The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-26
DECREASES IN
TAXES OF SOME
COUNTIES SEEN
Representative of Large Tax
paying Body Appears Be-
fore Board This Year
CUTS HEED NECESSARY
Taxpayers Generally Don't
Appear Before Boards to
Ask Cuts, However

A large number of the counties
in western North Dakota are cutting
expenses for the ensuing year to a
figure below that of the previous
year, and a decrease is necessary to
giver the. farmer the encouragement
and assistance necessary to stage tn,
expected comeback, according to F
w. Pusch, Of the tax department OF
the Northern Pacific, who is visit.
ing these counties as the represen.
tative Of taxpayers.
The decreases are being made
however, by the county boards gen.
orally without any requests ex'
pressed at the budget hearings, OF
assistance, from business men, farm.
ers or other taxpayers, according to
Mr.. Pusch, who has been the sole
representative of taxpayer in
most counties. The saving that may
be made from suggestions advanced
by his long study of the tax sit.
uation, however, are greater to the
general public than the Northern
Pacific Railway, which he represents
Mr.. Pusch believes it is especi-
ally important to have low levies
made this year. With good crops
many farmers who are back in
taxes will pay them. If the levies
are increased there may be just
enough difference to make it i'm
possible for him to do so, he said
The railroad, he declared, is more
interested in having farmers on the
land than the cut in taxes to bene-
fl. it.
West of River High
Many counties west of the river
are still high in their levies, Mr..
Pusch has found. Of 10 counties ex-
amined west of the Missouri, the
total annual charge for interest and
sinking funds is $258,000, while in
eight counties east Of the river the
total charge is but $4,000. Yet, his
examination showed, levies west OF
the river for general expenses gen
orally are higher in proportion t.
counties east Of the river, some of
which have no bond issues.
There are many ways to cut ex-
penses without impairing the county
government, he believes. Roads is
one. In some counties graded roads
have been built where they are sell
dom used. One commissioner in
formed him of graded road in this
county on which he said a whee,
had not turned for six months. De
mands Of people of one district for
roads, believing some other district
has been getting an advantage. has
caused useless expense, he said. He
urges that road expense be segrc-
gated by commissioners district so
any such argument may be answered
Some Net Levies
Some of the net levies, as pub
lished in budgets or finally approx
ed, in this territory follow; Emmons
county $4,000, excluding morgan
lied road districts; Grant $115,00O;
Morton $l3s,OOO; Oliver $32,526; Nc
Lean 1914 500; Wells $131,813; Bur
leigh $153,348. Mr.. Pusch expected to
ask the Morton county board today
for reductions, to later appear before
the Wells county board. The North
ern Pacific operates in 80 counties
Last year, Mr.. Pusch said, he APP
peared before five boards and got
cuts in levies totalling $191 900, and
in those five. counties he was the
only taxpayer present to ask for
economy. Others wanted some spec
ial appropriation. The Northern
Pacific benefited by about one-fifth
of this amount, and general tax
payers about four-fifths, he said.