The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-25
State Questions and Initiative
Petitions to Be Voted on
November 2nd, 1920.

CONTINUED from page ~
would ADOPT. and which ones. nobody
knows.
How long. do you think, would this
fund be "apportioned and distributed
as other common school funds" NO
persons imagination can conceive OF
el the things that would be suggest
I'D 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-
cuiacy as to what portion of this
common fund" would be appropriated
for trying out pet schemes and fads.
II Ia not cnly possible, but probable,
that legislation would be promptly
sought designed to deprive the local
Bchool boards of practically all author
lty, other than the making of requisi
tioni and approving claims.
II is we'll known that some of our
leading educators believe that local
scr Dol 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 r much easier to con.
centrate control. This point is well
worth cor jidering.
This immense fund, which is held
out so att.actively before us, is not
provided by the fairies, but as d.
rect tax upon all taxable property not
exempt as public, church, charity or
frateiNal.'
Are we ready to contribute annual.
ly ten to fifteen million dollars to be
used for common school PURPOSES. as
the Legislature may provide?
Let not the public be soothed to
rest with the suggestion 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
S9,261, ,l70--we find that Cimarron
County would contribute $55,627 to
this fund. The ll67 school children
in Cimarron County could not hope to
secure one-third 0f this amount al
lhelH5per 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 s1S7 900. Grant County's ap
portionment for her $3.50 children
would be less than half of this sum
Fifteen counties pay more advaloren
Z fox =,
ty. Among these are Texas, King
o fisher and Woodward
There is not an oil producing coun
ty In the State that pays as much ad
$ valorom tax per capita as Cimarron
D Grant or Alfalfa. Woods County pay,
G more per capita than Washington
e Payne County pays more per capt.;
than Oklahoma.
1t will be interesting to look up JUS
= where the wealthy centers" are whel
: It comes to paying advalorem tax.
The farmer has hard time keeping
c hep on the farm now This amend
$ ment says, in effect, to the farmer
helper. Come on into town and edu
cate your children; we will tax tn
st farm to pay for their education eve
IS though you have moved away fror
re It," The tendency to attract peopl
<. away from the farming communitie
d is serious objection to the bill.
e II is true that most of the india
Territory counties would profit finar
cially by this amendment for fe,
IS years. but the schools of these cour
II ties are still receiving Federal aid t
% compensate for their non.taxable lane
N All of the objections advanced ar
70 OF minor importance. however. con
W pared to the five words at the begir
/ ming of the second paragraph of tn
proposed amendment, "Unti othe
wise provided by law"
l. In addition TO all other funds no.
5: subject TO legislative appropriation
If we are asked to ratify this amend
as ment which requires the levying c
he Ill annual tax upon "all taxable prol
lg erty' of not less than six mills, whic
he money, when collected. can be appr,
ne priated in any quantity the Legisl;
te ture may see fit and for any purpos
which the Legislature may decide wi
"aid in maintaining common schools
Thoughtful consideration Of tho po
:? sibilties lurking (barely) beneath tn
surface in this amendment will ce
Or tainly result In an overwhelming vol
of against Its adoption.
ne OKLAHOMA FARMERS UNION.
nd BY ED REGER, Chairman.
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