The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-06-10
Our State Taxes.

10 discredit the statement that the
Winans administration and its deficit
should be held responsible for large
portion of the increase. We are
pleased to present TO our readers an
authoritative statement in this matter,
coming from State Statistician De-
Land. r. II. Cook of Ottawa County
wrote to Secretary of State Gard
ner, recently, asking for state
ment concerning state taxes under
the Winans and Rich administrations.
The query was referred to the
state statistician, who replied as fol-
lows:
You state-'It has been told by a
leading democrat that it has cost
this state S1,500,000 more to
run the government during our pres
ent governors term than during
Winans' term of Office" and behev-
ing, as you say, "this statement is
untrue" you request ''some statistics
and figures in regard to the matter. +"
You do we'll to doubt the truth of
the statement, and in the interest of
the truth and common honesty. |
will briefly cover the points which
are raised in your letter.
1t is perhaps we'll to ask what is
meant by the cost of an adminlstra-
ton? We will assume that the state
ment was made upon the basis of the
state tax levy of the two administra-
tons, and hence the person was
misled.
The cost of the Winans administra-
ton was largely in excess of the
state tax, and that has been the
serious trouble with the state ever
since.
The records show that there was a
cash balance in the state treasury,
when Winans was inaugurated, JAM,
1891, of S506,110; received from
United States direct tax refunded,
S42O,000; state tax levied in lS9l-92,
S2.S63,051; total cash revenue, 49,
9S9,16l.
The actual expenses of the state as
given by Auditor General Stone for
the wear 1892, were SO, lS7, 99S.13;
receipts from all sources, 1920
1858; excess of receipts over dis
pursements, first year only, Sl7,-
32750.
For the succeeding year of 1892,
Auditor General Stone gives the dis
bursements for all purposes at the
sum of SO, 410,451.6 5; receipts from all
sources at 81, ,991.57; a deficit of
1904, 460.0S; deduct balance for 1891,
Sl7,327.50 leaves net deficit of
S677,l32.5S, as the actual financial
results of the two years of Winans'
administration.
During the administration of Gov.
Rich for 1S93-94, the receipts were
wholly from the state tax, there being
no cash balance on hand Jan. l,
1898, but actually minus balance
or deficit of $l2S,300 which was
pridged over by the state officers
borrowing the money.
The Legislature Of 1898 levied taxes
for the two years 1923, $500, $50;
the legislature made appropriations
in excess of the tax levy of S172,.
800, making the total expenses of
the Rich administration for two
years, So, 192, $50; total for Winans'
two wears, $3.50, 16l; total in excess
of Winans only S3,6o9.
AS incident to and connected with
this subject, few words in reference
TO the state taxes of 1896 may not
be out of place in this letter.
The present deficit in state ac-
counts began in the year of 1890. 1t
must be recollected that appropria-
tons and tax levies must be calcu-
lated two years in advance. There
was balance in the treasury June
so, 1888, of about 100000, but only
a small part of it belonged to the gen
eral fund. In view of this balance,
the legislature of 1889 made appro-
priations of over 100000, the ex-
penses for two years being 1920
600, while the tax levy was only
S3,0S5,265 for the two years, leaving
a deficit in revenue of S9,735. Then
followed the legislature of 1891, which
made tax levies of only S2,S63,O5O
for two years, the expenses being
$677,132.5S in excess of the tax,
balance and all other resources for
its term. The Legislature of 1898
not only neglected to provide for
this deficit, but allowed it to increase
S3SS,52S more, though it laid the
taxes at $500, $50, or more than its
predecessor by S757,300.
Adding these deficits together, the
amount of deficit the state was cal
led upon to meet Jan. l, 1895, was
$1,255,4 Add to this about $780,
900 due for the refunding accounts,
and the state was actually in debt
S1,300,0OO. As the constitution for
bids the issue of bonds, we could
not follow the example of the demo-
,rot;o national administration and