The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-14
TAXES AT PEAK
Clyde NJ. Reed Declares LevieS
Now Due for Drop.
Reduction, However, Depends
on How Public Votes.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS COSTLY
Bonded Indebtedness in Last
Few Years Doubled.
Government Expenses Falling
With Cost of Living.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS COSTLY

Newton. Kan. Jan. 14.-Taxes
reached their peak in 1921 and will
gradually be reduced with the fall in
commodity prices. Clyde NJ. Reed,
chairman Of the Kansas public utili-
ties commission. said in an address
here today before the Harvey county
farm bureau.
Beyond this reduction from natural
causes. Chairman Reed added, lower
taxes will depend on the will of the
majority of the people. So long as the
people desire better roads. paved
streets and other public improve
ments. he pointed out, the bill must
be paid by taxation.
just Like Living Costs.
IT am very glad to see the consid-
cradle interest manifested by many of
the people of Kansas in the subject Of
to nation" Reed said. Taxes are too
l. GIL That's a subject upon which we
all agree Taxes are like the cost OF
living-always subject to desirable re-
duction.
over the state there have been
numerous meetings for the discussion
CT taxation, in most of which hopes
have been expressed that taxes may
be reduced. 1 have no doubt that
taxes will be reduced. They mounted
more slowly than did the rise in the
cost of living or the value of COM
modities and they will decrease more
slowly but undoubtedly the levy of
1921 will be the peak of taxes for
many years. Taxes did not in
crease as much as the cost of living.
They did not increase as much as the
Price of commodities. They, there
fore, will not decrease to the same ex-
tent as commodity values have de-
creased"
Advises Eternal Vigilance.
Declaring that eternal vigilance is
the price OF good government and
that nothing makes public officials so
careful as the knowledge that their
acts are scrutinized, Reed continued
Beyond the reduction in taxes that
will be brought about by natural
causes such as 1 have described, re-
duction in taxes will depend on the
will of the majority of the people. In
a representative form of government,
such as ours, the people are sovereign
and public officials carry out policies
which the people approve. Year by
year we have spent more money for
more and better government service.
We have built roads, paved streets,
enlarged schools and hospitals, i'm
proved sanitary and health services
and done a multitude of things that
have cost money. These things will
continue to cost money unless the
tivities should be curtailed or post
pOned.
THE war period was accompanied
by the initiation incident to such times.
Prices were higher; business was good;
wages went up; everybody had more
money and spent more money and as
a result our idea of the value of mon
ey underwent a change That was
true of our personal living expenses
as well as everything else, including
~
felt able to do a lot of things that
under ordinary circumstances they
would not have done. AS a result the
last four years has seen a tremendous
increase in bonds issued for the pur-
pose of improvements of various
kinds In a vast majority of these
cases these bonds were approved by
the people, in most cases directly and
in some indirectly"
Doubled Bonded Indebtedness.
Commenting on figures showing
that the total outstanding bonds is
sued by school districts increased
from approximately II million dollars
in 1913 TO % million dollars in 1921,
Reed said:
I'VE cannot build now and improve
or enlarge our old schoolhouseS with
out paying for it. The result is that
30 per cent of all taxes collected goes
for school purposes. The attendance
at our 5Ldle SCnOOlS mas increased. The
increased attendance had to be taken
care of. Salaries have been raised in
city and country schools to where they
are substantially double what they
were some years ago
The number of people cared for in
state hospitals has also increased. The
number of inmates in state prisons has
more than doubled in the last three
years. But while 80 per cent of all
taxes go to maintain schools, only 10
per cent are used for purpose of state.
All of these things must be taken care
Of and to do so has involved increased
taxes"
He Cites the Figures.
Chairman Reed cited figures show
ing that outstanding city bond issues
increased from approximately thirty
six million dollars in 1918 to fifty-four
million dollars in 1921, and that
county bond issues increased in the
same period from less than nine mill
lion dollars to more than thirteen mil
lion. Total outstanding bond issues
dated June 30) for townships, school
districts. cities and counties for these
four years as shown by the auditors
office. were:
ioiS .........'..... 500 ~ 1870
1919 ................ 61,S7059977
~ 45t5v '...-'.'.-...... q 996 $50 Sc
4J-1 ..-....-.---.... ~, l0S0I1.9S
In conclusion, Reed said:
I say again that there is no differ
ence of opini' II among thoughtful
citizens about taxation being too high,
but we must, in all fairness to those
who have occupied official positions in
the various units of government in
Kansas in the last four years, realize
that they have carried out only the ex-
+ pressed desire of their constituency.
I'VE are nSY paying the bill. The
bill will be lighter as normal condi-
tions return. Careful and judi
cious management OF governmental af-
fairs is essential in the future as 1t has
been in the past. and only by such
methods may the burden of taxation
be lightened without impairing the
public service to a point beyond what
the people who pay the bills would
DESIRE