The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-14

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-Advt.
in North Dakota was less than in
neighboring states. For instance, the
Soc pays an average Of 1904 per mile
for each mile Of it's main line and
branch lines in North Dakota, while
1t pays an average tax in Minnesota
Of $415; in Michigan of 1913; and in
Wisconsin Of 1854. The Great North
ern pays an average tax of 1886 in
North Dakota; 1854 in Minnesota; and
zoos in Washington The N. P. pays
S34O in North Dakota, $668 in Mime
sofa; and 1851 in Washington. The
WISCONSIN Central pays $1,152 in
Michigan; SAT in wisconsin,; and $494
entire system and in. Minnesota all, of
the roads average for all their track
age $478 per mile.
In h North Dakota coal rate case
counsel for the N. P. contended that
they paid a tax in this state equal to
a gross earnings tax of 4 10 per cent.
In Minnesota they pay a gross earn
lngs tax of 5 per cent, and the Illinois
Central pays in Illinois a gross earn
tngs tax Of 7 per cent.
In addition, the speaker pointed out
That the value per mile of the main
line of the Northern Pacific in North
Dakota a $14,625, on which they
paid a state levy Of AZ mills.
which amounts to a tax of $65.S1;
in Idaho their main line is valued. at
$4,000 and on this they pay a state
levy of 2.3 mills OF $156.4O; in Wash
1ngton their main line is valued at
$S9,2S5, on which they pay q state tax
OF 8-81-100 mills, or $346.1O; in Mon
tana their main line is valued at s21,-
600 a mile, on which they pay a state
levy of 8 mills, OF 500. In brief, the
Northern Pacific pays a state tax of
$63 in Montana, $65 in North Dakota,
$l56 in Idaho, and in Washington $346
per mile, Applying tn eaverage levy
for all purposes in these states to
these valuations, the speaker foand a
total tax levied per mile for the cur
rent year of 1898 in North Dakota;
$Sl9 IN Montana; $1,210 in Idaho; and
$l,219 in the state of Washington.
NSNSA "o0 ShC
properties were not assessed as high
IN proportion in these states as the
railroads. The speaker had only the
1918 report of the board of euualiza-
tlon Tor Washington from which it
was shown that a horse 8 years old
or e would pay a tax for the cur
rent year Of STAT in North Dakota
and $l.46 in Washington, that cattle
paid a tax in North Dakota of 81 cents
per mead and in Washington Y cents
per head; that hogs paid a tax of IA
cents per head in North Dakota, and
II cents in Washington.
In discussing the state debt. Mr..
packard showed that prior to 1901,
no efforts had been made to paw the
Indebtedness of the State-that from
$645.SO7, which We assumed at state
mood or as proportion of the territorial
DEBT, the Indebtedness had increased
until in 1901 it reached a total of ST.
Z5l'50O. That year the first sinking
rune levy was made; this was CON
tlnued during the remainder of Major
Whites administration, but was dis
continued during Sarle's administra-
Ion. 1t was resumed by the Burke
administration and has been continu-
ed to date. Through the sinking fund
levy n placing Of the Irvine plant
upon a paying basis, the state has re-
duced its Indebtedness to 1862, 800,
In 1890 the county Indebtedness ex-
ceeded $1,500,0 00. This did not ma
teriaily increase until five years ago.
out during the past three or four
years 1t. has Increased enormously and
t11oay AGGREGATES $4,000 For
the payment of this debt
there exists a. sinking fIn5
In 1890 the county indebtedness ev.
ceeded a million and a half. This did
not materially increase until FIVE years
aso, ou ~ curing the past three or four
years 1t mas increased enormously and
today aggregates 81, 800, 900. For the
M of this debt there exists a,
dn XXI f1nd Of $3.50, 600, leaving a net
JEW OF $s,seo, OOo, on which the people
statehood; amounting to 1880, 600. The
school debt at statehood was ST. O0O, 600
ana IN III IL dld not materially increase un-
~ zen years ago. Since that time how
mntll today 1t approximates SIS, $50, 900.
Ihere Is a sinking fund provided for
the payment of this debt of $500, 900,
leaving a net debit of $4,45O'0OO' on
which interest has been paid in the
sum of 50, 800, 600. Our state debt new.
er exceeded a million and a quarter.
ana on this We have paid nearly ST.
og 1862, 800. wv
h speaker had no statistics on
Vlllage or city debts prior to the cur
rent fen oG year this he found to be 49,
i9o'o0O, on which an annual interest
charge is made of 1911, 900. He pointed
out that many of the, cities of the state
We're contracting heavy ess-
TOT INSTANCE, the total debt of the city
Of Grand Forks is $1.367, 900, exclusive
of school debt, on which they nav an
annualtinterest charge OF SS1,43S The
CITY OF Fargo had a total Indebtedness
or Sl,I32,O0O, on which they nav an
annual charge of about, $4,000. The
CITY OF. Minot has a public debt of near
~ $bS0,O0O, on which there is an an
nual interest charge of more than $40
oOo. The city Of Mandan has a debt
approximating, $780, 600, on which the
annual interest is $4,000. The speaker
lamated the tendency of local govern
mentai units to borrow from the state
Iunds' N many instances. simply be-
cause the money was easy. to be OBJ
famed the rate low. He found the
total Indebtedness of the common
wealth to exceed SIS, 900, 900 and the
annual interest charge to be approxi-
matelyy SITS, 600, or about z per cent Of
ali the taxes actually paid in the state.
Ihe peake condemned the sinking
fund method of paying public debt and
recommended that all bonds be made
payable seriaIly.-that is, the interest.
purpose.
In conclusion the speaker said: .eIt is
my judgment that the state govern
ment of North Dakota, has been econ
omically administered sinca statehood
This of course, is a comparative state
ment, as there is a different conception
OF economy among governments and
big corporations geerally than among