The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-02-27
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY p, 1896
HIGH TAXATION.
Com. Arnold Deviates From the
Path and Talks Taxation.

To THE EDITOR: In you issue OF the
9Th inst, you call attention to the mat
ter of taxes, and a tax payers remarks
that as tax valuation increases the rate
of taxation should decrease. AS tax
PAYERS remark shows that he has not
read the tax notice, or if he has, does
not understand the matter of taxation,
and as many more in the county may
be in the same fix, friend suggests
that 1 explain the matter for the bene-
fit Of the citizens of the county. 1t is
a fact that this tax notice was pub
lished in every legal paper in the
county and every voter could easily
have copy if he wished. This tax
notice shows that in the matter of
taxation our government is truly
democratic, and is composed of wheels
within wheels, and each wheel is
moved by the community directly in
terested, and the whole forms what we
call our State government. By re-
ferring to the tax notice it will be seen
that there are four democracies each
levying it's own tax. First column of
State tax, Is revenue. This is used
for general State expenses not other
wise fixed by law. The second column
is State tax levied for educational
purposes, and each school district gets
a certain per capita from this tax for
children attending school for a certain
consecutive length of time, 40 days,
and is intended to be kind of bonus
to induce school districts to keep up
good schools. AS to the wisdom of
this tax 1 have my doubts, especially
when our State is loaning money from
the school fund in other States at
three per cent. and large share of
our State citizens, who pay tax, are
paying interest at from seven to ten
per cent. on mortgaged property.
The next column is the first of six
distinct assessments levied by the
county Board. From this revenue
fund is paid county officers salaries,
court expenses, sheriff's fees, some
for clerk of court, jurors, witnesses,
bailiffs, iailer, expenses for prisoners
and many other incidental expenses.
The editor seems to think some of
these salaries too high, and consider
ing that these salaries, &c, were fixed
when the price of products raised in
the State were much higher than they
are now, am not disposed to quarrel
over the matter, but these gentlemen
are surely not to be blamed for taking
the blessings the gods bestow. AS to
their capabilities and general efficiency
1 willingly bear testimony in their
favor. AS to the fee system, it might
possibly be improved. These fees,
however, are fixed by law, and if any
person is unjustly mulched, all be has
to do is to make it known to the coun-
ty attorney, or county Board, and the
wheels of justice will at once be set
in motion.
The next column is for county roads
and bridges. Part of this fund is
used to keep in repair one-half of five
large bridges over the Minnesota river,
the other half being paid by Renville
county. This charge is made COM
pulsory by the State laws and the
county had to spend over $1,000 on
them in one year. This fund is also
used on county roads and bridges in
side the county, to help townships
grade through large sloughs and build
bridges over the rivers where the
general public get the benefit, and the
expense is more than the local tax
payer can bear. The next column is
a tax tor pauper relief, medical at,
tendance, and care in sickness. This
tax has had to be greatly increased
since the hard times commenced"
The next is railroad bond interest
which is a fixed charge of seven PEI
cent. on $4,000 until paid. In add
ton to this, the city of Redwood Fall
pays interest on $4,000 at the SAM
rate. The next column is a small as
sessment of three-tenth of a mill TO
an annual payment of $1,000 to tn
State school fund, for money borrowed
to build and equip the Jail and tn
next column is two-tenths of mill TO
the intesest on this money. This ta
will gradually decrease each year, I'm
til at the end of about twelve year
both of these assessment will disap