The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-10-29
THE DAKOTA TAX LEVY


Territorial Auditor Caldwell Takes Notice
of Some Recent Criticisms Upon the
Board Of Equalization, and Elucidates
will, Facts and Figures. 15i isl "a iiit
Territorial Auditor Caldwell OF Dakota
was in st. Paul on his way from Bismarck
to the Huron convention, and thence home
to Sioux, Ealls. He Il! was questioned to-
some extent regarding certain criticisms
which have been made against the terri.
torial board lof qualization-which con-
sists, of the governor, auditor, treasurer
and attorney general-in the matter OF the
recent levy Of territorial y taxes. The
charges! are said to have originated with
Judge Brookings in q 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
without the board making any levy what
ever for either this year or next. The in-s
tent OF the criticism is to make it appear,
that the territorial board has made the
levy for the purpose OF, massing large I'M
necessary sums in the treasury, in order
that the handling thereof by the officials
may make them personal profit. Mr..
Caldwell seemed quite amused at
the financial Imagination which could
achieve such q condition OF things as is,
alleged. and said that howeyermuc he may
have been disposed, Z to = boom the pos.,
sibilities Of the great territory, he had.not
guessed TINT among these was that OF pay
ing hundreds Of thousands Of dallars with
assets mounting to only about one-third
OF the sum. IA. &
53 SOME FlGU REs As BASIS, q .;s
Is He states positively that an examination
Of II the various direct appropriations
by the legislatures OF 1856 and
preceding years, exclusive Of bonds.
etheriwith the sums which are Indirect
or Contingent nppro OPERATIONS, such as those
paid for transpo ton Of conyicts 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,
1886, will amount to s715, 600, and that
the bond interest Tor the two years will
be SOS ,OOO-a total OF $7S3, 900. no,
;payst his there will be available the follow.s
ing sums Balance ia the treasury Nov: To-.
1884, $500, COOS proceeds; tIleyies. oi 1884
and q 1856, $3.50, 900; rom other sources,
such rs railroad taxes; Census pay from the
government, and returns from southern
tn counties sfor expenses Of constitu-
tional convention, s142, 900; total, iSs78,.
600. twill be seen, according to Mr.. Cald-
wen figures, that IN bile: at the beginning
'of & the! current biennial fiscal period
there was d balance Of S206, O0Oin the treas.
Jury. at the end thereof there will beSonly
500, 900 remaining ms close b. margin as 3
public treasury ought to run up on, as lie
thinks. Fhe auditor q therefore Very clear
|Ily Of the opinion that, the territorial board
Of equalization 81 was emPhat ically required
as it did; and he denies thnt there IS any
room whatever for ssurnising that the ac.
|sttons had any purpose to fill the treasury
with unnecessary funds, or to do my thing
but provide hicient mi ney to maintain
the credit q the territory.