The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-01-14
Revenue and Taxation.

The question Of revenue is one which
is very urgent in South Dakota at the
present time, and will continue 70 be
unless the legislature at its present
session finds some new means to re-
lieye the treasury.
Usual StimateS as to probable re-
ceipts generally fall short.
This has been s. continually, and al
a result the state board Of equalization
has practiced levying a deficiency tax.
The constitutional limit OF two mills
has been repeatedly exceeded, which
has led to no end Of discussion and
criticism of our public servants. / am
not disposed to raise old questions or
enter upon a discussion Of the causes
which led to the deficiency levys. No
doubt IL the state funds had been
properly husDanued by me legislature
and accounted for by our treasury Of
ficials, some Of the difficulty might
have been avoided. But that is not the
question now. The appropriations for
necessary expenses In the future are
not likely to be much more modest
than they have been, although the
charitable and penal institutions can
uoubLlCSo no ttutC W L u llVlO
largely each year to their own sup
port il the farms and other industries
are properly handled and judiciously
extended. But unless there is a mark
ed improvement in industrial condi-
tions, which will give immediate relief
to our people, taxes will continue to
become delinquent and the public
treasury will suffer. This is the pres
pnt nrngnprt and tho u uiSlafIrp tnnCt
face he conditions as they are. The
practice of issuing revenue warrants to
be sold for money with which to keep
the states paper at par is humiliating
and expensive. 1t confers power upon
the board of equalization which is liza
Bile to abuse. The temptation under
this system is strong TO issue these rev.
enue warrants months in advance Of
the necessity for money, thereby fur
Dishing capital at the expense Of the
people to favored banking institutions
"A very profitable privilege for the
banks but an unthrifty practice no
prudent man would employ in his own
affairs.
A constitutional amendment increas-
ing the legal levy from two TO three
mills would not at this time meet with
public favor, and as the usual sources
seem to be pretty we'll drained; the
legislature will appreciate the pressing
Lecessity OF seeking a new field from
which Il derive money. Our laws re-
iating to taxation do not give salts
faction. Indeed the question OF taxa
tlon is difficult of solution. No system
a be made to suit everybody, but It
does not seem to me an impossible feat
FOR thelegislature TO modify our pres
ent laws, without, at this time, under
taking a wholesale reformation Of them
so that the burden will fall equally up
on all classes. Corporate property has
been especially fortunate in escaping
jUst taxation. This is particularly so
with the railroads. When property
which is capitalized fro from $50, COO to
$4,000 per mile and is made to pay in
terest and dividends upon that valua-
ton is taxed for but one-tenth that
amount, 1t Is not strange that smaller
property owners attempt to evade their
public burdens.
| shall not at this time enter into an
elaborate discussion Of the matter Of
taxation In general, but incidentally Y
Will recommend that the passage OF an
act for the payment OF taxes twice a
year, as in Iowa, would afford the
people some relief. The money OF the
people should be allowed to remain in
their hands as long as possible. The
creation Of big funds OF public money
to lie idle or to be used for private pur-
poses. while the people who pay the
taxes are themselves cramped for funds
or forced to borrow at heavy rates: u