Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-09-03
The STATE Tsxes-An explanation OF tho
Half Mil ieas' Dodge.


On Wednesday last, the Gazette
published paragraph from the Des
Moines Citizen, which We copy below
"The levy for State purposes, made
for the fiscal years 1855 is one and a
half mills on the dollar. Trio malls
was the levy last year. One hundred
thousand dollars Tess than was raised
last year, will be realized under the
new levy. This fact is one that can
not fail to commend itself to the tax
payers of the State, who feel severely
the present monetary pressure. We
learn that tho State Board of Equallza-
ton labored under serious embarrass-
ment, because of the. fact that a large
proportion of the counties have reduced
their valuation of real estate nearly
one half. As the reduction rendered
a larger per centagc of tax necessary,
the Board restored what had been ia
ken from tho Grand Duplicate and
and equallzed, as nearly as possible,
the valuation of lands in all partitions OF
the State. Tho changes made will
cause complaints in some counties
but u comparison of its own valuation
with that of its neighbors, will show
to each county that every effort has
has been made to do justice and dis
tribute the burdens of the State fairly.
Whatever may be said, tho facts
alluded to at the commencement of
this paragraph, speak for themselves,
and show that the amount Of taxes to
be raised for State purpose has been
reduced one hundred thousand doLrs.
This statement, was published by
tho Citizen, and copied by the Gazette,
both being aware of the real facts in
tho case, for the purpose Of deceiving
the people into the belief that the
taxes Of the present year were to be
decreased, and that now, if never before
the Republican State Administration
10 practicing the most rigid economy.
The paragraph is carefully worded,
appears perfectly fair upon its face and
by the uninitiated, who have not az
yet learned to look for lie concealed
in every statement Of the defenders Of
the Grimes, Morris 4 Co. clique, who
control the State finances, seems to be
. most triumphant vindicatioa of the
long fingered gentlemen aforesaid.
1t will be observed that the whole
defense rests upon the fact stated by the
Citizen, that the tax levy for this fiscal
year is but one mill and half, while
last year the levy was two mills, making
thus difference in favor Of tho present
year of one half mill.
This, if it were really true that the
taxes for the present year are one
quarter less than last, is an item OF in
formation which would be received
with the utmost satisfaction bv the
impoverished and tax-burdened COM
munity-but the very article in which
this happy announcement is made con-
tains its own contradiction. A refer
ence is made to the fact that the
Board Of Equalization" has labored
under serious embarrassment" and
has added very largely to the valua
tons Of property az reported by asses
sors. In that fence a hugo African !,
concealed, who when forced from hid
! ing place presents the following ap
pearance The long heads at tn
Capital, apprehending the inevitabl,
consequences of their corrupt and ex
} travgant Administration, determined t
deceive the people into the belief tina
they we're about to inaugurate sys
tenn Of rigid retrenchment, by maxim
reduction in the nominal tar levy, q
one hal mill, sohiie through the nsediu,
! Of the: Boaralef Equalizate.," they :,
!, creased the valaation of property, ,
make up the difference. The dodge
{ illustrated BY the Dss Noines Je.rn4
thu following manhsr -