The Globe-republican., 1894-08-31
KANSAS FINANCES.
State Treasurer Biddle Furnishes Some
Interesting Figures.

4OfEhA. AAoh.. ~Auf. -.
urer Biddle has submitted to Gov.
Lewelling a report of the financial
transactions of the state for the fiscal
years ending June 30. 1898 and 1894, to-
gether with such suggestions ana
recommendations relating to the de-
partment as seemed proper after care
full thought and investigation. The
business of the two years is summa-
rized as follows:
Balance in treasury July 1. ls9,....-s 72s,l6, 81
Receipts during the fiscal years
ending June 30, 1893 and 1894. ...... oloi s9i.'4
Total $3.50, O54O5
Disbursements during the fiscal
years ending June 3d. 1898 and 1894 1855. TT 81
Balance in treasury June 90 1875 s4s $40. .
THE people of Kansas" MIR. Blddle
| says, ''are to be congratulated upon the
healthy condition of the state treasury,
| Notwithstanding the small levy made
for state purposes The legislature
has been liberal in its appropriations
for the various state departments,char-
liable institutions, public buildings
and improvements: yet the available
balance in the treasury is abundantly
sufficient to insure, beyond question,
the prompt payment of state obliga-
tions. At the present time there is not
| a single state warrant outstanding
bearing the stamp, Not paid for want
| of funds
The report shows the bonded indebt-
edness of the state is SSOl, 600 OF this
sum sl2.5OO natures October Is. 1894,
| and provision for payment was made
by the legislature of 1898. With the
exception of SOB. 600 all the state bonds
will mature before the close OF the
present century, and the next leglsla-
ture probably will take some action in
regard to the matter.
Referring to the state tax levy MIR.
Biddle said: Under the existing laws
the legislature fixes the rate of levy for
the state taxes, except for the main
tenance of the state university.
which is left to the state board OF
equalization. The levy made by the
legislature is based upon the valuation
of property as returned by county
clerks for preceding years, which yalua-
ton is made according to general
custom that represents about one
third the real value. The state
levy should be made upon the
taxable property of the state as
returned by the county clerks each
wear, and. therefore, could not be made
by the legislature. l would also urge
that the levy be made upon an APP
praised valuation equal to the actual
market value as now provided by sec
ton 6,SG1 of the general statutes OF
1889. l would, therefore. recommend
make it the duty of the state board
of equalization to fix the levy
for all state purposes sufficient to
meet all appropriations made by the
legislature, which levy should be made
upon the property of the state, assessed
at its true value in money A penalty
should also be provided, whereby the
present law requiring such assessment
might be enforced. BY placing tue
matter of making the various levies
for state purposes with the state board
of equalization. they could take into
consideration any surplus there might
be in the various funds of the state.
and make the levy correspOndingly
less. and thereby avoid the accumula.
ton of unnecessary funds in the state
treasury, as has been the case for years
past.
Il desire to call special attention to
the laws now permitting counties tc
certify amounts of state taxes 'errone
ously assessed by reason of errors in
the returns. personal property reported
not found etc. If the practice of the
past few years is continued some addi
tions will have to be made to the state
tax levy in order that the revenues Of
the state be maintained. AS it nov
appears. thousands of dollars have
been certified by county Off Gals ant
their state tax account duly credited
whereby the states revenues have
been seriously reduced. recommend
that law be enacted that will require
countries to pay into the state treasur.
the full amount of state taxes levied
and e.:ch county take exclusive cogniz
ance of and adjust it's own losses on &c
count of any and all uncollected taxes
and that the present law granting t.
counties the right to credit by tn
state on account of double and errone
Gus assessments property not found,
etc. be repealed"
In regard to the 100000 bonds ISSUES
by the city of Lawrence in 1870 to ali
, in erecting the State university. Mr.
Little says: no principal or interes
has been received on these bonds sine
1884. owing, it is presumed. to an &C
of the legislature of 1888. which wa
evidently intended to release the cit
of Lawrence from further paymen
upon certain conditions. which condi
tions. however. seem not to have beel
complied with, and the school fund Q
the state is therefore deprived of al
income from these bonds. Some actio
should be taken by the legislature
bring about an adjustment of this clair
against the city of Lawrence"
There are also held in the treasur
department $4,000 in school bond