Amador ledger., 1909-06-04
Editorial Column,
GOVERNMENTAL ExTRAvAGANcE.

thirteen million dollars to carry the ship of the
next two years OF this the governor by his veto power
Topped off about millions. With this cutdown the
amount stands as exceedingly liberal, and almost without
parallel It sad that notwithstanding this heavy bill,
it would necessary increase the tax rate but on the
other hand the rate will be lowered And this fact troted
out something of the ordinary Indeed, it would bel
something extraordinary if it true in the general ac
ceptaon of the But does present the matter in its
true light When money is needed for carrying on
the govern ent it money be raised from the
tax-payng public running into debt There are various
ways of raising money for the support OF the government
The most important and productive way is by direct
property tax So that the hope held out that IN ace OF
the increased needed for the sate it will not be
necessary increase the the hundred dollars over
that of last year. but that will likely be lowered somewhat
To increase the hundred the derner resort Any
other preferable that conveys unavorabe
IMPRESSION that the expenses of government increasing
faster than the roll To avoid this I'M
preston the effort made swell the assessment roll ana
often the swelling process is resorted to arbitrarily without
actual corresponding increase of value in the property
raised For instance is found that for assessment pur
poses part of the property listed at forty per
of its real value in another sixty seventy per cent
The equazers boost the lower rated section to closer
conformity with the higher section. There has perhaps
been of taxable property in the boosted county
quite possible there has been depreciation instead OF
increase Still more money is needed to carry on the
government, and creating taxable property is the
approved method of providing without enta1ng raise IN
the rate But the result to the taxpayer is precisely the
though the increased He is called upon
to pay more money for the same of property The
plan worked both and county affairs There is an
ever-increasing demand for money Farmers and
property holders generally know full we'll that they are pay
ing considerably to-day in than they did twenty
thirty years ago the piece of property 1hey
also know that the property has experienced little any
rise in value. 1t is the administration of the affairs of
government that has changed materially. Where one
dollar suficed before dollars required To
double up the tax would spell defeat for the politicians
responsible therefor the faacous idea of doubling the
roll without any actual corresponding increase
of property is the refined way of meeting the threatened
shortage of funds
The officials whose duty establish the rate
satisfied if they do not exceed keep within the
tabshed the preceding year. All objections against
cesssve taxation with the response "Why you
paying than last year, Whereas by the basis fixed
up by the the property holder matter of fact is
called upon surrender considerably than he paid the
last year. while his property and the income thererom has
remained stationary has experienced corresponding
boost this way basis of increase
tabshed So when the cry for money for public
pendures made for the following year. the game is
repeated the disadvantage of the general taxpayer There
is seemingly no let up to this system.
Of course the only reform that would benefit the tax
papers, is liberal pruning down of the expenditures No
doubt this could by done without detrment to the public
interests The demand however, for increased and extra
VACANT appropriations for every branch of the government
asking for great deal than they expect to get
perpeuay stands in the way of reductions So the endless
boosting process goes on and the small taxpayer finds it
harder every year scape enough money together
the exactions of the axgatherer What will the outcome be
of this endless chain business. system of revenue is