Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-09-27

1slature did cut down the tax levy to
the lowest possible notch, and the sur
plus in the treasury is more apparent
than real. The state treasurer's state
ment for the fiscal year ending July
81, does show that there was 81. 1O9, 1897 .52
in the state treasury, and his state
ment also shows that almost 81 1000, 900
of that amount belongs to the perma-
nent and general school fund, and that
$4,000 will be distributed among the
school districts of the state next month
will come right back to the people. But
here are the figures that show to what
funds the amount in the treasury be.
longs: ~ s55s Il
General revenue. ........... .$744 111.74
soldiers relief. ...... 64840.82
FUNDING tax. ........,... 49,. 5S,6O2.1O
Permanent<school:. 237, 245.66
General school. ..s.......... Isl, 656.2O
Permanent university. 9,S51.l4
General university. S5.6O9. %
internal Improvement. $500. 8,74634
Internal improvement land 68133.23
state lnstltutlons.... ........ 99,607.19
swamp land. -. ......... 19,35S.7a
cram inspection. 21,575.2S
All of these funds, except the general
revenue fund, are trust funds in the
hands of the state treasurer, each fund
held for separate and distinct pur-
pose; for instance, the permanent
school and university, funds are de-
rived from the sale Of school and uni
versity lands and must be permanently
invested. This is constitutional pro-
visO. ~. s.s
True, there was $744,111.74 in the rev.
enue fund on July 81, but in all proba.
bility that fund will be overdrawn on
january first next. All the running ex-
penses of the state government are
paid out Of the revenue fund, The
heavy tax collections are all in by the
first of August, and the revenue fund
Will not be replenished to any great
extent until the railroad taxes com
mence to come In after Jan. 1. At the
end OF every calendar year there is a
deficit In the revenue. fund. Let me
1llustrate: On Aug. l, 1897, there was
1914 59s.35 In the revenue fund, and on
Dec. 81 OF the same year it was over
drawn to- the extent Of $1S5, 461 81; on
Aug. l, 1898, there was $543, 80 in the
revenue fund and on Dec. 81 Of the
same year it was overdrawn to the
amount of $3O,877.34; on Aug. i, 1899.
there was s6S7, O27.52 in the revenue
fund and on the following December it
was overdrawn in the amount Of
500, 925.23.
The overdraft is provided for by sec
ton 1853, Stat. MINI. 1894. Last year /
reduced the tax levy one. tenth Of a
mill below the rate fixed by the legisla-
ture, and this year I intend to reduce
the rate still another tenth Of mill,
but below that it would not be safe to
go. The increased revenue derived
from railroad, insurance and other cor
porations made it possible to reduce
the tax levy. It would be poor policy
to fix the tax levy SO low that there
would not be enough revenue raised to
meet the current expenses Of the state.
The time is fast approaching, in my
Judgment, when hardly any direct tax
will be necessary for the support Of the
state government. The taxes derived
from railroad, insurance and other cor
porations will be sufficient to meet all,
or nearly all, the expenditures for
purely state purposes. repeat what i
said in my report to the legislature Of
1895: The modern tendency in taxa
ton by states is to lessen the tax rate
&,1po,, ,.oo1+x, = =
es11ty s1l lssl TIVE increased reVe-
nue ION axes upon corporation in-
ae.l.a.lces, etc for rel l CORPORA lions
ns pusiness u th ms STATE, ana !. domes-
~ CORPORA ions ll may 2. pc REQUIRED TO pay
81 annual :, taAso incense into the state
5 5ieven ~ ss=
!, - ,,,,, !. =, 3, = e y =
- ,aa,, go.
na - !, as 81 Ior some