Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-12-24

amount available for extraordinary APP
preparations at about $350,000. The
committees, however, listened to the
urgings of the representatives of the
different institutions and instead of linn
iting the extraordinary appropriations to
the amounts suggested by the reports
from the auditor and the treasurer, ex-
ceeded them by large margin. The
amounts appropriated for the different
institutions, and the condition in which
1T left the treasury may be seen by the
following table:
| Appropriations of Twenty-fifth gem
| eral assembly payable in 1896 and
Extraordinary appropriations of
Twenty-siXth general assembly. -. 9G3 035. As
Amount advanced Glenwood insti-
tute by executive council. ......... $1,000. 90
Total. 81, O9S, 5l5.45
Large Expenditures.
Of this amount about 100000 was
made payable to the different institu-
tions in the year 1896. This of itself
would have nearly exhausted the amount
| available for the whole biennial period,
according to the figures of Auditor Nc
Carthy leaving the amount of $498, 900
due as the installment of the appropria-
lions payable in 1897, to be paid with
| only 5000, 900, but this was not the worst
| OF 1t. There were certain large expendi-
lures, such as the taking of the census,
the expenses of the extra session and
| one or two other items which were not
figured as large as they really were
Then, too, the hard times and the de-
| crease in assessment made the receipts
| Of the treasury smaller for 1885 than
was estimated by Auditor Mccarthy. In
addition to all these there seemed to be
| desire on the part Of the different insti-
buttons to get the funds set apart for
them ut the earlist possible moment, and
50 they drew on the treasurer for these
soon after the adjournment of the last
session. AS result Of all these different
matters, it has happened that for several
| months past the auditors warrants for
state expenditures have been met by the
treasurer with the response that there
was no money Oh hand to pay them.
They have accordingly been stamped,
mot paid for want of funds" In this
condition they bear 6 per cent interest
and eastern investors have snapped them
up wherever offered, paying from a to
"a OF per cent premium. The exact
amount of these warrants outstanding
is difficult to ascertain, but prominent
state official informed the writer that it
was not far from $500, 900, and he added
that it was probable that this amount
| would not be decreased much before the
first Of next May.
An Increased Lew,
This is not as serious an outlook as
some may suppose. The Twenty sixth
general assembly passed law providing
| for the low nf n raw S,,f Hnia 70
81, 400 900 upon the assessed valuation of
the property in the state in 1896 and
like amount in 1897. 1t is estimated by
those who are in position to under
stand the probable expense of the state
government for the next two years that
barring any unseen and extraordinarily
| large demand for funds, all outstanding
state warrants can be paid next year and
still keep the machinery of state in good
running order.
Among the matters which have been
made prominent by this financial condi-
ton is the assessment of property for
| taxation. Treasurer Herriott has been
| giving the matter careful attention and
says that while the population of Iowa
| IS growing the percentage of the actual
| valuation of the state which is listed for
| taxation is steadily decreasing. AS an
illustration, he says that in 1860 the as
sessed valuation of the property of the
state was 80 per cent of its actual valua-
ton. In 1890 this percentage had been
reduced to 22.71. In 1890 to 20.7O and
| i'll 1896 to about 10 per cent. The remedy
for thus, 1t is hoped, may come in the re-
vlsed revenue laws which will be incor-
porated in the new code. These laws as
they were agreed upon by the COM
| mlttees of the two houses shortly before
the adjournment of the regular session,
provide for the listing Of all property at
actual cash value, and the levy of taxes
upon 80 per cent Of this valuation.
Strife For Positions.
Already there is considerable strife for
the positions to be filed in the officiary
of the special session. 1t is probale that
the officers of the regular session will
hold with the exception of the secretary
of the senate. For this position the can
didates thus far heard from are Hon.
Josiah T. Young of Abba, @. S. Byrkit,
ex-deputy secretary of state, and Hon.
d. B. Davidson, ex-deputy state treas
urer. The new administration in the
secretay of states office, caused by the
retirement of Mr.. Mcfarland and the in
stallation of Mr.. Dobson, will result in
a change in two of the most prominent
clerical positions in that department..
Deputy Secretary Byrkit is to be replaced
by Archie Smith, who is at present the
recorder of Buena Vista county and edi-
tor of paper at Storm Lake. Mr..
Byrkit, who is thus displaced, will be
candidate for secretary of the senate.
Mr.. Davidson's position as deputy state
treasurer will be filed after Jan. l by
Frank Herriott, son of the treasurer, and
Mr.. Davidson will also try for the secre-
taryship of the senate. At present writ
ing it seems as though Hon. Josiah T.
Young had little the better of the con-
test. Mr.. Young was secretary of state
for six years, beginning in 1872 He has
also been a member of the lower house
of the legislature and was an old soldier,
having served in General brakes regi-
ment.
| Dobson's Action Criticised.
| There has been, in the executive council,
for several days thinly concealed feel
ing of opposition to the action of Secre-
tary of State Dobson in announcing the
retirement of Captain Frank Landers