The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-11-06
RICHARDS REPLIES
TO BYRNE, CITING
FIGURES BY AUDITOR
Wants to Know If
Governor Will Denv
Them.
RESENTS RETORT
Says He Must Defend His
Honor When Accused bV
Byrne of Falsehoods.

DYIlle vi FdlS6IlOOQS.
Huron. S. D.-The following letter
has been sent by r.. O. Richards TO
recent answer to Richards statement
of state finances:
His Excel.ency, Frank NJ, Byrne.
Governor OF South Dakota,
pierre, s. ID.
Sir:
II have just noticed in the Pierre
Daily Dakotan, published last ven
ing, your statement in regard to mat
ter of state expenditures which have
had printed under the head of State
Expenses, A Comparison of State
Taxes for 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906,
1909. 1910, 1911, 1912, and appro-
priations for 1913 and 1914. 1nfor-
nation Obtained from the State Au-
ditor's Office
THE Daily Dakotan reports you as
saying Every phase of the statement
was false and misleading. The i'm
preston intended to be given by the
entire statement is absolutely false
Under ordinary circumstances, as a
rule, l pay no attention to criticisms;
but when one occupying the position
of your EXcellency endeavors to
brand me as a falsifier, | feel called
on to defend my character. The fig
ures which l caused to be printed in
the statement, upon which you COM
ment as misrepresentation, are in
fact true, as furnished to me by the
state bookkeeper, the state auditor.
/ have simply quoted the figures
given me upon inquiry at the state
auditors office. l therefore desire to
ask you to favor me with answer
Yes or No to the following ques-
tions. All you need to do to answer
these questions correctly in this
ditor's office and ascertain the facts.
Figures from Auditor?
First: Replying TO my inquiry,
did the state auditors office inform
me in writing that the state taxes
for 1903 and 1904, under Governor
Herried, were 81, 269,887.0O?
Second: Replying to my inquiry,
did the same office inform me in
writing that the state taxes for 1905
and 1906. under Governor Flrod.
were $1,323,633.0O, and that the
total for these four years was $2,-
593,52O.O 90?
Third: Replying to my inquiry,
did the same office inform me in
writing that the state taxes for 1909
and 1910, under Governor Wesley,
were $2,624,917.OO?
Fourth: Replying to my inquiry,
did the same office inform me in the
same that the state taxes for
1911 and 1912. under Governor Yes
sey were $2,7S7,434.OO, and that the
total for these four years was 49,
412,351.00?
Fifth: Replying to my inquiry,
did the same office informe me in
writing that the increase in state
taxes in the last mentioned four year
period, over the first mentioned four
year period, was $2,818,831.0O?
Sixth: Replying to my inquiry, did
the same office inform me in writing
that the appropriation of state mon
eys for the years 1919 and 1914. un-
der YOUR administration, was $3,-
537,741.59?
Seventh: Replying to my inquiry,
did the state Auditors office, under
date of October 18th, 1913, write me
the following information:
+" The following statement of liza
bilities and resources is substanit-
ally correct, minor changes in the
amount of state tax nay be made
when the several county auditors
complete their lists and make their
reports to this office, but such chang
es cannot materially effect the total
either way.
Liabilities.
+" Appropriations pay
able during fiscal
year ending June 80,
1914 ........... s1,917,43S.9C
/" Revenue warrants
outstanding ...... 37o,0OO.oC
I" County ~treasurers
fees 4 per cent of
state tax ......... 4~7,S18.21
Attachments, refunds
etc, S per cent les
timated) .......... 5s,772.7t
s2,395.029.sE
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