Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-01-30
Thursday, January 30, 1908.
THAT DEFICIENCY.

organization is strenuously trying to
make people believe that taxes are
no higher and that if they are they
are made so as to take care OF the
deficiency left by the stalwart
administration. Let us look into
the facts of the case. The last leg
islature, "my Legislature" says Craw-
ford, appropriated about S2,20O,OOO
for the two year period of 1907 and
1905. The state board fixed the
total assessment at about 260 million
dollars.
Now then they claim that the
stalwarts left them a deficiency Of
S250,000 to make up. This is not
the truth but let us assume for the
sake Of argument that it is so. To
take care Of the appropriations Of
my Legislature" and also the alleged
deficiency the state board should have
raised S2,450,000 to clear up things.
This would have made 81 ,220,000 d
year to be raised for state taxes and
on a valuation of $50 millions should
have been almost ) mills each year
for state tax. But the laws of South
Dakota do not permit more than a
4 mill levy for state purposes and
the "reformers" were "up against
it," They knew early in the legis-
lative session that the appropriations
were going to exceed the amount
the state could levy so they tried to
have a law passed removing the
limit Of the tax levy but the more
conservative members saw that
wouldn't do so that was dropped. A
large number of fat Offices had to be
provided for the Crawford bench
men so they thought that they had
better get all they could and let the
next administration pay the bills.
Well, the Legislature spent the
money and it was up to the state
l.<.-l A. .a...s A.. ,,x,;r
What did they do? The first
thing they did was TO order an
increase in the assessment OF the
property of the state, especially
farm lands, in order that the money
could be raised with the constitu-
tional limit of the tax levy.
When the assessment returns were
all in, the state board found that
even il they levied the full 4 mill
tax for both years, 1907 and 1905
they would still be short Sl20, 900
without taking into consideration the
alleged deficit of $4,000; so tc
make cheap political capital they
ordered 3 mill levy for 1907 and a
mill levy for 1908. Assuming
that every dollar Of tax will be paid
there will be- raised for state pur.
poses this year $4,000 and in 1905
100000, making total for the
two years of $l,S20,000 to pay
appropriations of s2,2OO,OOo. Does
it look to you as though there viii
be surplus left over after the
reformers get throughf There viii
be an actual deficit OF at least $400,
600 for the two years Of reform anc
that with the highest state ia,
known in South Dakota. How ar,
they going to take care of tina
alleged s250,0OO stalwart deficit
when they have one Of their own 0
$500, 900 to take care of.
The levy Of only a 8 mill tax thi
year was piece OF political bum
combe that fits in we'll with reform
ideas in the effort to fool" tn
people. They did not dare to max
q full levy to take care Of thei
obligations because they knew !
would bring down the wrath of tn
South Dakota voter on their heads
Il was done as . cheap political pla
20 try TO hold . few voters that the
thought could be fooled that wa,
Then they tell you that state take
are no higher than in 1905. The
a. not want to compare them wit
1909. To be exactly fair the write
"a made q comparison between th
tro last years Of stalward admins
sr,tion, 1905 and 1909, and the y
vs.rs q "reform" administrator
ioo1 and 1908. The tax for 100
.-.;m.Ssd but is figured on :
ii lsry which is ordered and 2