Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-30
THE TRUTH MAKES THEM MAD.
Republican With Snarl Attempts TO Evade
Truth Of Tax Question But the Tax
Receipt Speaks Louder
than Words.

fact that the taxes paid by Winnesheil
Co. to the state of Iowa during year.
of the administration of Gov. Cum.
Minis exceeded the amount paid by this
county during the administration OF
Governor Shaw by sl2, ,572, the Decorah
of space to inform the people of the
method of levying the taxes. 1t is a
carefully written attempt to befuddle
the readers and get their minds away
from the real issue-the amount OF
money called for by their tax receipts.
and paid by them.
The occasion for this article was the
sending out, probably from the Perkins
headquarters in Des Moines, of cir
culars giving statement of the
amounts paid in state taxes by the
counties of the fourth district during
four years of Gov. Cummins' admin
istration and Gov. Shaw's admins
] tration. The circular simply stated
that the amount of state taxes paid by
this county during Gov Shaw's ad-
ministration was $50, 453. 80, and that
during the first four years of Gov
Cummins administration this county
paid $7e,025. 80, or an increase of
S12, 572. go amounting to 81 per cent.
These statements are taken from the
records in the state capitol at Des
Moines, and show the amount actually
paid by this county. The figures can
be verified by going to the court house
in this city.
The purpose of the circulars was to
show the extravaganza of the Cummins
administration. The figures cannot
be disputed and speak louder than
words. Look up your own tax receipts
for these periods and see for yourself
what you have paid. The Cummins
administration is responsible directly
for the increase. There is no way to
evade the fact.
In the same connection please re-
member that during the administration
of Gov. Shaw extra heavy expense
came to the state by reason of the
Spanish American war. During Cum
Minis administration the u. s.
government refunded to this state
$3.50, 600, and besides this another
million dollars has been paid the state
through the operation of the corpora
tion law. The Republican neglected
to mention these facts. Bearing these
in mind. has not the Cummins admin
istration been an enormously ex-
travagant one?
Let's go step further This can t
be laid to the state Legislature, nor to
the railroads. During the term of l..
M. Shaw as Governor of Iowa his
travelling expenses charged to the state
amounted to $827. "a. During the first
four years of Gov. Cummins admins
tration he has charged the state for
travelling expenses So, ,6S4. "a.
Here's another. Gov. Larrabee spent
and charged to the state for junketing
trips 1919. 81; Gov. Boies spent 500. SO
Gov. Jackson spent $3.50. GA; Gov.
Drake spent $8l. 90; Gov. Shaw spent
nothing: Gov. Cummins, during the
first four years of his term, has spent
and charged to the state 80, S07. "a.
In sixteen years all the governors spent
for this purpose only $683. 93. In four
years Gov. Cummins alone spent
81. .3O7.5 "a. This is 81, ,623. 81 more than
all five of his predecessors.
More yet. During Gov. Drake's adj
ministration the Battleship Iowa was
launched. Gov. Drake and party at
tended the launching and charged the
state for it nothing. During Gov.
Cummins administration the Battle
ship Des Moines was launched. Gov.
Oummins and party attended the
launching and charged the state for it
Sl, ,8O5. go.
Again. Gov. Shaw charged the
state nothing for his expenses at the
Inauguration of President Mckinley.
Gov. Cummins charged the state
$5O9.02 for his expenses to the in
auguration of President Roosevelt.
These figures might be carried on
indefinitely. But the above will
suffice to show that the charge of
extravaganza against the Cummins
administration is just one, and ex-
travagance in the administration of
the affairs of state is what makes an
increase in state taxes. What differ
ence does it make who does the simple
act of levying the tax, that is, de-
termining the proportion or rate each
county shall pay. When the money is
spent it must come from the people.
When the Cummins administration
spends the money, the Cummins adj
ministration is responsible for the
increase in taxes.
Here is table showing the cost Of
administering the affairs of the state
of Iowa from Gov. Larrabee's admins