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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1897)
THE COURIER. 9 Some action might very properly be taken to discourage discrimination be- tween political parties by railroad cor- poratlons operating within the state, The Isuance of passes to an army of political workers and the giving of spe- clal rates for the political meetings make the railroad companies a power In shaplng the political destiny of the state. Where this power Is all wielded in wic interest ot one party and to the I'ltrjuun-c ui uiiuuier party us wcigni cannot well be overestimated. Rail road companies do the business of the public and should be restrained by wholesome legislation from active par ticipation in party politics. The offi cers and employes of such rallioad com panies should be free to vot2 as may seem to them for their own best Intcr sts. Charges of fraudulent reclstra- tion In the larger cities of the state and by excessive appropriations cover- nues for that purrose anil thereby en- eighth. It Is more than probable that have frequently been made and I sug- ing a series of years, it Is yet quite hanclng the value of its own obllga- the taxpayer with small means and gst the advisability of having the last apparent that the Indebtedness of the tlons. Likewise. t the suggestion that whose property Is easily ascertained, day of registration at least ten days state of Nebraska Is comparatively It has teen a critical period for the Pa'3 much nearer one-third of Its value prior to election day In order that the light. It Is no greater than that of banks of the state, as well ns for busl- while other large property Interests es- complete list of voters may be scrutin- many other states whose opportunities ness Interests of all kinds. It can be cane w,tn an assessed valuation at ized by all inquiring citizens and ample for creating a large bonded Indebted- replied that the state is under no obll- nearer one-tenth or one-twelfth of Us time be afforded for the apprehension of ness are not restricted by the funda- gallons, and that In fact. It Is a perni- actual value. those who fraudulently register. mental law as ours. It Is Interesting In clous doctrine to hold that the public 0ur ,IUV Provides that personal prop It is obvious that one of the chief this connection to study the grand as- rewnues may be used for the purpose erty shall be assessed at Its fair cash sources of corruption In elections is the sessment roll of the property of the of strengthening any private interests value, and real estate other than lease use of money In providing means or state returned for taxation, showlnc tho or entemrisM nr nr pimr.iiir n,i o. hold estates, "at Its fair value, estlma- hlring the voter to go to the polls and vote, by this means placing him under ODiigation and thus unduly Influencing his vote, or to hire him to neglect hisl duty as a citizen. In order to encourage, and stimulate the free and hon"est"exercIse of the elec tive franchise It has occurred to me that it might serve a good purpose were a non-voting poll tax of reasonable amount levied against each elector who may relieve himself by voting at the general election, or by producing a cer- tlflcate of sickness or disability or by absence from the county or state. Such a provision might Incidentally be made a source of revenue to the state and the burden fall upon a class of citizens who fall to discharge a very important duty devolving upon every qualified cit- izen. I suggest this Idea to you for IT .tlra"n' .I.h.re that :?U - , " "'" l""1 "" Mn th,e "ff7 teP 'or the emedying of the defects in our election aws with a view to giving every possl- ble opportunity for a free and fair ex pression of the will of the people at the polls. Th State'a-FlaiPcm. I desire to earnestly call your serious attention to the condition of the state's nnances. inis is a suDject ot more than accumulated, as is provided by law, ol lne Flalc ani prompt measures tak- 'iUCT"u" w"ti " m prupeny ordinary concern to every taxpayer in and demand in the exercise of prudent en to ,,ace the state's finances upon a has been assessed at a fair value. It Is Nebraska. Several factors contribute business management in the discharge sonI footing; as much so at least as doubtless that a constant and contln to the unfavorable condition of the fi- of a public duty. In defining the du- surrounding conditions will permit. The ue(1 decrease in assessment values has nanclal Interests of the state as we at ties of the state treasurer the law pro- accumulated general fund should be been caused In order that one commun piesent find them. The very general vides that