The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-01
With Relatively Small Increase
in Indebtedness.
TAX LEVY GROWS So PER Gent
In 10 YearS-WeaIth Increase
Outstrips All Others.
Total Federal Revenue Nearly a
Billion Annually.

Billion Annually.
Washington. d. c.. July 1.-The
decennial report on wealth, debt, and
taxa ton, soon to be issued by Direc-
tor Sam l.. Rogers of the Bureau
OF the Census, Department of Com
merce, and compiled under the direc-
ton of Mr.. Starke NJ. GrOgan, chief
statlsticlah in charge of the inquiry,
| will show an increase in the national
wealth of rs per cent in eight years;
in net federal Indebtedness, of per
cent in IL years; in net state indebt-
edness, of 44.5 per cent in years;
I in net county indebtedness, of SO per
cent N II years; in net municipal in
debtedneSs, of ia per cent in IL
years; and IN the general property tax
levy, of Sc per cent in 10 years.
In this report are brought together
in two bound volumes all the statis-
tics pertaining to the general subject
of wealth, debt and taxation which
have been issued from time to time
during the past year in series OF
bulletins.
The National Wealth.
The bureau estimates the total
value of all classes of property in the
United States, exclusive of Alaska and
the insular possessions, in 1912 at
S1S7, 1888, 100000, or $1,965 per capita.
This estimate is presented merely as
the best approximation which can be
made from the data available and as
DG1nS larry compare Die with that
published eight years, ago. The in
crease between 1904 and 1912 was rs
per cent for the total amount and AZ
per cent for the per capital.
Public Indebtedness.
The net public Indebtedness in 1913
amounted to $4,S5O.461, 200. This
amount was made up as follows: Ma
tiona1 debt, S1,02S.5 900, or S1O.59
per capita; state debt, $345, 942, 900,
or 1887 per capita; county debt.
= r,Tf II
municipal debt, S2,SS4. 900, or
$5427 per capital. Thus the average
urban citizens share of the net fed
eraI, state, county, and municipal debt
combined was s72.76;' and the aver
age rural citizens share of the net
federcI, state, and county debt COM
bired was $1S.49-
The total federal debt. in 1910 was
S2,915, 900, of which amount
1857. 1000 was represented by
bonds, 1915 S2,9OO by non interest
bearing debt principally United
States notes or "greenbacks'), and
notes issued on deposits of coin and
bullion Against this Indebtedness
there was in the Treasury S1,SS7, 641,-
900 in cash availa bic for payment of
edness at 4$122Sa as 1000, or $40 %
per Capita. The increase in the net
Indebtedness between 1902 and 1913
amounted 10 6 per cent, but for the
of IS per cent.
Taxation.
The total levies of taxes on real
estate, personal property. and other
property subject to ad valorem taxa
ton, by states, counties, municipali-
ties school districts, and other civil
divisions, increased from 1924, 1877, 900,
or 9.22 per capita, in 1902 to S1,349,-
S41, 900, or 1891 per capita, in 1912,
the percentages of increase being sc
for the total amount and 81 for the
per capita
Levies for safe purposes increased
from SS0,4O2,00O in 1902 10 S155,-
$4,000 in 1912, or by "a per cent
During the same period the levies by
counties. municipalities, school dis
tricts, etc, increased from S644, 335,-
600 to $1,1S4, $4,000, or by "a per
cent. The county levies in 1912 were
S2SS, 49,, 900, and those of munich
palities, school districts, and other
minor civil divisions amounted to
$685., 321,000
Comparison of Increase.
Thus it appears that an increase of
rs per cent in years-indicating a
gain of 115 per cent in IL yearS-in
national wealth has been accompanied
by an increase, during II years, of 6
per cent in net federal indebtedness,
44.5 per cent in net state indebtedness
SO per cent in net county Indebtedness,
and ia per cent in net municipal IN
debtedness. In connection with the
STONIn III nuI1Clpd1 l1u6plSdIlSSS
however, it should be borne in mind
that the proportion which urban pop
ulation represented of the total was
materially greater in 1918 than in
1902. The net ndebtedness of nation
al. state, county. and municipal gov
ernments combined increased by IL
per cent in IL years.
Revenues and Expenditures.
The total revenue receipts of the
national government during the fiscal
year ended June so. 1913. aggregated.
1858, $4,000, and<the expenditures for
governmental costs We're. 1852, col, 900.
The corresponding figures for 1903
were S657.232,0O0 and S616,739, 900.
The percentage of increase in govern
mental costs between 1903 and 1913
was 81. The nature and amounts of
the leading items which made up the
Total revenue. receipts in 1913 were:
Special property taxes principally,
receipts from customs and from tax
on circulation of national banks),
1913, 95S,O00; earnings of public SER
vice enterprises principally postal re-
ceipts1, S2T0, 704. 900; receipts from in
ternal-revenue taxes on manufacture
and sale of liquor, S24O,146, 900;
Z business taxes Cinternal-revenue re-
/ ceipts from all sources except manu-
1 facture and sale of liquor. together.
with receipts from income taxi, s113.
I 3S5, 600 -s
/ OF the expenditures for govern
/ mental costs, the leading items We're:
/ For protection to person and property
/ teXpenses of military, naval light
/ house teamboat-inspection revenue