Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-09-04

At the January session in 1905 the
new board paid several thousand
dollars OF bills contracted in the year
1904. In 1904, when Robert Tedford,
Fuller's special friend, was chairman
of the county board and controlled it,
the revenue expenditures were $46,
721. 46. In this connection it may be
stated that Mr.. Jacobson feelings as
a taxpayer overcame his partisanship
once, and that was when he openly
rejoiced over Tedford's defeat. In 1903
the revenue expenditures were $32,
105. 49, in 1902, $32, 665. 46; in 1901,
$33, 926. 06; in 1900, 1884, O91.73. These
expenditures have thus been averaging
about same, although there have been
IN recent years some extraordinary
expenditures, such as expensive
murder trials, and murder investlga-
tions, for which we trust Fuller IS not
going to blame the democratic
officers. A republican county attorney
conducted the trials, but we are not
going to blame him for the expense.
Those were expenses which were un-
avoidable and ran into thousands Of
dollars. Another expense generally
unnoticed, but which amounts to a
great deal, and for which no officer
can be blamed, is that of tax refund
ments Refandments are compulsory.
Most of them are ordered by the state
auditor and cover taxes paid on rail-
road indemnity lands mostly placed on
the tax rolls by Auditor H. n. Hard
ing. In 1907 the tax refundments
amounted to $1,513. 55; in 1905
81, $50. 81, and since 1900 amounts to
over $4,000. The county officials
are not to blame because the
title to these lands was IN dispute, and
the state auditor orders taxes on them
cancelled.
Among extraordinary expenditures
in recent years was the appropriation
IN 1902 OF $6, 500 out of the revenue
fund to purchase the old Broadway
bridge at Little Falls, which was
moved to Ft. Ripley The proceeds
went to the city Of Little Falls, then
building the new steel bridge.
! Morrison county is large county.
It costs great deal to run it, It is
no wonder that expenditures run
above income when 1t is seen that
taxable valuations seem to be growing
less, while necessities increase. Last
year the total taxable valuation was
SIS, 1872, 556; in 1906, 5,054, O98; in
| 1905, s., 465, 619; in 1904, s., 422, 796
IN 1908, $5, sos, ,947. Taking this five
year period, it will be seen that the
} valuation was nearly $500, 600 greater
five years ago than it was last year,
and in 1904 and 1905 much greater
than 1907, last year being several
hundred thousand dollars less than
either 1904 or 1906. Everybody be-
ieves the county to be continually
growing In wealth as well as In
population and it has, nevertheless
folks like to be assessed as low as
} possible. That means that while the
county's growth necessitates increased
expenditures, the valuation from
which the tax income comes is actual
ly less than in previous years. A
deficit IS unavoidable under such
conditions, except by a great raise In
! valuation and increase in taxes, and
1 we know what the taxpayer thinks
about that.
}, But two democratic members of the
; county board come before the people
this fall. No man who knows Andrew
J, johnson can say anything else but that
he is honest, wise and careful, and q
good business man. The estimation
in which the business men of Little
!, Falls hold him is proof Of this. To
charge such a man with tsex-
travagance, is about as false and
ridiculous statement as could be
made. The same is true Of Peter
I Virnlg, whois level headed and up
bright man, Those who know them