The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-01-14
CHECK 1T TO THE ASSESSOR.

In another column of this issue o,
The Ardmorcite appears an editorial
from the Muskogee Phoenix, which
deals with the rent-boostng proposi.
tion from new angle. and suggests
n possible solution for the evil.
The suggestion is made. in tic
Phoenix article. that action OF the
assessor Of that county in boosting
the asses ments upon property upon
which the rents have been boosted,
may prove beneficial and is, TO say
the least, most commendable.
As all persons know the value ot
property. the selling price obtainabIe
and the rent p7ce demanded is basel.
in the main upon location. As shown
In the Phoenix article business prop
crty located upon side street viii
not sell for so much nor rent for ~
much as Will property which is locat
cd In the business center of a city.
This rule applies everywhere Tho
farm which IS Isolated from ,ho
markets. or which lies off the main.
Travelled thoroughlarcs and highways
Is never as valuable as is the farm
which is more fortunately locaced.
The soil OF the farm far from
market may be just as rich anu
just as productive as is the soil ~
the farm which is nearer the gates
OF commerce. but its unfortunate To-
cation detracts from its value, just
as the location OF the farm owned
by the more fortunate land holder
becomes more valuable and commands
higher selling and rental value.
SO II Is with the business house oil
block. And, basing ali estimates upor
the income derived from the prop.
crty. 1t seems but just and equitable
that the man who owns the farm
which brings in the greatest returns,
and the man who owns the city
rental property upon which he charg-
os and collects the highest rents
should be the mon upon whose
shoulders should fall the heavier
t,Ncs. They are the men who col
lect higher returns from their prop
critics because the values OF these
properties are greater. and political
economy teaches US that the more
the intrinsic worth OF the property.
the greater becomes i,s assessed vaip.
alton.
We arc not writing this with a vieT
Of attempting 20 take q fall out ot the
men who own valuable properties
and collect high rents. but we nto
writing lt with the view OF doing oui
bit toward bringing about = proper
equalization OF the burdens OF taXn
uon. II ls not right, IL Is not Just.
lt Is not equity for the man whose
property has rental value or $50
per month to bee called upon 20 pay
the same amount of tax paid hy
the man whose property has reg.
tai value Of $3.50 per month.
The man who fixes tho rental valut
upon his property or the selling
value. automatically fixes the asses,
able value upon IT, and. to our way
OF thinking the assessors OF the
different counties. towns and cities
might do much toward bringing about
the elimination Of any oxtOrtion whirn
might become ingrown and develop
into a constitutional graspivitis ol
all landlords.
There Is no use to talk about l,..
islating against excessive rents. such
a thing cannot be done. There u
no use to demand that landlords r.
duce rentals to normal rates as long
as an abnormal demand for business
and residence properties exist. But
tho situation may be remedled. anl
the expenses oi tho governments 10.
keep tho better equallRcd II tho master
fiddler be- raid hy the master uancor..
And the chaps who make tho ten
ants dance tc highest rent music. may