The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-10-25
you'd adopt, and which ones. nobody

would adopt and which ones, nopouy
knows.
How long, do you think. would this
fund be "apportioned and distributed
As other common school funds?" NO
persons Imagination can conceive OF
Rll 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 ac-
euracy as to what portion of this
tcommon fund" would be appropriated
for trying out pet schemes and fads.
Il is not only possible. but probable,
that legislation would pe promptly
sought designed to deprive the local
school boards Of practically all author
lty. other than the making OF requisi
tionB and approving claims.
1t 10 well known that seme 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 it will be much easier to con
centrate control This point is well
worth considering.
This immense fund, which is held
out so attractively before us. is 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,
iy ten to fifteen million dollars to be
used for common school purposes, as
the Legislature may provide?
Let not the public be soothed 10
rest with the suggestion that wealthy
districts" and wealthy centers" are
to contribute a large portion Of this
fund
Applying the minimum levy (sx
mills) TO the property of Cimarron
County-now paying advalorem tax,
$9,261, ,170-we find that Cimarron
County would contribute $55,627 TO
this fund The 1,167 school children
in Cimarron 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 the
advalorem tax rolls, is Grant. The
minimum levy in Grant County would
produce $4,000 Grant County's APP
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-
valorem tax per capita as Cimarron,
Grant or Alfalfa. Woods County pays
more per capita than Washington.
Payne County pays more per capita
than Oklahoma.
1t will be interesting to look UP just
where the wealthy centers" are when
it comes to paying advalorem tax.
The farmer has a hard time keeping
help ON the farm now This amend
memt says, in effect, to the farmers
helper, Come on into town and edu-
cate your children; we 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 a serious objection to the bill.
1t is true that most of the indian
Territory counties would profit finan-
cially 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 10 the five words at the begin
hing of the second paragraph Of the
proposed amendment, "Until 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
an annual tax upon "all taxable prop
Arty" 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
,ibilities lurkine# (bareiy) beneath the
surface in this isSamendment will GER
.ainly result in an overwhelming vote
against its adoption
OKLAHOMA FARMERS UNION.
BY ED REGER, Chairman.
Z, NrnDhFhN Cnn~af