Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-08-06
STATE TAXES LIGHT.
WHEN COMPARISON is MADE
WITH REVENUES RAISED
.. BY IOWA CITIES.
MANY GROSS ERRORS FOUND
Governor Clarke In Interview Points
Out Errors of County Taxing Bod
les for Which the States Executive
Council Is Blamed.

Des Moines.-The cities of Iowa
collect SIC in taxes for every dollar
collected by the state.
The country districts of Iowa col
lect $40 in taxes for every dollar col
lected by the state.
These are statements made by Gov,
ernor Clarke. He was asked for an
interview on the tax situation, be.
cause Of the discovery of Secretary
Dawson Of the executive council that
gross errors had been made by coun
ties in fixing tax levies Members OF
the executive council declare that
Governor Clarkes estimate on the
amount of taxes collected as between
state and cities and state and coun,
ties, show where the blame should be
rlaced-not on the STAGE but the local
taxing bodies.
Governor Clarke declared that the
state levy of 2.9 mills was not an in.
crease. 1t was in fact a reduction
from 35 mills. The other increases
n taxation for state purposes were
ordered by the legislature. Taxation
figures show, Governor Clarke declar.
ed, that the cities and counties have
gradually been climbing up and have
been collecting greater amounts in
taxes year after year under the ratio
| of local taxation to state taxation in
cities is sixteen to one.
YES" said Governor Clarke, "they
are blaming the executive council. Is
there any necessity of spending all tax
money just because more was collect.
ed than needed? Is there any reason
why local taxing bodies cannot reduce
tax levies to eliminate this surplus
collected, in making future leyies?"
Further gross errors have been dis
covered by Secretary Dawson. Audu-
bon county erred in compiling figures.
The result is that the county will have
to collect taxes on s4.67 more for ey.
cry acre of land in the county. The
county failed to raise valuations as
ordered by the council and therefore
did not collect the tax the state or
dered. Hardin county viii have to add
Sc an acre to valuations and collect
taxes on this increase because it's Of
ficials failed to carry out the councils
order properly. Butler county ignor-
ed the councils order to increase
valuations altogether
Van Buren, county added $4,000, 900
more than the executive council or.
dered, to It's land valuations. The re-
suit is that the taxpayers OF that
county will pay taxes on this unau-
thorized increase which has been lev
led without, reason.
Fights Convict Labor.
The fight over convict labor in
Fort Madison has almost reached the
danger point, according to informa
tion received by the state board OF
| control
The Brown Paper company, of Fort
Madison, has issued an unqualified
ultimatum to the farmers of the sur.
rounding country that 1t would buy
70 straw whatever that was baled by
contract labor The company buys
an enormous amount of straw every
year, so the board is advised. The
warning was published in Fort Madi.
son papers.
It is taken to be direct slap at
the farmers. For years the farmers
have employed convict labor in the
| fields.
Warden Sanders is now under ar
rest for violating city ordinance re-
Gently passed, prohibiting convicts
from being outside the prison walls
without guard or not on states bust
ness. The state will attempt to
knock out the ordinance.
Iowa Needs Office Building.
w. B. Barney, state dairy and food
commissioner, believes that the state
needs a new Office building far more
than it does a temple of justice or the
judiciary building advocated by A. j
Small, law librarian. The congested
condition of the state capitol needs
relief more than anything else at pres.
ent, Mr.. Barney declared In answer
to the suggestion that the law library
might be destroyed by fire, he said
the night Waterman could turn In an
alarm before any great damage could
be done.
No Fee Schedule Fixed.
No schedule OF prices for medical
service rendered men injured in in
dustrial accidents will be fixed by
Warren Garst, Industrial commission
er. When asked for the amount Of
fees physicians will be permitted to
charge, he declared that no rates
will be fixed, and that he will not in
terfere in any case unless application
Is made to him.
Plymouth County Saloon Fight.
The saloon fight In Plymouth coun-
ty is not finished. The wet" forces
have carried their fight in defense
OF the defunct saloon petition in that
county to the supreme court. The
high court will review the case at
the September term.
The case Is the result OF the claim
made by the LIQUOR element that the
supervisors OF Plymouth county hon
ored enough Withdrawals to make It
invalid. 1t is claimed the withdraw
ais were not made until the board had
started canvassing the document.
Must Sell BY Weight.
After September 8, 1914, Iowa gro
GERS will have to sell everything by
weight All packages must have the
net weight printed or stamped on the
wrapper. Otherwise 1t win be sub
ject to confiscation With the excep-
ton OF onion sets and berries all pro-
duce usually sold by the bushel will
have to be sold by weight. Berry
boxes must be full quart or pint
measures. This applies to milk sold
in bottles, the quantity having to be
stamped or printed on the bottle. to
conform to the new regulations.