The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1919-04-02

STATE TAX LEVY Will De &
HIGHEST IN STATES HISTORY
? Minnesota tax payers might just
as well know it now as any time.
The state tax levy is going to be
higher next year than any period in
the states history. Those who pro-
fess to know say tke rate will be-
b. two mills higher and it may be even
above that. Try as they will those
in charge of the states expenditures
for the next two years say it is i'm
possible to make cut as even the
increased rate will not. provide the
amount of money really needed. If
ever legislative committee had a
task of its life it is the house ap-
preparations and the state finance
committees. In their possession at
the present time are bills carrying
appropriations the total Of which is
not far short of $5O,OO0,0OO. That
this staggering figure will not be
permitted to stand goes without
saying, but how to cut and what to
scut is the problem. Last year the
total legislative appropriation was
about $22,000,00O, but this year the
figure will be in the neighborhood
of $30,O00,000. The members of the
two committees say that the state
cannot get along with less and they
have practically agreed on that
amount. When the legislature con-
vened it faced the payment of nearly
100000 in deficiencies. This in
cluded over $l,25o,ooQ paid out under
the guise of calamity and an addi-
tional amount for school aid. This
week the senate finance committee
completed it's budget for the state
institutions totaling over 100000.
This is in excess of two years ago.
The biggest item in the line of state
expenditures is for education and
the budget for such will likely be
submitted by the house appropria-
lions committee this week. It will
total about $10,OO0,OO0 which is
about 100000 more than two years
ago. The high cost Of living is held
to be responsible.
Ten years ago-yes even five the
legislature looked agast at the nerve
OF anyone attempting to- touch the
state strong box for $1,O00,000. To-
day any member with project big
enough to command that figure is a.
plker If he does not ask for more.
In the offices of the two finances
committee the adding and comput-
ing machines are all geared up to
ten figures. Less than two weeks
ago both bodies of the legislature
turned over for public approval a.
constitutional amendment authoriz-
ing every county in the state to
bond itself to the extent Of $780,
900 each if it cared for preliminary
road work and it did not regard it's
actbn as anything out of the ordin-
airy at that. AS noted the figures for
educational work are ahead of any,
thing ever dreamed of. So it is in
tn! case of state institution main
teAance. How this touching disease
has hit the general public is seen in
y the numerous personal claimed filed.
These range all the way from SITS
for sprained back to $4,000 for
permanent injuries. Most of them
come from members of the home
guard who suffered accident or dis
ease while on duty during the war
and the prevalence of the northern
forest fires. Quite a few of the mo-
tor corps wants damages for auto
mobiles put out of business while
used in state work. The whole thing
is an epidemic and seems to be
spreading.
The possibility of Minnesota land
ing the next Republican, National
Convention is excellent and if it does
please score another one for the un-
firing energy and activity of Chair
man "Gus" Lindquist of the Republic
can state committee Chairmen Lind
quist has the promise of helm from
Chairman Will H. Hays of the Ma
tional Committee and it all came
about through Mr.. Hays visit to the
state week ago when he was the
guest of the state central committee
at rally and luncheon held in the
Twin Cities. So impressed was MIR.
Hays with the size and capacity of
the st. Paul auditorium and the
housing facilities of the Cities that,
ne Immediately suggested to Mr..