The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-10-21

you'd adopt. and.whioh ones. nobody
knows.
How long. do you think, would thu
fund be "apportioned and distributed
as Other common school fundsT" No
persons imagination can conceive of
all the things that would be suggest
ed as helpful to the common schools
and for which appropriations would be
urged from this fund. No one person
can prophesy with any degree of 40
curacy as to what portion OF this
common fund" would be appropriated
Tor trying out pet schemes and fads.
II is not only possible, but probable.
that legislation would be promptly
sought designed to deprive the local
school boards Of practically all author
tty, other than the making Of requisi-
tions and approving claims.
II is well known that some OF our
leading educators believe that local
school boards should be relieved OF
control over their district school and
the authority concentrated In the
County and State Superintendent.
When the funds are apportioned out
from central point "as provided by
law" II Will be much easier to con.
centrato control. This point is well
worth considering.
Thie immense fund. which Is held
out 80 attractively before us, 10 not
provided by the fairies. but as di.
rect tax upon all taxable property not
exempt as public. church, charity or
fraternal.'
Are we ready to contribute annual.
ly ten to fifteen million dollars to ba
used for common school purposes. as
the Legislature may provide?
Let not the public be soothed to
rest with the suggetsion that wealthy
districts" and wealthy centers" are
TO contribute large portion of this
fund.
Applying the minimum levy (six
mills) to the property OF Cimarron
County-now paying advalorem tax,
$9,26l, ,l70-we find that Cimarron
County would contribute $55.627 to
this fund. The 1.167 school children
In Cinarron County could not hope to
secure one-third OF this amount as
their per capita.
The second county in the state In
per capita wealth. as shown by tho
advalorem tax rolls. Is Grant. The
minimum levy In Grant County would
produce $1S7.000. Grant County's ap-
portionment for her $3.50 children
would be less than half of this sum.
Fifteen counties pay more advalorem
tax per capita than does Tulsa Coun-
ty Among these are Texas, King.
fisher and Woodward.
There is not an oil producing coun-
ty In the State that pays as much ad.
IN
Grant or Alfalfa. Woods County pays
more per capita than Washington.
Payne County pays more per capita
than Oklahoma.
II Will be interesting to look up just
whore the wealthy centers" are when
1t comes to paying advalorem tax.
The farmer has a hard time keeping
help on the farm now. This amend.
ment says. In effect. to the farmers
helper. Come on into town and edu.
cate your children: wo will tax the
farm to pay for their education even
though you have moved away from
IT," The tendency to attract people
away from the farming communities
is serious objection to the bill.
II Ii true that most Of the Indian
Territory counties would profit finan.
cili.y by this amendment for a few
years. but the schools OF these coun-
ties are still receiving Federal aid to
compensate for their non-taxable land
All OF the objections advanced are
Of minor Importance. however, COM
pared to the five words at the begin
ming of the second paragraph OF the
proposed amendment, "Untii other
wise provided by law"
In, addition to all other funds now
subject to legislative appropriation.
we are asked to ratify this amend
ment which requires the levying Of
All annual tax upon "all taxable prop
erty" OF not less than six mills, which
money. when collected, can be appro-
priated in any quantity the Legisla-
ture may see fit and for any purpose
which the Legislature may decide will
''aid In maintaining common schools. !"
/ Thoughtful consideration of the pos
sibilities lurking tbarely) beReatb the
surface in this amendment will cer-
tainly result In an overwhelming vote
against It's adoption.
OKLAHOMA FARMERS UNION.
BY ED REGER. Chairman.
e. +. NORMAN. Secretary.