The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-08-03
HIGHER COSTS
INCREASE TAXES

Bismarck, N. D., July 28-Much Of
the increased taxation cost in the
United States is due to increased cost
of living and increased transporta-
ton costs, in the opinion of G. c.
Converse, state tax commissioner,
speaking here before the Bismarck
Rotarians.
"There is no way Of reducing taxes
as long as all units Of government
continue the enormous expenditures
they are now making" said Mr.. Con-
verse. S.
"The truth is, taxes are too high
upon all classes of property, nor is
it possible to tighten the burden upon
any class of property by inventing
new taxes to shift the burden to 9TH
er classes. We are using nearly every
known kind of tax and are exacting
from all classes of taxpayers more
than they should reasonably be re-
quired to pay.
"A comparison Of appropriations
made in 1915 and in 1921 respectively,
will show large increase in nearly
every instance. A similar increase is
found in taxes levied by cities, coun-
ties and school districts. I think it
will be found that the increase in
governmental expenditures, has in no
small measure, kept pace with the
increase in price levels of commodi-
ties. Government costs have been
increased by the same factors which
have increased the cost of running
your business. As prices have in
creased, the cost of commodities pur-
chased by all departments of govern
ment, including all state institutions,
has correspondingly increased. Fur
Their, as the price level has gone con-
stantly higher the cost Of. living has
advanced and consequently wages re-
quired to be paid in schools, in all
public offices, and in all institutions
have increased. It is the much high
er price level which, to my mind, is
largely responsible for the increase
in the cost of government.
eff we go one step further and in
quire the reason for increase in prices,
I think it will be found, largely, if not
chiefly due to increase transportation
charges. There have been two gener-
al rate increases since 1915, and the
total increase has been extremely
large. 1t is not alone the direct bur
den of transportation charges which
hurts, but it is the fact that increased
transportation charges add to the
prices of everything we have to pur-
chase, while decreasing the selling
price of our products. In other words,
high transportation charges stand as
a barrier between the producer and
consumer"
"It should be recognized also that
the imitation in our financial struc-
ture resulting from large bond issues
during the war has it's effect in de-
creasing the purchasing power of the
dollar. It should also be noticed that
a transition has occurred in methods
of assessment so that property is now
assessed either on basis Of SO per
cent or the basis OF. 100 per cent OF its
value, whereas formerly it was as
sessed at about 80 per cent Of it's
value. This transition was made
without adequate laws covering the
subject of limitation of levies. The
result was that the various units Of
government found themselves pos
sessed of authority to raise by taxa
ton much larger amounts of revenue
than formerly, and this situation,
doubtless, induced lack Of conser-
vatism in some instances. It has been
my purpose merely to follow the trail
of high taxes to what appear to be
the chief causes thereof, and it then
becomes fit subject for political dis
cussion as to whether it is possible to
remove these causes and if so, how it