The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1894-08-31
KANSAS FINANCES.
State Treasurer Biddle Furnishes SOn6
Interesting Figures.

! State Treasurer Biddle Parishes SoAS
Interesting Figures
TofzFA, Kan, Aug. estate Treas
urer Biddle has -nbmitted 70 Gov:
Lewelling a report of the financial
transactions of the state for the hscat
years ending June 80, 1898 and 1894, to-
gether with such suggestions and
recommendations relating to the de-
partment as seemed proper after cares
full thought and investigation. The
business of the two years is summa-
rized as follows:
Balance in treasury July 1, 1s52-.-.s ~, l62 81
Receipts during the fiscal years
ending June 30 1898 and 1894. 5,101 ,ssl.1
IOtal ...... sp-c-s,oo4Vo
Disbursements during the fiscal
years ending June 30, 1898 and 1894 1895 12T. 50
Balance in treasury June 80. 1s94---.s 81, 1862
THE people of Kansas Mr.. Biddle
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 departmental 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-
tioDs. At the present time there is not
single state warrant outstanding
bearing the stamp, Not paid for want
of funds
| The report shows the bonded indebt-
edness of the state is ssO1, 900. Of this
sum s12, 800 natures October Is, 1894,
and provision for payment was made
by the legislature of 1893. With the
exception of Sl03, 900 all the state bonds
will mature before the close of the
present century, and the next legisla-
ture proba bly, will take some action in
regard to the matter.
Referring to the state tax levy Mr..
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
| ClCIhS 1O1 pICSColhS y hlSh usi
ton is made according to a 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
year, and, therefore, could not be made
by the legislature. l would also urge
that the levy be made upon an ap-
praised valuation equal to the actual
market value as now provided by see:
ton 6,s61 of the general statutes of
1889. 1 would, therefore, recommend
that the laws be so amended as to
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 it's true value in money A penalty
should also be provided, whereby the
present law requiring such assessment
might be enforced. By placing the
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.
81 desire to call special attention to
the laws now permitting counties to
certify amounts of state taxes 'errone-
ously assessed by reason of errors in
the returns, personal property reported
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 now
appears, thousands of dollars have
been certified by county officials and
their state tax account duly credited
whereby the states revenues have
been seriously reduced. 1 recommend
that a law be enacted that will require
countries to pay into the state treasury
the full amount of state taxes levied
and each county take exclusive cogniz
ance of and adjust it's own losses on &C
count of any and all unsolicited taxes
and that the present law granting t.
; counties the right to credit by thu
; state on account of double and errone
Gus assessments property not found,
etc, be repealed
In regard to the 500, 900 bonds ISSUED
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 1883, 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 o
the state is therefore deprived of al
income from these bonds. Some actio
should be taken by the legislature t
bring about an adjustment of this clair
against the city of Lawrence"
There are also held in the treasur
department $1,000 in school bond
which are worthless. They are marke
} Fraudulent and have been in tn
treasury for more than twenty year:
Mr.. Biddle recommended that the leg
.. islatare appropriate S15,9 out of tn
general revenue fund to reimb urs
!. the permanent school fund for thes
bonds.
: A RULING ON KANSAS BANKS