Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-22
EXPENSES OF STATE FOR COMING
YEARS WILL FAR EXCEED
PAST ExTRAvAGENcEs.
ERA OF "GREATER IOWA" IN
FACT As WELL As FANCY
Governor Carroll and Associates Try
to Figure Out Plan Of Economy
Round Figures for Biennial Period
Shows Expenditure Of Over $e,000,.
ooo-AII Former Periods outdone.
Specia! to Times Republican.

Des Moines, July 22.-The biennial
fiscal period upon which the state OF
Iowa entered July promises to be the
most extravagant in all the history OF
the state. 1t matters little how much
the state tax levy is increased, or
whether increased or not, the state is
going to spend more money by we'll
nigh million dollars than it ever did
before in like period.
During the past few days the COVER
nor and his associates have been tigur-
ing on how to economize and make
showing that will make good on the
political promises of the past. The
deeper the matter is gone into the more
it is seen that the state has definitely
entered upon an era that means Great
er Iowa" in fact as well as in fancy.
The era of the Little Iowans" has
passed forever.
In round numbers the expenses of the
state of Iowa in the fiscal period will
be s9,072,ooo.
The biennial period ended one year
ago showed total of state eXpendi-
lures of sS,O2S.554, as shown by the
state auditors figures.
The fiscal period of 1906-S, which
was last previous one reported on as a
whole period showed an expenditure Of
S772129S and in 1903-0 it was S.
S29,96O.
The item of $9,O72,000 estimated as
the cost of the state government for
the two years includes not only the
salaries of state officials, judges and
expenses of boards and commissions,
but the cost of maintenance of institu-
tons including the colleges, in which
has occurred the chief increase. 1t
includes the increased salaries of state
officials and legislators. 1t includes
the larger contingent funds. 1t in
cludes the new commissions and boards
and their expenses An item Of in
crease usually overlooked is the in
crease in tho revenue from the state
farms and shops, making necessary an
increased per capita support fund.
Some items are contingent and may not
be used.
With knowledge of the probable ex-
penses of the state and the sources
of income it is not difficult to see
where the state is coming out. The
estimated income of the state for the
period from sources other than the
direct state tax is S3,745,000. The
legislature ordered tax levy to raise
two and a half million each year,
which with the income stated would
give the treasury ss,745.O0o to use in
paying the expense Of over nine mil
lions. That would mean that some of
the surplus in the treasury is to be
used in making both ends meet"
This is exactly what was done years
ago when all who had to do with state
finances say that big balance in the
state treasury was not only unneces-
sary but dangerous and arranged to
have it kept to working basis. For
this they We're numerically scored by
the demagogues aching for office.
On the basis Of an aggregate valua-
ton for taxing purposes of all prop
erty in the state of about 7O2.000.000
one tenth mill Of the state tax levy
yields about $4,000. A levy Of s5
mills comes nearer to meeting the or
ders Of the legislature than any other
figure. Each one tenth mill knocked
off would lessen the amount $4,000.
The aggregate Of taxable value on
which the levy Is placed has been
pushed up enormously in recent years.
This year it is, in round numbers,
O2,000,000, last year it was $500, 00O,-
900. the year before S6S1.O0O.O0O, then
s667000,000. Going back just ten years
we find 1t to be only $3.50 100000. If
the taxable property was now valued
at what it was ten years ago it would
take stats tax levy of as mills.
Whether the railroad. telegraph, tele-
phone and car line assessments are
raised a few thousands or are left as
they were last year, with no material
change, will not affect the state tax
levy to any great extent 1t Is the
increase of the real estate and person.
al property assessments that count.
But the important thing is that no
matter how the accounting may result
the state is in for heavy expen-
diture for current expenses and a rec
ord fai. beyond ANYTHING of the nast