
or bonds.
Again the oil industry instead Of
running the state government. would
lessen It's support TO the general re-
venue fund OF the state and increase
it's support to state roads and to the
oil country.
Wants square Deal.
The oil producer will be far more
content In paying per cent when nc
sees the larger portion OF his money
spent on the roads which directly
males the oil industry and the pro-
duccrs property remunerative In ITS
operation. Such property pays the
tax and II Is entitled to fair considera-
ton.
Those of us in the last Legislature
In both senate and house from the OIL
counties who fought for at least one
half of the tax for roads and Schools
yet only got one-third. are in posi-
ton to appreciate this broating down
of unfair treatment of the oil counties
blythe agricultural counties.
If thc reader VIII Only thilN' 'illNlue'
that only one year ago house bill NO.
proposed to take every last cent OF
the oil tax for the state and give none
to the counties. he can certainly see
the marked change in oil tax affairs.
~ that time the whole atmosphere OF
the state officials did not yield MS any
sympathy. We had to fight for every
inch we got. though greatly out-num
bCrcd.
II Is regrcttable fact to say, bu'
from a knowledge gained from five
legislative sessions. truth forces me 10
sav that too many men, more by acci-
dent than otherwise. are elected to the
legislature that possess little knoWI-
edge of the general affairs of lite' ana
the social ard economic problems oi
society rs we'll as lack of any special
knowledge as n skilled man In anv
calling. business or profession, ana
seemingly bent thru their narrow
vision Of society, to give labor, the
farmer. merchant. banker, oil man
or lawyer a brickbat in place of bread
Signs Of men with a larger vision IN
legislative matters is breaking In upon
us.
Eiuslcy 10 be Commended.