The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-09-26

General revenue. ............ $744, 111.74
Soldiers relief. .............. 64,S4O.S2
FUNDING tax. 58,6O2. 10
permanent school. ........... 237, 245.6 6
General school. .............. Isl, $500
permanent university. 9,S51.14
General university. .......... s., sos. 90
internal Improvement. S,746.34
internal Improvement land. IS, 1928
state institutions. ........ 99,6O7.1 10
swamp land. .......... 1883 70
Graln 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
vers1ty lands and must be permanently
invested. This is a constitutional pro-
v!so.
True, there was $744 11174 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. l. At the
end of every calendar year there is a
deficit in the revenue fund. Let me
illustrate: On Aug. 1. 1897. there was
IS in the revenue fund. and on
Dec. 81 of the same year it was over
drawn to the extent of $1S5, 461 q; on
A11p I 1909 m
revenue fund and on Dec 81 of the
same year it was overdrawn to the
amount of $3OS77.34: on Aug. /. 1899.
there was $685., O2752 in the revenue
fund and on the following December it
was overdrawn in the amount of
500, 1888.
The overdraft is provided for by sec
ton 1853, Stat. MINI. 1894. Last year I
reduced the tax levy one-tenth of
mill below the rate fixed by the lesisla-
ture and this year intend to reduce
the rate still another tenth of rhiu.
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. 1t 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 ALI.
or nearly all, the expenditures for
purely state purposes. / repeat what I
said In my report to the legislature of
1898: The modern tendency in taxa
ton by states is to lessen the tax rate
upon realty and derive increased reve-
nue. from taxes upon corporations in
heritances etc. Foreign corporations
doing business in this state and domes-
tic corporations may be required to paw
an annual tax or license into the state
revenue
Tax Laws.
Referring to the matter Of taxation.
I have been firmly convinced for some
years past that our tax laws need re-
vision to the end that the burden of
taxation be more eQuitably distributed.
Under present conditions persons of
small means who can least afford If
pay more than their proportionate
share Of the taxes, while many wealthy
n.
tons and individuals escape by paving
1.-THE OF what they ought to pay.
am q firm believer in q permanent
board Of tax commissioners for this
state. and shall strenuousiy recosn-
mend In my next report to the lerisla-
ture the creation Of such a board. In
the State Of Michigan the board st tax
commissioners have succeeded in
placing on the tax rolls this wear
$500. 000. 900 worth Of property which
has heretofore escaped taxation.
State Board Of Control
also believe IN non-partisara s,oa N
of control for all the charitable and
correctional institutions of the state.
Such q board, composed Of practical
business men, not mere politicians. de-
voting Its entire time to the care ana
supervision Of state institutions. viewed
from an economicsV humanitar,an
standpoint, In my opinion, Is highly Ia