The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-10-30
THE DAKOTA TAX LEVY.

Territorial Auditor Caldwell Takes Notice
of Some Recent Criticisms Upon the
Board of Equalization, and Elucidates
with Facts and Figures.
Territorial Auditor Caldwell of Dakota
was in st. Paul on his way from Bismarck
to the Huron convention, and thence home
to Sioux Falls. He was questioned TO
some extent regarding certain criticisms
which have been made against the terri
torial board OF equalization-which con-
sists of the governor, auditor, treasurer
M attorney general-in the matter OF the
recent levy of territorial taxes. The
charges are said to lave originated with
Judge DrooKings in II speech IN the recent
constitutional convention at Sioux Falls,
and are to the effect that the amount
in the territorial treasury, with sums
already due or to become due, will
be sufficient to pay all the demands
upon the treasury for the next two
years and leave a balance OF 1910, 600
without the board making any levy what
ever for either this year or next. The in
tent of the criticism is to make it appear
that he territorial board has made the
levy for the purpose OF massing large un-
necessary sums in the treasury, in order
that the handling thereof by the officials
may make them personal profit. Mr..
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the financial imagination which could
achieve such a condition OF things as is
alleged, and said thathowever much he may
have been disposed to boom the pos
sibilities OF the great territory, he had not
guessed hat among these was that OF pay
ing hundreds of thousands of dallars with
assets amounting to only about one-third
OF the sum.
SOME FIGURES AS A BASIS.
He states positively that n examination
OF the various direct appropriations
by the legislatures of 1886 and
preceding years, exclusive OF bonds.
together witt the sums which are indirect
or contingent appropriations, such asthose
paid for transportation OF conviets and in
sane persons, for expenses OF directors and
regents OF public institutions, etc, for
which warrants are to be drawn upon the
treasury for the two years up to Nov. 30,
1856, will amount to SID, 000, and that
the bond interest Tor. the two years will
be $6S, 00O-a total of $7S3,000. To
pay this there viii be available the follow
ing sums: Balance in the treasury Nov. 10,
1884, S206, 900; proceeds OF levies OF 1884
and 1885, 100000; from other sources,
such as railroad taxes, census pay from the
government, and returns from southern
Dakota counties for expenses Of constitu-
tional convention, $142, 600; total, $ST3,-
600. 1t will be seen, according to Mr.. Ca!d-
wells figures, that, while at the beginning
OF the current biennial fiscal period
there was a balance of $206, ooointh treas.
ury, at the end thereof there will be only
500, 900 remaining-as close IA margin as a
public treasury ought to run upon, as lac
thinks. The auditoris therefore very clear.
ly OF the opinion that, the territorial board
of equalization was cmphatieally required
by it's plain duty to make the leyyfo 1889
as it did; and he denies that there is amy
room whatever for surmising that the &c,
ton had any purpose to fill the treasury
with unnecessary funds, or to do anything
but provide sufficient money to maintain
the credit OF the territory.