The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-01-03
GREAT INCREASE
In STATE TAXES
County Taxes are Also Advancing All Too
Rapidly to Suit the Taxpayers and
a Big Change IS Necessary

The Wall Street Journal, New York
publication, has been discussing the
matter of the heavy cost of our federal
and state, government and investigating
the items of extravagant expenses that
attach thereto, and in recent issue
had the following to say bearing on
North Dakota:
with our northern frontier guarded
by such immaculate organizations as
the state government of Minnesota,
Washington, Dakota, ETC., it seems
fair to ask why their inhabitants are
rapidly deserting them and slipping
away to Manitoba.
''North Dakota has an area of IT,,
615 square miles and population OF
SIT, ,056, or about u to the mile; a fer
tile territory, bracing climate. illimi-
table space, boundles opportunities,
hardy population, and-general dis
satisfaction. Excessive taxation
and the high cost Of. living is
the cry of the exiles. State officials
point to their stupendous volume of
accounts and bid us seek an answer in
its recesses. The treasurer solemnly
affirms it true account, and the
governor, whose entire term of Office
would probably be exhausted in any
examination of its details, as solemnly
approves it.
''It will hardly be credited that the
annual cost of the state government of .
this little community of half million
is nearly four million dollars (3,864, ,234
1917, or that 1t requires 320 pages of
print to so attenuate this fact that its
meaning shall escape investigation.
Every petty item, down to the cost of
a telephone call, is paraded in the treas
urer's report, e. g., Jan. 5, 1911, war
rant No. 1861, issued to N. D. Ind.
Telephone Co., Is cents.
''But as to the larger items no such
information is vouchsafed. We are
only informed that warrants for so
many thousands of dollars were issued,
but not upon what dates nor for what
purpose. This is the blind alley which
is solemnly offered for true account,
and as blindly approved by the state
executive.
There is no addition to this account.
no summary, no grouping of items, no
help, no aid, no guide to the inquirer.
1t would take years time and large
force of clerks to examine and verify
it; and such, no doubt, is its design.
The governors salary Of ST, ,0oo q year,
with expenses and contingencies, en-
crosses three-fourths of page, where
as single line would have been suffi-
cient. When the account passes from
the governor to his civil staff, their
salaries, contingencies, and the vague.
items behind which they have sheltered
themselves, it becomes an impossible
wilderness. No sane person would at
tempt it; no accountant would pass it.
.'ln 1902 the cost Of local government
in North Dakota was, for the state,
$959, ,S57; counties, 81. coz. 400; cities and
minor divisions, g. .575; 600; total. $5,-
1l8,759; the county and municipal being
4.36 times as much as the state. APP
plying the same proportion to the
currentexpenditures, the total for state,
counties and municipalities in 1911 be-
comes $50 per capita, or $15Oper family |
Of five. On top Of all this the federal
government is obliged to levy an in
direct tribute upon the country Of $50
per family. This accumulated cost of
government expresses itself in the cost
Of living; but how long the people Of
Dakota can stand it, or the United !!
States will continue to endure it, may
become serious questions"
The problem Of taxes and taxation is
: amooted question. It is now being |
discussed generally by the taxpaying !
public. It is question in which the |
individual taxpayer and the corporation
is interested alike. Both are feeling
the burden keenly. All agree that the
tax item 10 9 growing one. This growth
il not limited to any particular sub
division Of government 1t is true in
nation, state, county, city and town.
!. ship. Il i . bewildering propositionl
and as yop delye into It It grows more
bewfidering, 4, d the experience Of
every taxpayer. and the tables here-
with submitted prove II, that taxes|
have grown ~ leaps and bounds. OnI
tho questiop ~ taxes depends greatly
the krpW md the prosperity Of every