Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-02-27
AUDITOR HARTER AND TAXATION


AUDITOR HARTER AND TAXATION
On our local page this week will b.
| found communication from County
Auditor Hirter commenting ON the tax
| issue. Following the CoURIER'S uniform
policy of treating all sidts fairly we
gladly give this communication space,
| Notwithstanding 1.-The p rsonal illu ira
tion used and the in inuatlon that We
have made incorrect statements Next
week and hereafter We shall go into
this matter more fully han in The past.
Onr readers will bear us testimony
hat up TO this time the COURIER has
made very little mention of the taxation
issue. Like the Canton News and
some other stalwart republican news
papers, the COURIER has realized that
this is "a matter with two sides to it,.
Neither Mr.. Harter nor any other reader
of the COURIER can point to any state
ment by this newspaper that asserted IN
substance that taxes under GOV. Craw-
ord S ADMINISTRATION are higher than
her etofore The only paragraph that
We recall that could afford ground for
this criticism is an item quoted from the
sioux Falls Argus Leader. THIS does
not imp y that we endorsed in It's en-
titety this item, any more than The fact
that our reprinting the resolutions of
the insurgent republican state COM
lttee carried with it our hearty APP
pr6A However, we believe the Argus
Lt ader~sMas substantially correct and
are not dispose to shift any response
bi ity in the matter.
Mr. Harter objects to the statement
that taxes are higher under Gov. Craw~
ford than here ofore and then attempts
TO show that the levy fol 1907 is no
higher than heretofore The amount of
taxes depends upon two things, the
levy and the assessed valuation. If the
valuation is raised an increased amount
can be raised by taXatioa without any
Harter calls attention to The increase IN
The valuation of railroad terminals in
this county. In many parts of the state
farm lands were largely increased, the
total over 1905 being 500 700. 967, while
bank stock shows an actual falling off.
This increased asse ssed valuation,
admitting for arguments sake that
there is no material increase in the levy,
will yield a large increase in taxes,
as is necessary to provide for the two
and quarter million do lars approprlat-
ed by Gov. Crawford 5 leg stature, after
deducting $500 600 appropriated for the
capitol
In considering the 1907 taxes Mr..
Harter wants the prison twine plant tax
ignored. Very well, if ex raordlnsry
taxes like this are to be ignored in
making comparisons, then in all fair
ut SIS the S6l3, 300 of bonded indie btedness
paid by the sta!warts since 1901 should
also b5 minated before making any
comparisons.
Mr. Harter asserts that the low levy OF
1906, caus ng deficiency, accounts
for the h CHER levy Of 1907 He neglects
to Stat that the excessive app Opriations
of Gov. Crawford's legisla ure, amount
ing TO 1925 OL D more than the aver az e OF
| the three preceding leg slatures after
dedue ting 5000. 900 for the capitol build
| ing, is also controlling and an essential
| factor. He neg 'eets also to state that
! the net debt of the state when Gov
Elrod retired v as $2l2 00O viii Jan. |,
1905. after oEe year of reform it had
rolled up TO 1924 600. This debt i.
largely in general fund war; ants draw
/ ing per cent interest, which insures
nearly as high a levy for he tax pave, S
in 1908 with nothing included for the
twine plant
he increase III the assessed va uation
! of railroad terminals In Union county
and other COUNT OF the state. we be-
Ineve is step in the RI ght dir, ction
and a genuine reform. We account for
this as iudubitab evidence tha,
elements Of stalwart rapublicanism still
abide in the m DIST of insurgency and
! hail with gladness the hope that in due
me and process, lhe Ii tie leaven shal
/ leavan the whole lump