The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-15
A STUDY IN TAXATION
OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.
WHAT THE PEOPLE GET FOR
THEM,
A Threshing Machine That Con.
sumes the Entire Crop.


sumes the Entire Crop.
We once heard George Francis Train
lecture. He is eccentric to the Dor
der line Of lunacy, but he gets off some
good ideas now and then. Said he:
when / was little boy I had saved
25 cents, out of my pocket money, and
was boarding it carefully. A preacher
came along, making collections for
the conversion of the Chinese. was
fool enough to be personal---very. re-
luctantly-to give him my Is cents.
Twenty years afterwards I went to
China to find out what they did with
that quarter dollar!"
Last week we paid 1924 for taxes on
farm lands, in Dakota county, Minn.,
lequal to $500 few years ago. and as
we are not, as free American citizen,
under obligations to give a penny of
money to any one, without receiving a
full equivalent therefor, we thought
we would initiate George Francis
Train, and find out what became Of
our money. And SO we turned to lit
tie green paper-bound pamphlet, (the
green being tender reference to the
mental complexion of the taxpayers, }
entitled, 1888 Financial Statement
of Dakota County. Minnesota, for 1898.
Statement Of receipts and Disburse-
ments Of Dakota county, Minnesota,
from January, 1893, to January, 1894. "
It is signed by the County Commits
sioners and attested by the County
Auditor; and may therefore be regard
ed as official and consequently relia-
BILE.
Now in commenting upon this little
book we do not want it understood
that we think Dakota county is any
worse governed than the other coun-
ties Of the state. They are all in the
same condition, under the same laws
and systems. We single out Dakota
county because we live in it, and are
familiar with it; but our readers, not
only in this state but other states, can
examine the affairs of their own coun-
ties, and they will probably find them
in as bad If not in worse condition.
Let us illustrate what we are about to
say by parable.
A certain farmer having 100 acres of
wheat, which he had raised and har-
vested, sent for treshing crew to
come and thresh it. The work was
done, and he thresher presented his
bill-"Cost of threshing 1900 bushels
of wheat $75O!'
"Why," said the astonished farmer,
"the wheat is only worth so cents a
bushel, and the bill takes the whole
crop!"
'True," said the thresher. "but then
you have the satisfaction of having it
threshed; and you have 1900 bushels
of wheat IN your granary."
"But," replied the farmer, sit cost
me all it is worth for the threshing;
and have nothing for blowing, seed
ing, dragging, harvesting and stack
ing"
cant help that" said the other;
"what kind Of farmer would you be
if you didn't have your crop threshed?
And what would myself and my men
and our teams do If all farmers took
as narrow view of the question as
you are taking?"
Really" replied the farmer, "your
arguments are as plausible as the gold
bug articles in the daily papers. It is
difficult to answer you; but one thing
is clear-I do not receive penny for
my years work. Logic or no logic. l
don't believe in threshing machine
that takes the entire crop to pay for
the threshing."
Now our system of county taxation
is constructed on the same beautiful
plan as that threshing machine bill.
The whole proceeds are consumed in
the cost of running the machine; and
there is little or nothing for the men
who pay the bills.
Now this little green book, (page ~,
tells us that the entire county rev.
enue, collected from the tax levy of
Dakota county, for 1892, amounted to
$21, 1924.
What became of it?
Well here are the figures.
We learn (page 81 that the following
sums were paid out of that $21, 1872 O4,
viz:
Salaries of county officers. .$11, 1853. so
Salary janitor of court house, 424.40
Fees OF clerk, sheriff and bal
lifts. ................. 4,531.0
Light, fuel and repairs, coun-
ty buildings o.: 10Y. 1,426O3
Printing delinquent tax list. 1,O32.7O
Books, blanks and station
airy Up. 10Y. .................. 2,148.S7
Total. $50. 126, SO
Now let us dedubt this from the to-
tai revenue and we have this startling
result:
Total county revenue. 500. .$21, 492. 04
Total expenses collecting the
revenue and running the
threshing machine. ....... 20,726. SO
Left for the taxpayers. -. $765.45
Now then the taxpayers are 765.45
ahead by maintaining county gov
ernment!!
But are they? Let us see: