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

|
On our local page this week will BE-
found communication from County
Auditor H+rter commenting on the tax
issue. Following the CoURrER's uniform
policy of treating all sdes fairly we
| gladly give this communication space,
Notwithstanding the personal illu ira
ton used and the in>inuatlOa that We
have made incorrect statements. Next
week and hereafter We shall go into
this matter more fully than in she past.
| Our 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 1t.
Neither Mr. Harter nor any other reader
of the COURIER can poiut to any state
ment by this newspaper that asserted IN
substance that taxes uuder Gov. Craw-
| lord ADMINISTRATION are higher than
her etofore. y The only paragraph thai
We recall that could afford ground for
this criticism is an item quoted from the
sioux Falls Argus Leader. Tbs does
not imp that we endorsed in its eu-
I'll ETY. THIS item, any more than The fact
that our repi hitting the resolutions of
the insurgent republican state COM
mittee carried with 1t our hearty APP
prevail However, we believe the Argus
Lac adler was substantially correct and
are not disposed TO shift any RESPONSE
bl lty in the matter.
| Mr.. Harter obj -cts to the statement
that taxes are higher under Gov. Craw-
! ford than here ofore and then attempts
TO show that the levy for 1907 is no
| higher than heretofore. The amount OF
taxes depends upon two things, the
/ levy and the assessed valuation. LII the
valuation is raised an incre.se amount
can be raised by taxation without any
Harter calls attention to The increase IN
the valuation of railroad terminals IN
this county. La many parts Of the state
farm lands were largely increased, the
total over 1905 being $29 700. 967, while
bank stock shows an actual falling off.
This increased ass ssed valuation,
admitting for arguments sake that
there is no material increase in the levy,
will yield large increase in taxes,
as is necessary to provide for the Two
and a quarter million do lars approprlat-
ed by Gov. Crawfords leg stature, alter
deductiug 500 00O appropriated for the
capitol.
La considering the 1907 taxes Mr..
Harter wants the prison Irvine plant tax
ignored. Very well, ii extraordinary
taxes like this are to be ignored IL
making comparisons, then in all lar
n. SIS the S6la, 300 of bonded Indebtedness
paid by the stalwarts since 1901 should
also be minated before making an,
comparisons.
Mar Harter asserts that the low levy o
1906, caus ng a deficiency, accounts
for the h CHER levy Of 1907 He neglects
to STATE that the excessive app oprialioD
of Gov. Crawford legisla ure, amount
ing TO 1925 OtO more than the avei age 0
the three preceding leg slatures afte
deducting $500. 900 for tue capitol build
ing, is also controlling and an essentia
factor. He neglects also to state tina
the net debt of the state when Gov
Elrod retired was S2l2 coo, viii Jan. |
1908. after one year of reform" it ha
rolled up to 1924 600. This debt i
| largely in general fund warrants draw
! ing Z per cent interest, which insure
! nearly as high a levy for the tax pave
| IN 1908 with nothing included for tn
. Irvine plant
The increase in the assessed va uatio
of railroad terminals in Union count
and other COUNT, Of the state, we be
iieve is step in the right dire ctio
and genuine reform. We account fo
this as iudubitab evidence thu
elements of stalwart rapublicanism sti
abide in the midst of insurgency an
hail with gladness the hope that in d.
t me and process. The little leaven sha