The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-18
Democratic Candidate Goes
After Stubs on Subject.
NO EXCUSE FOR EXTRAVAGANCE
DissectS Claims of Administers
ton on Local Increases.
Says Increase in State Levy Is
Real Issue.

Judge A. M. Jackson has torn holes
in the recent Official record" sent
frcm the governors Office to the voters
in which it was shown in plain, ordi-
nary figures that the big increases in
taxes have been for local and not state
purposes, The document, which was
mailed week ago from the governors
Office as campaign material, bore the
ear marks of origination in the secre-
tary of states Office. One of these
records reached Judge Jackson. With
the document at hand, the Winfield
lawyer proceeds to convict the state
administration of untold extravaganza,
feeding the progressives their own
campaign material.
In his discussion of the Kansas tax
levieS, Jackson says:
while there has been an increase of
80 1-3 per cent in the state tax levy
since 1908, in only IS counties of the
state has there been a corresponding
increase in the levy for county general
funds during the corresponding period.
In "a of the los counties in Kansas,
says Judge Jackson, 1.-The levies for the
county general funds in 1911 were either
the same or less than there were in
1908. In IS counties the levies for coun-
ty general funds have been increased
10 per cent or less. These facts, and
I am able to demonstrate by the official
records that they are facts, are the
only answer necessary to the effort of
the present Republican state admins
tration to excuse state extravaganza,
but it cannot escape through such a
plea as has been entered.
"A1l money raised for the state by
direct taxation goes into the states
general fund. Each county makes a
special levy for its general fund. from
which are taken care of current ex-
penses. For special improvements in
the counties and municipalities. special
tax levieS are made. In the statement
put out by the Republican state admin
istratfon, effort is made to show that
there has been greater increase IN
county and city taxes than there has
been in state taxes. By totalling up
the taxes levied locally for all purposes
during the past ten years. county gen.
eral, buildings, bridges, roads, sewers,
pavements, water works, electric lights
and the like, the state administra ton
has been able to get figures that answer
its purposes. They may befog the
situation trif1e but they do not acquit
the state administration of extrava-
gance.
I'm the four years of the Stubbs adj
the state has collected
more money from sources of indirect
taxation than it has spent in perrna n
ent improvements. The only permanent |
improvements the state has made dur |
ing the time have been in the way of |
new buildings at the educational and |
charitable institutions and the partial |
erection of the Memorial building at |
Topeka. During that time more than |
million dollars in fees has been COL
lected by the insurance department |
alone. that department having collected |
s343, 900 in the last year A half million
more has been collected in inheritance
taxes. The federal government paid |
the state $4,000 on an old war claim.
The corporation department collected
several hundred thousand dollars in
fees. to say nothing of the fee colIec-
tons by the grain inspector, the oil in
spector, the board of control and other
departments totalling perhaps a
quarter of a million annually.
How They Dodge ISSUE
''It is true beyond any question that |
the indirect taxes collected by the state
nave more than met its expenditures
-or special and permanent improve
nents SO that the money raised for
state purposes, by state tax levy COM
ng straight from the pockets of the
people, is used only to meet the cur
,ent running expenses of the state
government. Money raised for the coun-
les by the county levy on account o.
county general funds is used for
purposes. Therefore, If