The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-11-27
LITTLE INCREASE IN TAXES

""A1 SNt tlAIo JSttl t11S SCCO NV AlIllCN "
$50 mills to $40 mills. This total is six times
bigger than the North Dakota state tax this
year, which is $A,511,2 60.
But the North Dakota state tax includes the
Soldiers Fund which amounts to S761, 1856,
while the Minnesota state tax does not.
The enormous soldiers fund in Minnesota is
being raised by loading a great bonded indebted
ness on the tax payers in addition to the taxes.
But the North Dakota state tax also includes
a sun, Of Is per cent higher than the state ap-
preparations. This was to cover possible losses
in collections in the drouth stricken counties.
With these items eliminated, the North Da-
kota state tax this year amounts to only 49,
l92,I88 and represents an increase of S6.31 per
cent over last years state tax, which was ST.
713,4O8.
Mlnnesota's increase last year, after several
big increases since the war started, was 131 per
cent.
North Dakota held it's taxes down during the
war and made all its increases this year.
The difference in the total increases since the
wax began in these states are indicated by the
fact that the per capita tax i'm North Dakota
now is $5.67, while the per capita state tax in
Minnesota this year is S11.OO, or almost twice
as much.
Lest someone go away with the idea that
Minnesota is an exception, we will take the case
of Wisconsin.
The standpat Wisconsin administration in
No|oSu u SIoIC appropriations 10 SlO,UUU,UUU.
ms is a state tax nearly four times as big as
North Dakota's, while Wisconsin's population
is only about three times as big as North Da-
kota.
The loud cutlery that the Leagues industrial
program is responsible for the increase in North
Dakota is the rankest kind of political bunc.
Here is a table showing the apportionment of
the state appropriations this year. It was fur
nlshed this week direct from the tax commits
sioners office.
state appropriations for Per Cent
Educational purposes 40. 80
State penal purposes ... 22.19
maintenance of state government 2s3.<3
state legislature Isl
national Guard ~.. .... .83
Miscellaneous 5.34
New Industries ) ~
The new industrial program. will cost less
than 8 per cent of the states taxes and most CT
the money it will cost will b. returned.
All other taxes except state taxes-t.hat is
county taxes, school taxes, road taxes, township
taxes, village taxes, town and city taxes, ETC.
for which the League is not responsible-will
amount to more than $4,000 900. Or at LEAST
four times as much as the state taxes, therefore
they constitute such a large proportion of the
taxes that
If the state appropriations had been cut to
the bone and if there had been no appropria-
tons for establishing new state industries and
departments, the saving would have been so
small that the taxpayers could not have noticed
it.
If there had been no state taxes at all this
year, the taxpayers would not have been saved
as much as 20 per cent of their taxes.
Ii there had been no league and if North Da-
kota had been ruled by the old gang, as other
states were, the state taxes would have been
higher than they now are, and the increase
would have been used in the interest of corrupt
political machines and big business interests to
increase the burdens of the farmers and work
ers and insure their future robbery.
Instead of this, the farmers administration
had laid the foundation for financial, insurance,
marketing and industrial system that will do
away with taxes altogether in a few years and
break forever the power of private monopoly
over the people.
Last Friday the Scandinavian American bank
at Fargo made a demand upon another Fargo
bank for the sum Of $50, 900 due the frst-named
institution. The bank was unable to meet the
demand at once and asked for an extension of
time in which to raise the money. The request
Was promptly granted by Mr.. Lofthus, the bank
examiner. He might have closed the debtor
bank, but he didn't do it, because the closing of
banks for political purposes is mighty poor bust
ness.-Cando Record.
This week and possibly all Of next will be
consumed by the extra session Of the legislature
in attending to many matters Of importance.