The Cairo bulletin., 1914-10-13
Deneen Administration Cleaned
Out The State Treasury and
Turned Over Only a Big
Indebtedness. =
STATE MUST PAY ITS DEBTS
The Dunno Tax Commission Met the
Issue Squarely and Wiped Out the
Old Debts.

The levying OF a state tax rate OF
10 cents on the hundred dollars by
the State Tax Commission In 1913 was
made necessary by the failure OF the
Tax Commission under Governor De-
neen to levy rate sufficiently high
to meet the appropriations made by
the legislature of 1911 for the years
1911 and 1912. 1t was merely the
we're contracted by the proceeding ad-
ministration. The increase In the rate
was not brought about by an increase
II expenditures by the Democratic ad-
ainistration, but was forced upon the
Democratic Tax Commission by the
playing of peanut politics" by Cover
nor Deneen and his associates after
hey were defeated in the general cleo
ion of 1912.
Figures given out by the Tax Com
mission show that the tax rate OF Is
cents levied by the Deneen commits
zion, created a deficiency for the two
years, 1911 and 1912, amounting to
s5,424,730. This deficiency was an
obligation on the State OF Illinois,
which the Democratic administration
vas compelled to meet, and the only
way to meet ii was to levy taxes
therefor. II the Dunno Tax Commits
sion had been willing TO play politics
i might have allowed this deficiency
% drag along through number OF
sears and make an apparent showing
u economy, but the commission deter
mined to meet the issue sQuarely and
accept the responsibility of wiping
nut the states Indebtedness. This
might be said not TO be good politics,
but it certainly was good business.
There is only one good business way
II disposing Of ones debts, and that Is,
o pay them. This was not the policy
II the Deneen administration, but II
disposed OF the debts Of the state By
unloading them on the Democratic ad-
ninistration.
A tax rate of So cents was calculated
W the fiscal officers OF the Deneen ad-
ninistration as necessary to meet the
appropriations made by the legisla-
ure. and there Is not the slightest
question that the rate levied by thu
Deneen commission would have beer
- cents instead of 80 cents had 1t MOI
| been for the fact that Deneen was de
| 'eated. and he was anxious to put this
| incoming administration In a hole
| through the failure TO levy sufficien
| tax rate to meet the appropriation
made by the legislature.
| An individual who contracts debt
which he does not intend TO pay ma.
make showing OF economy. but
10 not a fair one, and state govern
nent Is In exactly the same position
| Governor Deneen and his Tax Com
mission placed the State Of 1ilinoi
In the position of making debts an
making no provision to pay them.
IL the Deneen commission had levie
sufficient tax rate to take care c
the appropriations made by the legis
lature of that administration, the rat
levied by the Dunno administratio
| would not have exceeded 30 cents II
| stead of the 10 cents that was mad
| necessary. The estimates made b
the fiscal officers OF the state admir-
stration at this time indicate that tn
rate to be fixed by the tax commits
sion at its meeting this year after tn
| State Board Of Equalization finishe
| ne work will not exceed 40 To as cent
| on the one hundred dollars.