The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-08-27
HAS TULSA sEir GOVERNMENT

That appears to be the issue raised by the
arbitrary action Of the county excise board de-
nying the city Officials the funds their budget
requirements called for.
We do not understand that any OF the gentle-
men who set themselves In Judgment as to what
this city should have In the way OF funds are
4, residents Of the city. They reside In the coun-
try adjacent, II does not appear that they are
even taxpayers. though they do draw the major
portion of their salaries from taxes derived
from city assessments
II is the principle rather than the merit in
voived that excitss very severe criticism. Tho
city attorneys office may he open to the oritl-
cism INDUCED in, bu. oandor compels the ad-
mission that no facts have yet been adduoed
to show g. u certainly comes with exceedingly
poor grace from the county attorneys office
which in fees and salary and possibly other
"trimmings' nets Its incumbent approximately
$4,000 a year, with oeveral assistants furnished
In addition, to assume pose of Watchdog OF the
treasury when the city attorney IN being paid
wage half that sum-
The facts In the wen known. The
budget requirements filed by the city admins
tration very little greater than the expendl-
lures OF the last administration The increase IL
accounted for to the penny In the raise in salar-
les OF subordinate city officials that all con
cerned have for months recognized not only
Just but Inevitable,
While II affords The World no pleasure to
say Il. the charge ot Commissioners steiner that
the action OF the excise board was prompted by
partisan considerations alone, appears to be JUS
titled. And II that should prove to be the case
the splendidly independent citizenship OF Tulsa
will know how 70 act effectively For the men
concerned are Sc skors after a renewal OF their
commissions public servants II it is their
conception of the public trust they have en-
joyed and do enjoy that they are 10 set thom-
selves up as dictatora to the city. there can be
but safe alternative.
The conflict between the city authorities and
the county courthouse lodge has tbeen notorious
for years. Rarely have tho two authorities
worked in harmony. The result has been an
enormous increase In the cost Of sovCrment and
equally enormous decrease IN the standard Of
efficiency, a thrilling story ncsles here.
1t is, perhaps, a fine thing that the little
bosses at the courthouse have procipitntcd the
issue at The time and In the way hey did. II
will center public attention on the condition prev
alent at the courthouse and force IA dctormina-
ton on tho part Of the public 10 complete the
work of house cleaning began last spring
Tulsa city and county deserves decent, har.
monious government
The World does rot speak OF the city ad-
ininistration in a partisan Fense when It asserts
that II is affording the city OF Tulsa the mos
efficien. and honorable government it has evel
had. That is true. not because 1t is republican
but because the city admipistraton Is par
OF the old city machine or the present court
house machine. II is interested in raising tn
\, standard OF the public service, not in takinl
care ol pets and political lame ducks, Il
vengthenng it's position politically at the ex
We OF the taxpayers.
A. viii be the pleasure of The world to ruth
ar the mask from the courthouse lodge