The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-13

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Editor Ardmoreite:
Dear Sir: The editorial in lht
! Ardmoreite of the llth on the tan
question with prominent headlines
Taxation Methods in Carter Coun'
~ Need Drastic Adjustment was
read by me with interest. The fact
that it occupied prominent place
on the front page seems to indicate
that you considered the subject OF
some importance.
As | am somewhat interested in
the tax question. permit me to say
few things on the subject. want
TO say that the methods OF taxing
property in this county are the same
as in other counties as far as know.
No doubt the whole system could
be improved. but some laws Will
have to be changed first. Take tor
example, the case cited. the owner
OF mineral land. who, YOU say, col
lects ten times the value OF the land
yearly in royalties. Now, let us
examine this particular case and see
if this land is paying its share OF the
taxes.
We will take ten acres OF oil land
and say it has four wells that pro
duce daily 50 barrels, which would
be 200 barrels a day at LAO per
barrel-S2S0 a day. The state levies
gross production tax OF ) per cent,
or $8.40 tax each day from this
tract. For one year it would be
$1,000. This is 10 per cent on
$4,000. Surely this land is paying
its taxes. This is not all, as the
owner OF this land is subject to the
income taxes.
The reason for oil land selling for
81 1000 and more per acre IS oil Is
under the surface. All the differ
ence in the value OF this land and
agricultural land is taxed under the
gross production law and no one
has the legal right to assess this
land on an advalorem basis for the
selling value.
As state above, before there can
be any improvement in the taxation
methods in this and all other coun
ties in the state some revision OF the
tax laws will have to be made.
70 illustrate. the law provides for
assessing real estate once every two
years. Since the assessment was
made in 1917 property in the city OF
Ardmore has increased in value
probably so per cent. vet there can
be no increase made in the valua-
tion for 1918.
The tax question is as old as or
ganized government and great
many theories have been advocated
from time to time. 1t is one ques-
ton that engages the attention OF
all thinking people the world over.
In my judgment a remedy for the
system we have in Oklahoma would |
be a tax commission to fix values on
real estate once every four years,
except in growing towns and cities.
Fix that once a year. Give this |
commission authority TO fix the val
ration on business property on an
income producing basis. In the
,ase OF residence propertq, value it
'easonably so as 10 encourage home
and home ownership. Resi-
ience property that is rented should
)e taxed on the basis OF income.
This. it seems 10 me, would be fair
o all.
Before this can be done a general
'evision of the tax laws will have TO
,e made. In order to correct any
vii, the causes must be discovered
md removed. Back of all the tax
ng system complained OF are the
AK laws OF this state. and in order
o create sentiment that will cause
| change for the better the facts in
he case should be given to the
public. What the state OF Oklaho-
ma needs most is not higher. but
over taxes. Agitation along these
ines will, in time. produce results.
K. :. HENDON.