Harlow's Weekly (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 9, No. 22, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 20, 1915 Page: 3 of 16
sixteen pages : ill. ; page 10 x 7 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
HARLOW’S WEEKLY
CURRENT EVENTS AND COMMENT
of the New
Road Law.
The governor has called upon
the attorney general to assist
in the appeal of the case from
Grady county wherein District
Judge Will Linn held that a
Published Weekly at Oklahoma City by Harlow Publishing Co. HARLOW, Secretary
VICTOR E. HARLOW, President -— --------=
Complaint concerning the new
state road law by county commis-
sioners appears to have subsided
as a result of their meeting in Ok-
last week. lhe principal objection
money collected by the state highway
was not available for road improve-
upon plans and apportion the monies to meet all
requirements.
There are some defects in the new road law that
the special session may be asked to cure. These
defects, however, have no relation to the way in
which this money is to be apportioned or expended.
There are instances wherein the tax is not equitable
and the legislature will be asked to cure these. One
is the tax levied on electric machines, another is
the phase of the law which requires that automobile
owners pay an entire year’s tax on vehicles even
though purchased in the last month of the year. A
clause which requires that suspension bridges be
built to carry loads of twenty tons while truss
bridges are only required to have a strength of ten tons,
may also be submitted for amendment. This dis-
Ras that the
department ---- — .
ments in the various counties from which it was
collected. . .
The highway deparment having just been or-
ganized, and having on its hands the enormous task
of getting the department adjusted to the work, had
so far been able to make only the first apportion-
ment to counties of revenues collected. 1 his ap-
portionment of $48,000 was collected prior to the
first of July. A second apportionment will be made
during the latter part of this month covering Aug-
ust and September and will amount to approximate-
ly $90,000.
The county commissioners vho protested did
so largely through a misunderstanding or a lack of
knowledge of the new road law. The funds to be
collected by the state are distinct from county road
and bridge funds and are not to be spent promiscu-
ously by direction of the county commissioners.
Many of the commissioners had an idea that this
fund took the place of the county road and bridge
fund and could be used for the repair and improve-
ment of roads as the ordinary county funds have
heretofore been expended.
Commissioners of about sixty counties have
now worked out the law and complied with the re-
quirements of the department and will shortly be in
shape to proceed with the use of state road funds.
The state board of equalization has made a levy
of one-fourth of one mill this year for road pur-
poses which will yield $593,000 in advalorem taxes
to be distributed to the counties of the state to-
gether with approximately one-half million dollars
that will accrue from the license of automobiles and
power-driven vehicles. This money is to be spent
on state roads by county commissioners under the
supervision of the state highway department Exen
hiad the department been in position to distribute
these funds each month as collected very little cou d
have been accomplished in the short time that has
elapsed since the measure became effective. As
plans are made up and approved and proper pro-
vision made for the investment of funds as they ac-
crue the department will be in position to pass
tion With these and possibly a few minor amend-
ments it is believed by the road department that the
law will work out fully up to expectations.
Assessment of
Bank Stock
and Public
Building Bonds
tax could not be assessed against that part of the
capital stock of banks invested in public building
bonds. Another case involving a similar point has
been appealed from Canadian county, lhe decision
in the Canadian county case, however, is contrary to
that of Judge Linn.
The board of equalization this year for the
first time determined that bank stock should be
taxed regardless of a showing that it was invested
in public building bonds, lhe law specifically say
that public building bonds are not taxable and
banks holding public building bonds argue that .
they invested their capital stock in these bonds be-
cause of an opinion by the attorney general and
assurances from the former governor that in this
wav they would not be compelled to pay taxes upon
their capital stock. The law requires that bank
stock “be assessed at its face value, etc., and the
board took the position that they had no authority
to exempt bank stock, agreeing, however, that pub-
lic building bonds were not taxable. This case will
be one of the big legal fights of the administration
as much feeling was aroused among the banks.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Harlow, Victor E. Harlow's Weekly (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 9, No. 22, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 20, 1915, newspaper, November 20, 1915; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1601011/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.