The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-29
Comprehensive Discussion of FL
nances Included and Needed Legis-
Iation Outlined I'm Detail.
DELINQUENT TAX QUESTION
HEROIC ENFORCEMENT OF PRESENT
LAWS BADLY NEEDED.
Tax Levy should Not BE Reduced, He
says-BuiIding Associations, In
surance, Land and Banks.

The report of William II. Hart. auditor
OF state. filed with the Governor yesterday,
presents in detail a record Of a successful
and thoroughly businesslike administration
of the Office. The report is comprehensive,
including statistics of the department COM
ments the questions of finance. admin
istration of state institutions, and impor-
tant recommendations made TO the Gov
ernOr
Stating in the first of his report that the
delinquent tax list OF Intiana amounts to
1858. 1881. Auditor Hart says: There can
be no legitimate reason TO justify such a
large delinquency. In this season of uni
versal prosperity, II taxes cannot be COL
lected, there must be some radical wrong
proceeding from local causes. 1t is mani
testify very apparent injustice to the tax
payers that do meet these contributions for
the operating expenses of government that
such large per cent. of their neighbors
are permitted to either go scot free or pay
indifferently, and often inadequately, what
should be the very first patriotic duty of
good citizenship. Thousands of dollars are
absolutely lost by either going off the du-
plicates through insolvency or the removal
of delinquents to other locations. The
Legislature recently endeavored to cure
this wrong by increasing the treasurers'
fees per cent, but still the evil exists, and
in my judgment, because of the lack of
heroic enforcement of the present laws.
Here and there over the State are instances
of what can be done, notably in Marion
county. The treasurer of Fayette county
in one township only had SIS in delin-
quency.
POWERS DELEGATED.
'I believe the state tax commissioners
are delegated powers by the statute to
supervise delinquent taxes in the different
counties, and if additional legislation is
necessary, IT ought to be supplied, to the
end that these omissions of public duty
and omissions of tax payments should
cease. The continued low aggregate of
personal property values is again called to
public attention. The bank statements of
personal deposits in Indiana, when con-
trasted with the amount of money on hand
or deposit, returned by the taxpayer is a
forceful indictment of the truth of the as
sesSment lists as whole, and when is
added the other property OF this class, it
can readily be seen that at least 80 per
cent of the personal values of the common
wealth are untaxed. Since tithing and tax
alton have had history, the effort has
peen to cure this evil, and yet the solution
has not been reached"
The maintenance of the State institu-
tons, the auditor says. notwithstanding the
increased prices entering into consumption,
has been within the appropriations and
there will be no deficit for the legislature
to provide for. He suggests that a very
decided saving could be made by purchas-
ing supplies for all the State institutions in
one competitive bid, the general plan
| adopted by the government in buying army
subsistence.
The success of the State in pushing the
| civil war claim of $6S5, $50. 20 is reviewed by
| the auditor and he gives great credit to
| George u. Bingham, building association
| inspector of the office who prepared the
/ claim. The attorney general, the Governor
| and members of the Indiana delegation in
| Congress are also commended. There is
yet due from the government, Mr.. Hart
| finds, 2l 800 40 on account of the expense
/ of the Spanish-American war, but this
| cannot be collected without special legisla-
| ton by Congress.
| PAYING OFF DEBT
Taking up the finances of the State Aud
itor Hart presents the following statement
| showing the payments made on the public
| debt, and follows ii with a recommendation
as to debt-paying policy in the future:
Jan. 3, 1901, 3 per cent refunding
DOnuS ............................ 500 0Ot
| June %, 1901, per cent. refunding
bonds ....:............'. sOOOO
Jan. 2. 1902. per cent. refunding
bonds 49,. .......................... S17Oc
| July 20, 1902, per cent refunding
Dohus .''.......... .................... 1000 00