he Is "to disburse the public Promptly app:isd to the extinguishment 'tJ" or county might not be compelled depression lnbusinessand thelow prices moneys upon warrants drawn upon the the Indebtedness against it. Whether to contribute more than its Just pro received for the products produced by state treasury according to law and not tnere are IeSaI obstacles which would Portion to the state's revenues. Thus the people of the state, are of them- otherwise" It is also provided in ec- Prevent your refunding the Indebted- a canstant struggle Is continually go selves sufficient to render the state's tion 1, of chapter 93 that "all warrants ness above mentioned contracted prior ing on among assessing olllcers to value finances much more unsat sractory than upon the state . 'shall be paid in the to the adoption of the present constitu- thelr Property as Iow or lower than the might be expected under normal condi- order of their presentation therefor" tIon' J am unable to speak advisedly, valuations placed by any others. It is tlons. This has prevented the prompt Section 4 provides that "it shall be the If il coulil be done. I would suggest the a,so ':uUe apparent that the low as collectlon of taxes due the state, and duty of every treasurer to put aside in abvlsabllity of refunding all the bond- sessment of property is some protection required in order to meet its necessary a separate and ealed package the mon- e1 Indebtedness of the state at a rate to the people In order to prevent ex expendituies. so that at the present ey for the payment of each registered of Merest not exceeding four percent travagance In the conduct of the busl- ume u appears there is a very large araouni or delinquent state taxes. In addition to this the method of han dling the finances of the state and nieet- iiik us uuijkuuuus. couiu. in mv 11117. ment. be very much Imnroved mon. "ui oiny is u commenuaoie to secure the prompt collection of taxes levied for the purpose of meeting current expendi tures, but also the prompt payment of the taxes thus collected in satisfaction of the state's obligations. Good busi- -T . . ness Judcment would dietatf.thonrnm,,f discharge of the state's outstanding obligations as rapidly Cs money may be accumulated by the ordinary method of collecting taxes to mppt thn samr. From the report of the state treasurer " - ...... -w. a tilef sumn ary discloses the following as to the state's obligations: Bonds outstanding, issued In funding the state's indebt edness at the time of the adoptim of the present can- stitution ..$ 449,257.3.'; .Bonds issued under the pres ent canstitut'en in 1891 and 3-et outstanding 19,000.00 General fund warrants out standing 1,931.069.03 Total 2.402.336.68 To meet these obligations we have the following credits: Sinking fund to meet bonds first above mentioned $ 317.840.01 Sinkinc fund to nwt hnnd last above mentioned Uncollected taxes due to the general fund ' 71ft CO) TC Cash in the treasuiy. general fund -. ... . 5S90.39 - .$3,238.22,.5S Total In addition to the liabilities already incurred, and of which mention has heretofore been made, there is also the additional liability for current expendl- tures yet to be made for the remainder of the biennial period for which the last legislature made appropriations, and which can be approximated by ns- certalning the total unexpended bal- anccs as shown by the report of the Mate auditor. These will have to lis met irom the uncollected taxes above men- tioned. In considering the uncollected taxes with the statement that such Interest Hon. The man of moderate means Is it Is to be borne In mind that a very Is only at the rate of three per cent per doubtless nssescd for much nearer the considerable part will probably never annum, while the state's warrants are true value of his property than the lu be paid Into the state treasury. Whllo drawing live per cent. It may further dividual having large property inter these conditions are not what we would be said that It Is the duty of the state, ests, and, while the approximate pcr Ilke to have them, an J icalizing that through Its representatives, to liquidate eentage of the assessed valuation, as they hae been brought about by ex- Its Indebtedness as rapidly as funds compared with the actual valuation of traaganee and needless expenditures, total assessed value thereof, for several years, as follows: ISM $1S,',770.304.54 1891 183.138.236.28 1892 1S6.432.376.72 1893 194.733,124.73 1894 183,717.498.78 1895 171.46S.C07.4S 189G 167,078,270.37 The census of 1S90 discloses that the value of the property of tne citizens of this state is estimated to be Jl.273.683.514. aml tne actua, va,ue of the agsessIbIe property ln the state at this tIme must be considerably more, and yet, as shown ny the assessed valuation is placed at but ,ittIe over one-eighth of the actual value based 0 the census returns of 1590 Tne large amount accumulated In the . "t,, ,.:? .,..., "I':" .