Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-12-22
THE HIGH TAX BoGY.

The Observer does not believe that
the cry Of "high taxes ever yet
iiindered the development of any
community Certainly it has never
exerted the influence against progress
that over-c conservativeness has done.
Legitimate enterprises are not fright
ened away from any community by
so-called high taxes. Solid and sub
stantial citizens, with money to spend
in development work, do not stop to
consider the rate of taxation when
determining upon home. The
writer lived for several years in a
Northern Washington community. 1t
was quiet little town, much like
other quiet little towns the country
over Its one and only claim to dis
tinction was the assertion that "the
city" didn't owe a cent and there
was plenty of money in the treas
ury. The rate of taxation was low,
yet people didn't fall over them
selves to buy property there and be-
come citizens of that quiet burg
where taxes were low. After time
however, things changed. A new
set of people gained control of mu-
nicipal affairs. They began to spend
money right and left. They said the
town needed water system, electric
lights and sewers. They declared
that life was needed and modern i'm
provements, But all these things
cost money and the over-conserva-
tive element held up their hands in
horror as they saw their money
"frittered away" as they called it.
They said that the city council was
running the city so far in debt that
taxes would be so high that every
body would leave.
The upshot of it all showed the
unsoundness of their position. When
the town began to adopt modern
methods and forge to the front it be-
gan to attract the attention of peo-
pile elsewhere. Capital looking for
investment began to take an interest
IN the community, Outsiders said
" that is a live town-they do things
there" So capital came and was
pleased. New people and new enter
prises made the heretofore "quiet
little town" their homes and, in
three years the place nearly doubled
in population. SO did the taxes, but
the merchants, who, previously, had
made five per cent on their invest
ment, found their profits increased
until they realized as high as 20 per
cent. The town thrived and nobody
but the croakers who never build up.
but tear down, thought about the tax
levy.
Communities that do things must
necessarily pay for them. It's the
man who stands still who vegetates
and becomes a mosSbaek. Nine times
out Of ten, if he has money. eondi-
hons We're such when he made il.
That he couldn't dodge prosperity.
Now, having attained a competence. h
he becomes stumbling block in the
path Of progress and sees only his T;
'wn welfare. He is not public spir- ,
ted and opposes every move Of his
'nterprising neighbors who, in their
iarsightedness, realize that com
numty which does not progress muSt 7
II necessity retrograde. The eroak- .
n can see only the higher tax levy. In
he hole m The doughnnt. while the !
nen who build cities and carve out 4
heir fortunes in the face Of the o
most active competition. exert them r
elves IN every possible way to Sc O.
are new people and new enterpris- n
s.
No community that Is afraid Of q
be "high tax" bugaboo can hope 20 Il