The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-25


manner and form provided in the
Constitution and that the Legis-
lature by enactment, except where
specially provided, the executive
by administrative power, or the
court by construction, may not al
ter, modify or repeal the same by
the excessive use of power,
though supported by public sJn-
timent."
The general public service corpora
tions Of the State (such as covered by
Section 12a) pay their taxes with
money collected from the public, and
Attorney General Freezing has well
said in referring to Sectic7 12a:
Surely no one will deny that
tie people may proviue in the Con
stitution that the part of the tax
which comes indirectly from all
the people, shall be Sc distributed
that all may have the benefit of
just proportion. To deny that
the people may accomplish the
purpose clearly intended by this
amendment, and which we sim
cerelN believe is clearly expressed,
is to deny the sovereignty of the
people"
The Citizens of every school district
In Oklahoma contribute to ne fund,
which pay public service corporation
taxes for maintaining commc schools
and every school district has the
same right TO he use and benefit OF
the same that they have to share in
the interest collected Lpon our com
mol school fund or the rentals col
ec,od upon school lands (Sectiops 1t
,ld 3G)
II somebody undertook to apportion
these rent moneys to the particular
school districts in which the land was
located, wouldn't It cause riot?
The platform upon which our pres
ent Governor made his successful cam
paign for nomination said:
81 believe that when a consti-
tutional amendment or an initial.
ed question has been 'lly sub
mitted and ratified by the people
that it should be yitalized by the
Legislature. unless subsequently
repealed by the affirmative action
OF the voters. This is the plain
mandate Of the Constitution and
cannot be ignored without injury
to the integrity Of our Institutions,
and the spirit of our laws and
form Of eomernment."
Thomas Jefferson said:
Absolute asquiescence in the
decisions of the majority is the
fundamental principle of repub-
lies"
One OF the black spots upon Okla.
homa history is the reputation OF this
fundamental principle by the Okla.
homa Legislature. This matter, by
Initiation, has been brought before the
voters of the State for a final verdict.
A yes" vote upon this measure is a
vote to compel respect for and com.
pllance with the will OF the people Of
Oklahoma, regularly and constitution.
ally expressed.
Prepared and submitted upon behalf
of citizens of Oklahor who believe in
popular government and who are will
ling TO "acQuiesce in the decision OF
the majority" repeatedly expressed.
Argument Opposing the Adoption OF
State Question No. SO.
Initiative Petition No. 67.
The Text of the Measure reads:
The proposed Bill is for vitaliz-
ing 'l2A' Of the Constitution and
provides for the levy'ng an an
nual tax upon the property of
every railroad company, pipe line
company, telegraph company. and
upon the property OF every public
service corporation which oper-
ates in more than one county in
this state; such tax TO be equal (as
near as may be- to the average.
rate of tax levied upon other prop
erty in this state for like pur-
poses, and with the further pro-
vision that there shall be a per
capita return to each district based
upon the enumeration OF such dis
trict. The bill also provides the
local districts from leyying for
their benefits, any school tax on
such public service corporations
within its limits.
The above measure Is for the pur-
pose Of vitalizing and putting into ef.
ect Section ia OF the Constitution,
adopted by the people of Oklahoma
August 9Th, 1913. This matter has
been before every Legislature since
its ratification and their failure to act
favorably can only be attributed to an
extraordinary condition. Various Leg.
islatures chosen from the body OF peo.
pie, have viewed the yitalization unfa-
vorably and failed 10 adopt same.
When Section 12A was adopted,
theee were but few school boards with
in the state, and but few people who
realized the full significance OF the
measure. Like many other questions
submitted TO an un-informed public, IL
was permitted TO become a part OF the
Constitution. Many hundreds OF school
districts losing from 10 to 80 per cent
OF their school taxes unknowingly
voted this measure upon themselves.
Nor was this at all surprising. IL
was tax measure intricate in its
measure, affecting every school dis
trict in Oklahoma. No two school dis.
tricts were affected alike. TO know
the full force OF the measure. Il was
necessary 10 take the average taxable
value OF the public service corpora.
tions OF the State, operating In more
than one county. and apply the pro-
ceeds TO The per capita population,
some five thousand school districts In
the State. Until this was done. the
elect OF WALKING the measure could
not be known, nor could one cast an
intelligent vote upon the measure.
The question VI yitali1mg "12A" was
submitted ~ the various Legislatures
and by each In tern has been thor.
osghly Investigated. and after weeks OF
exhaustive study and research each
Legislature has In turn failed 20 act.
The reason Is that the bill is tunda.
mentally wrong In principle. 1t pur.
PORTS TO take from the strong districts
tina, do not need the money and give
TO the weak districts that do need the
money Upon its face this seems to be