-cA 370.39. ,s one of the features seemingly 370.39, Is one of the features seemingly calling for some comment. It is difficult to understand why this large sum ,,,,, h .,, . ,.. , , should be allowed to accumulate In the state treasury with o great amount of outstanding warrants unsatisfied. It would naturally be expected that such a considerable sum as this should have hPn nnniiPd to the ,i,iPtinn nf the state's indebtedness as rapidly as it warrant, in the order of Its registration. ,-,t. fV,nco.rn i. .!... ....i. ., t i.n i.A n,inr'c..i ..-i.i, .t" k , u.fuat t, i.iiiit'it.11 nun llic I'UIIIUUl UIIll description of such warrant, and the name and address of the person in whose name the same is registered, and interest upon such warrant shall there upon cease, and such treasurer shall by mail immediately notify the person in ,..,. .u ... -,.: , ., shall endorse the date of "the mailing of such notice u?on such Yeated pack age." ti,,,o it ...m i .. 1 .t. .. the intention of the legislature that i iiu.'. il win iff sii.ifft.-i H'U. II1UL il was fund should be allowed to accumulate ;;r" - ' , ": "ul, . , "t.. """" wiien there were outstanding warrants u..w. ocai. " 1UJIU. UlHl lllill as soon as sufficient money should be paid into the state treasurv to sat'sfv rnoh warrant In the order of its registration that interest thereon should cease and the state be thus relieved from further liability on account of accruing Interest While it may be said that a literal com pliar.ee with the provisions above men tioned would be very difficult because of the grest volume of business carried on In connection with thp wnrlr nf tht state treasurv. vet It lrl, 7m VI fully complied with by making prompt payments on ceneral fund warrant r..n i. "i" ',.u v '',., J ""1: as ranldlv as fund, nc,,m!,t. h, . ....". .u".;" i.l " ". n..,l .- A.. a i ... ..u ,c hTi.ua. iunu. iipainst wnicn a Iarge amount of outstanding warrants has alwas existed, allowed to accumu- 'tJ0!1"5 m.trarnnary.m0Unt.0f oxer half a million dollars. This methoi As soon as money sufficient for the "ou,u maKe a ver" desirable Invest- " - ... ......... u.a ... payment of such warrant is received to ment tor the Idle pern-annt school fund. the rates f e levy the people have the credit of the particular fund upon would Permit the transfer of the f rleCt " aga ln"1 want?n cx7 ., ""7 '"" i,,;s anu me sun greater :axlty in enforcing on the afferent counties la case the 4.39 the legislature, both in letter and splr- these Imperfect provisions of law. have said board of equalization are satis- It. seems to have been entirely ignored broucht us face to fae with a pnnHitinn t ., ,? , t....- . of disposing of the state's business put an additional burden upon the taxpay- ers by the accumulation of a large amount of interest on the unredeemed warrants thus neglected. It also en- dangers the state's Interests through the possibility of losses of money which could properly have been disbursed In cancelling this Indebtedness as rapidly as possible. The suggestion that the state Is receiving Interest on the money thus allowed to accumulate In this tin- u mi nl manner may properly be met accumulate In the collection of reve- pecially so where there are superior claims against such funds upon the voluntary sale ....... ....one-third part of the creditors of the state. The casn aml a ba,anee secured by mort state Is not sunnnsed to n ii.'wv.. Rage upon the property." This, as nues for the purpose of entering Into the every one knows. Is not done, but on the banking business or to deposit its funds contrary tne less .value placed on th-' upon any other theory than that they Property for assessment purposes by the are to be used by the depository only on,ccr having In charge of this branch when not required by the state in the ot business seems to render him much ordinary course of its business. It Is to be further observed that this fund at one time was within reasonable limits. not exceeding, according to the report of the state treasurer on the first of January last the sum of J32.735.91. Un- der no process of reasoning can I under- stand why this further and larger sum should be deposited and allowed to ac- cumulate to the enormous amount men- "oned with obligations of the state Pressing for mvmpm ami ih, vMn.Vf " obligations constantly depreciating. '" ""k-""s lunsianuy depreciating. and then, after such large accumula- "ons are permitted, to have the matter explained by the suggestion that these explained Dy the suggestion that these -. . funds could not. with safety to the bU!:'ness Interests of the state, be with- drawn from the depositories. am of the opinion that there should be a very radical change inaugurated in tne conduct of the financial interests per annum, me issue of such bonds for the extinguishment of this hnni.i -' --. -.