The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-01-08
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8. 1918.
REMEMBER THE TAXPAYERS

HeMEM 6eR THE TA%PAYEKS
1t is hoped the members OF the Mon.
ssna legislative assembly will go slow
In the matter Of increasing public ex-
penditures. Al several former ses-
sions large additions to the cost Of
government we're made by come OF the
laws that we're enacted, and It would
be we'll to bear In mind that the tax.
payer foots the bill and should receive
proper consideration.
In an exhibit of state finances recent.
~ made public, It is estimated that
during the next two years the state
revenue will fall short of necessary
expenditures 70 the amount OF about
$500, 900; but Notwithstanding this
prospective deficit there will be efforts
20 increase public expenses by new
legislstion without regard to the effect
upon citizens who supply the funds.
Officials of the several state institu.
lions are said TO have In view legisla.
tive provision for expenditures that
will increase the deficit to more than
. million dollars.
When the state constitution was
adopted, the %citizenslof Montana we're
assured that the general state tax
should not exceed q mills. and that
when taxable property 10 Montana
reached . value Of $500, 900, 600, the levy
should not exceed II mills. The lower
rate would have gone into effect two
years ago, but in response to the
urgent solicitation of the stats author
ities, the voters amended this con.
s%titutional provision and allowed the
q mill tax limit to remain In force
until the assessment reaches the cum
Of $500, 000, 600. This was done to
avert what was alleged to be a great
injury to state educational institutions
by cutting downstheir annual income.
A few years; ago the state inadver.
teutly became alparty to q bond issue
made by q OF the educational in.
etitutions. and the taxpayers were
asked to protect the credit of the com.
monweslth by voluntarily assuming
the oblig alton. The request met with
an affirmative response, and an an.
dual la levy OF one fourth of q mill
for the tate bond fund has since been
in effect.
At the last general election, the
voters authorized the purchase of the
Warm Springs ssylum for the pur-
pose of converting it into q state In
stitution, these:accommod atoms for I'm.
fortunates being absolutely necessary.
This expenditure will call for another
addition of one.fourth of q mill to the
state tax levy ,!making q total of three
mills upon each dollar OF assessed
valuation-or double the rate contem.
plated in the constitutional provision
originally adopted.
A protest against increased public
expenses and suggestions that q more
conservative course be followed are
frequently mel with the allegation that
the complsinannlacks public spirit. At
the rick of mourning such criticism.
the River Press holds that the inter.
ests OF the taxpayer should be kept in
view when any increase in public ex-
penditures is proposed. Extravaganza
10 the conduct Of the public business
should be curbed. The creation of
unnecessary salaried offices, exces.
sive pay for services performed, pro.
positions to make Montana public In.
stitutions the equals or superiors Of
similar institutions in more popu-
lous and more wealthy ststes-these
are some of the causes of large ex-
penditures of publicifunds. The Mon.
tsna taxpayer generally Is q liberal
minded citizen, but the tax burden
should not be increased without care.
full consideration OF the various in
terests affected.