White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-01-06
The Tax Question.

StattmthL Oi tHc pun posc1 iOi W hiSh lhO
present tax was levied. We copy the
statement, together with the Democrats
remarks upon the same =
TAxEs AGAIs.-We agreed, in our last
issue. 70 give statement of the purpo-
SEES for WHICH the present tax was Ieyie,l,
who levied it. and what becomes Of it
when collected" Ell M
By reference to the Statute Book Of
1858, It will be seen that the last Legis-
lature made appropriations to the amount
of SOS. 100000 to cancel various Terrific
rial expenses over and above the yearly
appropriations made by Congress to
meet these expenses, the Territorial Leg
islature levied a tax of three mills on the
dollar, and one dollar poll tax ON every
person subject to a capitatiOn-tax.
1t, also, for the purpose of encouraging
the establishment of schools and the or
ganization of the school system of the
Territory, levied a school tax of two and
one-hal mills on the dollar. This money
remains in the County Treasury. sacred
to the object for which it was levied, and
drawn only when the schools of the
County are legally constituted, to be dis
tributed pro rata among the school chill
dren of the County entitled to the money.
For County purposes, tax of three
mills on the dollar, and one dollar poll,
tax. was levied by the Board of County
Supervisors. Aud by the same tribunal,
Building Fund tax of one mill and five
tenths was levied.
1t will be seen by reference to the col
umns of our first Issue that the total
amount of taxable property in the Coun-
ty. as returned by the Assessor, is $780,
los, and the total number Of polls is
,294. By a simple mathematical calfu-
Z lation, we find that for County purposes,
from the general levy, arises fund of
S2,35566 from the poll tax. 81 ,294.00,
and the Public Binding Fund is entitled
to revenue of 81, i77.s3, making the
total revenue to the County, for the cur
rent year, the sum of 81, 827.49
! By reference to the Books of the
County Clerk, we learn that there are
outstanding claims against the County,
audited and allowed by the various tri-
bunals which have transacted the County
business, the amount S6,lT2.73. Our
readers must not infer from this that there
are no other claims upon the Treasurer.
Citizens of the County who have acted
in the capacity of Road Commissioners,
Judges and Clerks of Election. Jurors,
Justices of the Peace. DC. hold bills and
accounts which the law allows them, and
the County Court viii be compelled to
award.
There is another important fact in this
connection which should not be lost sight
Of A reference to the Records of the
I! County will show that for the period of
nearly four years, during which the Coun-
ty has had an existence, there have been
less than twelve hundred dollars paid into
the Treasury for taxes.
The reports of the various tax collee-
tors show that no more than one-half of
the taxable property was assessed.
If proper and complete assessment
had been made, the tax for County pur-
poses would have been but two mills and
one-fourth, including expense fund, and
Building Fund together
For the amount Of the Territorial tax,
we have no words to Offer Those who
levied it are alone responsible for it; if,
in making the appropriations, they have
erred, let them answer to their constitu-
ents. Excitement on the question of taxes
is unnecessary. A calm, candid and
manly investigation of the subject is the
privilege of every citizen. The payment
of the Indebtedness of this County is a
matter of honor and principle between
the inhabitants of it, and its creditors.
We shall pay our quota of it without
grumbling, and are happy TO say that such
is the determination of every tax payer in
this township as far as we know.