The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-05-08
THE TRUTH ABOUT TAXATION.

The debate between State Auditor Kositzky
and Walter Liggett at Bismarck last week brot
out the truth about the taxation laws enacted
by the last legislature and put a quietus on
false reports which enemies Of the Nonpartisan
League program have been peddling about the
of most of these fabrications, yet when con-
fronted by the figures presented by Mr.. Lig-
gett the turn-coat state official was compelled
to admit that his former statements had no
foundation in fact.
Mr.. Liggett conclusively proved only 49,
711,021.05 will have to be raised by taxation for
state purposes this year and that a state levy
of 81 mills will be amply sufficient to collect
this sum. Mr.. Kositzky has been going about
the state declaring $4,000, 900 would be required
ment and that the levy would be five mills.
Mr.. Liggett showed that the state auditor
had not been reading the laws he is criticising,
for he included several items in his estimates
which by no possibility can he included in a tax
levy: One of these items was $4,000 interest
on the $1O,0 900, 900 real estate bonds. Both the
interest and principal Of these bonds is to be
paid back annually by those who borrow money
under this act. Another item was S5GG ,66t; as
sinking funds for the $17,OC0,0OO bond issue.
Mr.. Liggett show>l where the law provides
that no sinking funi is required until five years
before these thirty-year bonds mature. or rs
years from now and not then if the state en-
terprises have piled up earning in the mean
time.
The third and mos: ri1i 1ulous orrcr made, by
Mr.. Kositzky was his assertion that a two mill
school levy would be required. The last legis-
stead of raising $2,473 COO as Kositzky claimed
the levy will raise only $1,239,000.
These three errors of the state auditor made
his estimates of the amount to be raised by tax
alton just $2,405,0 900 too high.
By including these figures, the state auditor
said the state would require $4,000, 900 in rev.
enue: BY eliminating these items you get So
needed. Kositzky also said the state levy would
be five mills. Liggett said it would be about
three mills. A levy of one mill on the new val
uation will raise $1,239,000. The difference be-
tween Kositzky's estimate and Liggett's state
ment is almost exactly accounted for by the
mistake of $2,4O5, 900 which the state auditor
made. In other words, Mr.. Kositzky's own
statements, after the errors have been eliminat-
ed, substantiate the conclusions of Mr.. Lig-
gett. :.
MIR. Liggett also showed that the increase of
taxes on the average farmer will only be $5.58
a quarter section, and Mr.. Kositzky was unable
to find a single flaw in the figures by which
Mr.. Liggett arrived at this conclusion. MI.
kositzky did not even dare discuss this phase
OF the question, although Mr.. Liggett placed his
figures on a blackboard in full view: of the au-
dience and repeatedly challenged the state aud
ltor to show a single error in his calculations.
Kositzky spent some time in checking up Mr..
Llggett's figures before the debate started and
evidently satisfied himself the figures were
correct, because he could not be induced to even
go near the Nonpartisan Leaguer's chart.
In view of these facts no one will take much
stock in anything MI. Kositzky says about tax
alton hereafter. He has been caught tamper-
ing with the facts and he was unable to defend
his own statements or dispute those of his ad-
versary. Even enemies of the Nonpartisan
League will have to admit that Mr.. Liggett's
statements about taxation are correct and un-
assailable.
And don't forget that Mr.. Liggett declares
the Increase in state taxes will average only
1888 a quarter section. That small sum is the
ruin and confiscation" which the I. V. A. or
gans have been talking about in an effort to
brighten the farmers. No wonder these inter-
ests were forced to lie. The truth didn't suit
their purposes.
The same men behind the fake terminal ele-
vator and home building bills initiated by the
Independent Voters association have started
a suit in federal court for the purpose of declar-
ing the entire Nonpartisan League program I'M
constitutional. In other words, the /. Y. A..
leaders themselves admit that they are dishon-
est, that their initiated mills are merely camou-
fage to fool the people, and that they disbelieve
in the whole principle of state ownership of
terminal elevators, flour mills, home building
associations and banks.
The heaviest movement in farm lands North
Dakota has ever known is predicted this year.
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