Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-28

Editor Times Republican: - A.
subscriber I want to ask IN explana'
| ton / read some months ago In thu
T-R, statement as TO why the state
Of Iowa ia so short of funds. My rrc'
objection Is that some state oniciat
either auditor or some legislative com,
mittee failed to make the proper re.
port to the general assembly by some
misunderstanding. and that body failed
to make the proper levy, emitting
whole year Am I in error. or not
Kindly explain In T.-R. the real cause
Of lack of funds.
H. c. Woods, Tama. Iowa.
The Explanation.
At the request of the Times Repub-
lican |. A. Willis, former deputy in the
state treAsurer's Office and virtually
treasurer during the incumbency of the
late State Treasurer Brown. has sub
mitted the following explanation:
Editor T.-R-Replying to your favor
of recent date. which enclosed an in
quiry from DR.. Woods of Tama. con-
corning state finances. will say that I
have never heard 1t charged that the
legislature or other body failed TO
make the proper levy, emitting a whole
year"
On Feb. IL. 1917. there was pub
lished in the Cedar Rapids Republi.
can. an interview with Lieutenant
Governor Moore in which he said.
only one or two differences can be
drawn from this condition OF affairs.
Said Mr.. Moore. Either the executive
council headed by Governor Clarke.
last year was grossly incompetent and
didn't know how much Of levy would
be needed or the members deliberately
refused to make a proper levy so as to
cover up the fact that too much money
was being spent by the administration
thru capitol extension and useless
commissions created during Its incun-
bency. An increased levy would have
put them in the hole and taken away
their opportunity to boast OF their
economy Either fear or ignorance is
the only reason for this deplorable con-
dition-"
This interview was republished !n
the vinton Eagle, Feb. 20. 1917. and l
think 1t probable that this IS what DR..
Wood. has In mind. DR.. Woods asks
for the real cause OF the lack OF
funds
TIE cause for the present condition
OF the general revenue OF the state
can not be given in few words and
have the statement; ineligible. Prior
to Jan. l. 1918. the state had for many
years carried a balance in the general
revenue that by some was thought 10
be excessive During this time the ex-
penses Of the state were constantly
and unavoIdably increasing in volume.
As the appropriations by each sue
ceeding legislature grew larger. the
balance ceased to be excessive'and be-
came only reasonably adequate. SO that
by Jan. /. 1913 the balance then exist
ing was none too great. Notwith-
standing this fact those who for some
time had contended for a smaller BAL
ance. continued their cry. and the
Thirty-Fifth General Assembly. either
thru error or design, authorized levy
that would not properly provide for
the appropriations made. and the re.
suit was a reduction OF the balance OF
June 80, 1913, from sl,31s.a2l.s1 {"
S737,ssos2 on June 1. 1914.
These figures include the automobile
fund for distribution to the several
counties. Deduct!ng this fund. the bal
ance June 80. 1918. was sl.2oel923.s1.
and June 80, 1914. $4ss,so5.Ss. showing
a reduction OF ;7lLs1s.ll in one year.
During this year the actual receipts
from collateral inheritance tax and
other miscellaneous sources greatly
exceeded the estimated amounts. and
because OF that fact determined ef-
fort was made in July 1914 to have
the executive council reduce the tax
levy for that year.
At the request of Governor Clarke.