The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-03
ARE OUT OF TUNE
Taxpaying Time Is Compared
With Latest MOhIer Report.
Wheat Is Only Crop That Would
Pay Bill in Full.
CORN WOULD PAY CITY TAXES
Potatoes Plus Three and a Half
Millions Pays State Tax.
Value of Hogs in Kansas Won't
Pay General School Levy.
CORN WOULD PAY CITY TAXES
BY A. L. SHuLTZ.


Taxpaying time and J. c. Mothers
report this week covering valuations
of farm products somehow seems en-
tirely out of tune A tax receipt and
q sales ticket for wheat corn or live
stock fit in farmers mind just like
brindle bull dog and gentleman
shorthorn in feed lot. Wheat is the
one crop produced in Kansas during
the last year which would pay the
states tax bill of substantially 76 mil
lion dollars.
Looking over Secretary Mothers
farm values and viewing the tax bill
is just as promising as a twin six
motor car for sixty dollar bank clerk
who holds a high regard for the Ten
Commandments They simply don't
lit Even after the Kansas farmers
hauled their 12S,220,148 bushels of
wheat to market and without paying
the harvest bills, they would have
balance Of only s4S, 5000. 600 after the
Kansas tax bill had been paid.
Corn Would Pay City Taxes.
AS for corn-neV-vur To be sure
the farmers raised 96,484, 07O bushels
last year. Sold at the prevailing mar
ket values-not at the rate of ready
to absorb hooch-it would net only
S27,760,92 That would pay the city
taxes aud leave 100000 for chewing
tobacco.
If the farmers would haul their en-
tire corn, oats potato. barley and kat
fir crops to tOWn-170,0 100000 bushels
and then bring in the 2,3SO,290 tons
Of alfalfa grown last year they would
just about pay the tax bill for the
year. The Kaw valley potato growers
together with scattered producers
in other sections-might hand over
their yield of 4,325,016 bushels. They
would still owe nearly three and a half
ion da11 Ii
for state expense alone.
OF course there are other ways of
looking al the matter. The cattle
men might set together at their meet
ing in Wichita this month and ar
range to pay the bill They could turn
over the $69, 100000 received from
sale of cattle for slaughter. Then
If the milkmen would pay over $2,163,-
III revenue for the year and the ice
cream manufacturers would donate
three million dollars from sale Of
frozen milk and the horticulturists
had voted last month to- give away
their S4,134,S30 from the sale of all
fruits and berries. they would pay the
tax Dill There might be just about
enough loose change to send a few of
the delegates home in day coaches.
Deficit of Two Million.
Again. The horse and mule dealers
might buy up all the horses and
mules in the state and sell them at
prevailing prices. Secretary Moh-
ler's figures show they would still
have a deficit of two million dollars
from the sale of 100000 animals.
They might then buy the 266.O55
sheep and present them to the county
treasurers for distribution. Even then
the livestock donation wouldn't pay
the tax claim.
There are 2.136,611 cattle in Kansas
other than milk cows. Their com
bined worth is $64,O9S, 33O-nearlv
FiS,OOO,OOO less than the amount of
taxes to be paid for the year. Nearly
one half of the years revenue from
poultry and eggs would be necessary
TO add to the cattle values before the
taxes were paid.
Much has been said about the
Ilelght rates on hay. Y ct if the en-
tire tame hay crop for last year were
given to the state officials they could
pay only 20 per cent of the expense
OF running state departments and in
stitutons.
Last year Kansas creameries manu-
featured 4S,749,164 pounds of butter.
1t was worth $26,2O9,37 In tax
terms that means a wee bit more than
one-third of the amount to be paid for
one year.
State department and institution ex-
penses for the year will amount to
eleven million dollars. OF this amount
eight and a half millions come thru
direct taxes. To pay the bill calls for
sale OF all the rye, flax, broom corn,
nillet sugar beets. syrup sorghum,
seed sorghum, alfalfa seed, wool,
cheese. honey, flax COW peas and com
mercial wood produced last year. Even
this net total would fail to cover the
bill.
Hogs Won't Pay School Tax.
Value of the 1,26S,294 hogs in the
state Is a half million dollars less than
the general school tax of S14,S16,594
1t would require the revenue from all
the ice cream and milk sold in the
state last year and call for the addf-
tional sale of 60 per cent of the DO
tato crop to pay the nominal little
increase of $7,9S5,79S in the 1920 tax
Ievies
If the Kansas farmers would dis
pose of their last years wheat and
corn crops they would be able to pay
the direct taxes levied in this state in
1890. The bill for the two years
amounted to 145 million dollars Their
two crops for last year were worth
ISL millions. That would leave them
six millions for gasoline for their Hen
merry runabouts and tractors.
There is another way to look at that
Biennial tax bill. If the farmers would
cell their 5.553, $3.50 head of livestock
horses, mules, milk cows steers