, 1925-01-21

full share.
1t is not with a desire to Cypress
any industry. nor to place any I'M
just burden on those engaged in the
development of our mineral resourc
es, hat l direct your attention to
this matter. but to make certain
that all tangible property of large
owners shall be subjected to taxa
ton on a fair and uniform basis of
valuation as compared with all other
property. Only thus can any real
basis of relief be established.
County Budget System /.
a reduction is generally recog-
nized as the most pressing problem
of the hour, efecting every city,
county and state, and the nation
itself. The time has come in many
localities when farm taxes equal or
surpass the very income from the
land itself. The excessive cost of
government is becoming a restraint
on individual enterprise. Such a
condition cannot be prolonged with
safety.
l have pointed out how the ad-
niinistration has endeavored to
equalize and reduce state taxation.
Successful as these affairs have
been, they have not been reflected
in the tax receipt of the taxpayers.
because of the fact, well known to
members of the legislature, but
often by others overlooked, that
state taxes are only a small proper
ton of the total amount collected.
In 1924, more than "A per cent of
all the taxes collected in this state
were levied by the school district
authorities. More than 25 per cent
were levied by the counties. The
municipal tax amounted to 1909 per
cent of the total, while the state
levy was only 1874 per cent
1t is evident, therefore, that if
taxes generally throughout the state
have not been reduced, no RESPONSE
bility for that condition rests upon
the state administration. On the
contrary, the state has made an ex-
~traordinary record of conom and
tax reduction, which, if it had been
followed by the local taxing bodies.
would have lowered the tax bill of
every taxpayer in the state. In
1924, the state tax was reduced by
$352,360.38. But while the state
government was using every pos
sible precaution to achieve this rec
ord, the tax levied by the county
authorities, over whose expendi-
lures the state has no control, was
increased by s~103.S75.41. At the
same time school district taxes were
increased ~s2S7,916.26, and munich
pal taxes S6,S77.6S.
The conclusion is plain. The state
has done its part. Taxes are still
excessive. Public opinion must now
be directed toward the control of
local expenditures. Waste and ex-
travagance must be stopped in the
counties, in the school districts and
in the cities, If the over-burdened
taxpayer is to find relief. 1. there
fore, recommend the adoption of a
law that will make a budget and
its publicity obligatory upon every
county, school board and city coun-
Gil before any tax levy may be made.
Publicity discourages prodigality.
Some such legislation must be en-
acted to assist these local bodies in
a program of economy, and once
initiated it will have an immediate
beneficial effect in a real reduction
of the total taxes.
Farm Relief
In accordance with it's policy of
strict economy and of tax reform,
the administration addressed itself
to h second of the two pressing
problems which confront it-name-
ly, that of making available to the
livestock and agricultural industries
of the state for loan purposes a por-
ton of its permanent school funds.
There had been enacted by the Six
teenth legislature, a farm loan law
creating the Wyoming Farm Loan
board, thus providing the machinery
for relief. Defects in that law
however, had made it to a large ex-
tent ineffective. The Governor had
assumed office under a pledge to
urge such amendments as would
make the. law practicable, and the
members of the legislature, actu-
ated by the same desire, enacted
the law under which, during the
past two years, approximately two
and a half million dollars have been
loaned to farmers and ranchmen on
first mortgages upon real property.
The financial relief afforded by
this legislation has been immeasur-
able. 1t has enabled borrowers to
substitute loans at 5 per cent inter
est with long deferred payments,
for short term loans at high interest
rates. 1t has made possible repay
ment to the banks of many loans
that otherwise, in the circumstances
then existing, could not have been
met at maturity. The whole state