The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-23
THIMBLERIGGING.

THIMBLERIGGING.
The Pioneer Press has made the re-
markable discovery, after taking plenty
of time to think it over, that the
amount to be raised by taxation in 1897
is actually and morally less than the
amount raised in 1896 After bordering
for long time the damaging showing
that the tax estimate allowed by the
present council is, in round numbers,
100000 greater than that allowed by
its predecessor. it comes to the relief
of its Republican friends with its &C
customed wonderful genius in discuss
ing matters of local finance. We quote
It: own language with reference to tbs.
tax levy of 1896:
The official budget for 1896, as published,
SHOWS that only $3.50, 900 was put in the tax
levy for the school fund AS a matter of fact
and record, the auditors books show that the
school tax levied for that year amounted to
$2S2, 1863 or $780, 69 more than the amount
stated in the budget.
This singular discovery raises tho
pertinent question by what authority
taxes are levied and collected in ST
Paul We have been under the impress
sion that the charter was explicit upon
this point. The conference committee
goes over the list and states the amount
which will, in it's judgment. be re-
qrired to support each department for
the ensuing year. The council then
takes up the budget submitted to it
by the conference committee and AL
lows the different items; it's action,
Cnce taken, being final An estimate is
then made to ascertain how MANY mills
on the dollar will be REQUIRED to nro-
duce the gross amount appropriated
Ihls is the tax levy which. when also
confirmed by the council, becomes =
matter OF law. No money can be col
lected, legally, in addition to this lew.
and its proceeds are caIculable definitely
In advance, save only as they may be-
affected favorably or unfavorablv bv
delinquencies of taxpayers.
The council, year ago, allowed $150.-
900 for the school fund. We are now
told that the school taxes levied"
amounted in round numbers, to $685.
0o0 more than the amount fixed in the
budget, and investigation appears to
SHOW it to be the fact, although
everybody concerned carefully dis
claims knowledge or responsibility.
II 1t is possible for a given
tax levy, calculated to produce q Ger
tain sum, to bring nearly so per cent
more than that sum, why have we nor
big surplus all around? How should
1t happen that a levy of a specified
number of mills on the dollar Of as
sessed valuation should produce sS3 oon
extra revenue for the school fund. while
adding no corresponding amount tn
other funds. but leaving some of then,
badly in the hole?
Inc finances OF our schools have been
subject for the last six years to "mon-
keying" in the comptrollers office Thu
board of school inspectors not only
have no authority to levy or collect
their funds, but they have no means
OF knowing at any time what the funds
actually provided by law amount to
Again and again the board has been
left wholly at sea and unable to ac-
com1nodate its expenses to it's revenue
because information as to the condi
ton Of that revenue was refused. Last
year, when the levy was announced. it
was said that there was a SUD-
pcsititious surplus in the school fund.
of which the board itself had no knowI
edge. AT no time has the board been
able to adjust its business to it's
finances, because the condition of its
finances was one Of the things that no
one except the city comptroller could
find out. If $4,000 has been added to
that fund in some mysterious way in
the last year, it would seem that the
people might have some slight claim
to know why it was put there.
As to the further claim of the Pho
neer Press. that a portion of the 1897
levy is required to make up shortages
in the levy of 1896, that is precisely
what persons well informed have
claimed all along. The council, in or
der tic appear to cater to retrenchment.
cut down certain items below the liy-