The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-10-07
MOVEMENT TO REDUCE TAXES
A General Demand Will Be Made by the
People of This State for Re-
duoed Taxation

of living. making it doubly burdensome
on the people to meet all their obliga-
tons. Just now there is a movement
all along the line, started no doubt by
the presidents announcement some
time ago to reduce the governmental
expenses TO the lowest possible limit.
This movement has taken root, and
none too soon. in Washington. A de-
mand will be made on candidates for
the Legislature 10 pledge themselves TO
economic measures. The following,
from the pen Of J. H. Brown, OF Olym-
pia. calls attention to an evil which has
grown up with a remarkable and dan
gerous tendency, that Of every mem
Der of the Legislature acting as if II
was his duty to get all he can for his
county in the general scramble to dis
sipate public money, as though 1t had
to be squandered, and all he had to
do was to see that his constituency got
its share.
State taxes will not be reduced in
the future unless there is a marked and
decided change along intelligent lines
from present conditions. Just now
there is a lull owing to the fact that
many taxpayers who settled up with the
treasurer in the spring are over their
crouch; but with the second half pay
ment due soon, vehement objections
to the high taxes demanded will prob
ably be resumed. The time TO protest
about high taxes is not after the levy
has been made and when the taxes are
being paid, but before the money has
been spent.
And just so long as tax payers and
communities continue to believe that
any state appropriation they can get
for their own community is coming
from some one else's pocket; that the
larger appropriations that can be Sc
cured by their senators and representa-
tives the more worthy such Legislators
are of support and encouragement, just
so long will taxes continue to be enor-
nous, oppressive and burdensome.
Careful investigation would proba-
bly, disclose that no county in the state
has received the best of it nor the
worst of it when it has come TO grating
from the state treasury. Grating as
used in this connection does not mean
in any way to imply either an illegal
or improper use Of such moneys, nor
that any person connected with the
expenditure thereof personally profted
in any way. The term is used to dis
tinguish such appropriation bills as
might better be termed extravagant.
Ii is probably true that there has been
in the past no extravaganza in the ap-
preparations for the necessary conduct
Of state administration. By that IS
meant absolutely no office has been
created nor salary paid to officer or en-
ploye in excess Of an extremely reason /
able compensation for the services
faithfully performed; nor have appropri-
atoms been made for repairs and i'm
provements at state institutions, except
such as are necessary to meet the alb
solute needs, of the institution, with the
sole exception OF the appropriation for
the new iute mill at the Walla Walla
prison. High taxes in Washington
have been due entirely to the extrava-
CANT appropriations, appropriations for
matter and things meritorlous in them
selves, but largely and purely local in
their benefits. The expenditures were
perfectly proper if the state and its
tax payers are financially able and will
ing to pay the piper" The gen
eral and widespread complaints of high
taxes would seem to indicate such is
not the condition.
The next Legislature will be more
extravagant than the last, unless the
announced plans Of popular candidates
for election to that body are changed.
In many of the counties of the state
these candidates are making their cam
paign chiefly on promises that they will
secure for their district large appropria-
tons OF state money. Such appropria-
tons never have been secured, and
probably never will be secured, except
as a result Of a trade. The only way
these appropriations can be made is for