- indebtedness to the general fund. In addition to this you will have the pow er, as I view it. to authorize the issu ance of bonds in the sum of $100,000 to meet a oart of this Inilplitoinoas Pro visions of this character would 'reduce the amount of nut,.t.-in.iin ,.. ver-v materially and place the state in a much etter condition. There are a number of other funds of smaller amounts which iwrhin. r.-n u .-w-....,- .... .,. utilized In hrinsrinT fb .ot ,,. a cash basu in fh tmnMn r w business. I trust that after a full con- slderation of ,hf, -r; Z ,7" V; . . ..- -.-r... ..v JU may De able, by the adoption of some plan, to make satisfactory arrange- mets for promptly meeting all of the state's indebtedness, both bonded and Seating. Rrvrone Ltwi. It seems imperative that some action should be taken by the legislature pro- viding for a better method of levying and pollpftlnr tha rai'oniiAa Yiortouai.. fnr- tv.a. nrnn .i... . "' V., JZ i .?. L-.-.- l.r. fections and laxity of the provisions of tho nrumi Ion. fnr. t...,.i i n.. "l""' """"f .l"crl"lr- i'er- 'Z' , '"' LV 'IJ I"" "". . .J." "'"' w" :'" !"". . .. .... ... oi anairs mat renders It Impossible to conduct the business of th tnto wih out much embarassment. needless sac- filcesand ever-increasing floating in- debtedness. Any wise financial policy Aiiitviuir luriu accumumil nnrl prpntPi! r-- ..v,.JV, ..,, ,.. v..t,.b-.v. requires. In my opinion, the collection of revenues sufficient to promptly meet cx- pendltures necessary to be made In the conduct of the state's business. Any other plan ultmately works Increased hardship and renders excts.-lve the ex- penscs of state government, because of the uncertainty respecting the satlsfae- tlon of the obligations created. The very fact that property Is assessed at so much lets than Its true value, renders it very probable that great inequality ex- ists In distributing the burdens of tuxa- property. Is but little less than oiie- tetl at tne pr,ce ,l would bring at a more K?U!ar t,,B" ,f he a'i nerfor,ncJ hls '"" duty nml f"l the property as the law provide. Just how this stat of afra,rs can be remedied and ,wnat Provisions. If any. shall be made ooMn V'T , mrC 9trlnBen1t ,f "" 'orcement of the law as now existing or a revision thereof. Is for you to de- ermln- If Property be assessed at too Iow a valuation, the rate of the tax y is correspondingly Increased The system of low valuation and high Jf " a" llJZT . ;C7",Z '" ,"l " ,n.i?n heay urden ... . ....... U1U..J tvutuiu mv. ues and the- seemingly nonvv iinrMnna rr rnYtinnn in tna urru "-' An assessment upon property at Its fa,r valuation would render tax levies exceedingly small, as well as give less opportunity for undervaluation, be- cause of the more fixed and certain standard obtaining, the one and only ll", , . ' "": i'"j- "-- wlth the duties of managing the pco- pie's business in different capacities. where the disbursement of revenues forms an important part of their du ties. In Investigating this subject. I have secured a great deal of valuable ,nforniation from other states, which I "in iaKe pleasure in placing at tne dis- l f th'S bdy, ?"' com1m,"":e which you may select to consider this ,mPrtant subject, I also. In this connection, desire t can your attention to tne provisions or 'aw respecting the method of levying- an1 e1uali2,nS the value of property assessed for the purpose of raising rev- - ,, .,.ll, T. 1 """""-''"""- - provides that the governor, state audi tor of public accounts and treasurer "shall constitute the state board of equalization .. .. .. ..and It sha!l b the duty of said board to examine th various county assessments, and tr decide upon the rate of the state tax. the state school tax. the state sinking fund tax. to be levied for the current .a.. ......ft... ...i.i- .t .. . . . "r. .f prc,al .laxes re,1.u,rea D' Iaw tn b" levy of such taxes throuchou the .... .. , .. .. " . ".. ie je.i an.i to equalize and make the "? 'a ua.izauon shall be 'ue oy varjing tne rate or taxatlo i .. fc been adjusted with reasonable unl- rri... ... .i ji .. It further provides that "the rate of the general state tax shall be sufficient to realize the amount necessary to meet .mi fc.t a.&ic ui aiuaiiuji lias not Fz&jjmj&mmt! : iriiittitsr: