The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-04-17
STATE TREASURY
AT ZERO MARK

Mr.. Taxpayer, do you recall what
the Nonpartisan League bosses told
you in regard to taxes during the pri-
mary campaign in 1915? Do you re-
call the promises they made? Of
course you do. They were going to
stop the fross extravaganza at the
state capitol; in the legislative body
and in the various departments. They
went the limit on promises. They
could make eXtravagant promises, be-
cause at that time they had no record
to defend.
However, they now have record
, to defend and they have no small job
ontheir hands. The record relates to
taxes and state finances in general.
The figures are interesting, although
they must be disappointing to people
who pinned their faith to the league
, bosses.
The figures given are official and are
furnished by the state auditor, Karl
Kositzky, who is himself a league
member. With $4,000 in unpaid bills
on file, and with but $9,36973 in the
: state treasurys general fund on April
: l, State Auditor Carl Kositzky, stung
to action by the criticism of his op-
ponents within the league, who have,
it is alleged, spread the report that he
is holding up certain bills through
"spite,' today made public a report
which would indicate that North Da-
kota is a trife worse than bankrupt.
April l, 1916, the last year of the
Hanna administration, North Dakota,
after paying all it's bills, had 1922,
O9O.43 balance in its general fund.
April l, 1917, when the Townley
regime had been in the saddle only
three months, the balance in the gen
eral fund. after all bills were paid,
was $431 ,2s2.82.
April l, 1918, the second year of the
Townley administration, North Da-
kcta had all Of its bills paid and S2A2,-
> S77G9 in its general fund.
April 1. 1919, in the third year of
the Townley era, North Dakota owes
Sl50,OO0 in current indebtedness, and
it has balance in it's general fund of
$9369.73.
The official payroll is $4,000 per
month. Salaries have been paid up to
April l, but the state auditor ex-
presses the fear that officials and en-
ployes may be forced to eschew their
semi-monthly pay checks for some
months 10 come.
: North Dakota has $4G3,O00 out
standing in bonds, some of which fall
due this year.
For nearly four months 100000 in
bills charged against various state in
,, stitutions remained unpaid.
State institutions, says the auditor,
are still, according to the statement of
Secretary Leissnlan, of the board of
regents, paying 5000 interest monthly
on loans negotiated with local banks
to produce funds to pay their current
: expenses.
The last legislative assembly in
emergency appropriations called for
about half-million, which must come
from the general fund.- Some of these
funds already have been drawn
, against, but there is much more that
must be set aside.
majority of the tax levied for
1918 already has been paid into the
state treasury and appropriated, de-
clares Mr.. Kositzky. He states that
there remains a considerable amount
due from the counties and that there
| will also be some miscellaneous COL
lections in June and July and some
revenue from the new oil tax, which
became effective, March |, but he
sees no hope Of really catching up
with the states fast mounting tide of
expenditures until the 1919 tax levy
begins to come in next December.
"The greater portion of our taxes
are paid in February" said Mr.. Kos
itzky today. "This tax has been taken
in and applied on past due bills, $780,
600 Of which had been running for al
most four months. We will get some
delinquent taxes from now on; there
will be some revenues from fees and
fines, it is difficult to estimate how
much. | cannot see, however, where
we are going to get enough money to
pay salaries and current expenses, and
one or the other will have to wait.
''1 would not have made this state
ment," continued the state auditor,
''if it had not come to my ears that
paid workers Of the league are spread
ing the report over the state that am
, holding up certain bills simply
through spite. have never operated
| this office on a spite basis, and l don't
intend to begin now. The bills are
! being paid just as rapidly as we can
| find money to pay them, and they are
being paid in their proper turn. No
one is being favored and no one is be-
ing disseminated against. I feel that
in justice to myself the people should
have the truth
eve have gone on creating new
commissions and new boards and new
departments until we have outstripped
our revenues. Now there must be
halt, and someone must suffer. There's
only one means of putting money into
the state treasury and that is through
taxes, fees or fines. We have discov-
cred too many ways of taking money
out Of the state treasury The last
assembly alone voted almost $5OO,OOO
in emergency appropriations, all of
which come out Of the general fund"