The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-08

| taxes will be aVa1laDle Tor paying tne
states running expenses until Janu-
airy 1. 1914. In other words, the state
will have something like $S25,OO0
| with which to meet many of the
August bills and all of the Septem-
/ Der, October and November bills be-
fore one dollar is available from the
1913 taxes. It costs an average OF
about S325,000 to run the state de-
partments about one month. So as
Stunning that one-haf of the August
bills are yet unpaid and that all of
the September, October and NoVem-
Der bills must yet be paid before any
new taxes are collectable, about
81, 1877, 500 will be necessary to carry
the state claims until December:
That means a possible deficit OF
$311,5OO.
OF course this amount will be re-
duced somewhat by the fees which
will be collected and. which can be
used for paying bills from the states
general revenue fund. But at the
very best, it will be a close squeeze.
And there is something of a prospect
that in November warrants cannot be
honored promptly by the state.
New Taxes Are Uncertain.
The prompt collection of 1913 taxes
this year is very uncertain and may
add to the embarrassment of the
Democratic state administration. Be
cause of crop and business conditions
it is possible that a large bulk of the
taxes, which is usually paid IN full
in December. will be paid only in
half this year, or possibly deferred
entirely until next June.
A short December tax collection
would make the states financial con-
dition even more embarrassing. 1t
would mean that the states revenue
would be at low ebb until next June
at least and that the most strict
economy on the part of every state
department would be necessary.
Then, too, the per cent of the avail
able taxes which would be necessary
to meet the 1913 deficit would be
greater than usual.
Hodges Has a PIan
Governor Hodges, however, believes
that he has a plan which will afford
future relief, even though it may not
help TINS year or even next year. He
plans to forget the policy of the Dem
ocratS for reduction of state taxes
and ask for an increase in the tax levy
next year, if necessary.
The situation simply demands =
said Governor Hodges, that some
governor take hold of this thing and
stop it by increasing the state tax levy
for one year to prevent a repetition
| of this shortage thereafter. So, I
have made up my mind to increase
the state tax levy next year, if it is
necessary. 1t may be possible, though,
that we can solve the matter for 1915
and thereafter without increasing
the levy. or by making only a small
| increase.
Is One Democratic Hope.
by that time continued the gov
ernor, we will be getting much rev.
enue from the corporation tax law.
| The moving picture censorship law
and the sand and graVey royalty law,
which are now tied up in the courts
are both good revenue producers and
before next year we expect them to
! be turning money into the treasury.
We are satisfied that both of these
! laws are constitutional.
Blames Stubbs and Inheritance Tax
| I'VE might have escaped drawing
on the new taxes this year had not
| the Stubs administration in Decem-
! Der, 1912, drawn $4,000 of the new
| taxes to meet their old bills. Then,
If the inheritance tax law had not
| been repealed by the last legislature
We would have realized between
| 100000 and 100000 with which to
| help pay this years expenses. How
! ever, l want it understood that / am
! glad that this law was repealed and
| emphatically favored it,
Governor Hodges believes that it
will not be necessary to draw on the
| county treasurers in December for
more than five per cent of the 1913
| taxes with which to pay the 1913
| bills. Last year drafts were made on
| the county treasurers for ten per cent
| of the new taxes.
| Inc question or the state revenue
has occaSfoned much discussion at the
state house, where there is apparently
| a general tendency to dodge use OF
| the mot paid for want of funds
stamp, regardless of the political af-
filiations of the officials. The use
of this stamp is always regarded as
giving states financial rating a
| black eye. But even the most optim-
istic of the state house officials admit
that il will be sheer good fortune II
Of @lI
tons promptly until the close of the
present wear,