The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1913-10-10
FRTD4Y OCT. 10. 1913
What is the Government

Late 10 1912 the mayor of Fargo
made the extraordinary announce
ment that the city had declared 6
dividend Of 8 per cent. At first nc
one seemed to understand what wal
meant, but the explanation was
offered soon afterwards that, during
the year. the city has saved about
$40, 600, whioh Il had been decided
to refund to taxpayers 10 proportion
to their lAst assessments. The div
idend was paid In cash a few months
ago, aud II stands as an exceptional
achievement 10 efficiency ana econ
omy Of city administration."
Now Of course Il must be admitted
that city governments are not sup
posed to be- money making enter
prises. But lie there any reason why
they should not rebate taxes If they
nnd that they have more money THAI
is needed The trouble is that there
is never, except 10 the case Of Fargo.
any more money than is-"needed. -
II there seems likely to be a sur
plus-and sometimes sven when there
is a defolt-sa salaries are raised.
Thera lie never any difficulty In get
ting rid of money. More men are
employed than are necessary to do
the oity's work. Contracts are let at
an excessive figure. There is a con-
slant demand for larger revenues TO
take care of favorltes and parasites.
Theoretically, governments exist
to do work that cannot be done by
individuals. In a sense they are a
necessary evil. And very often they
are as evil as they are necessary
Men, aud a great many Of them, look
on city and nation as created for the
purpose OF giving them office. What
they seek is. not efficient and honest
government. but a living from the
government. They want or his
that they may serve the p'be stre
that they may draw the giene mors
reward their supporters aienee put
Il has been so throughout Esevtlcrey
of recorded history. IL has hS.\
ease Of the privileged few 80
the p%lundered many. And the ny
stru neLt of plundar has been that
very government wnose only reason
for existence WA that It might serve
the people. n Rsely aud honestly
manage their e-Ts.
We are, IL isoehieved, coming to
have q truer COD eption. Men are
beginning Gu realize that they have
been deceived u betrayed by the
so-oalled ruling GLASSES Aud every
where they are demanding the right
TO control their own government 10
their own interests. They want
better service, more honest admins
tration, lower taxes and cleaner poll
tical conditions. They understand
as never tsfore that government
exists, not as an end Ia itself, but as
q means for the accomplishment OF
certain results. Offices are created,
not TOR the benefit Of the governors,
but OF the governed. No SAN man
would argue that It would be right
to continue an office that wal not
needed, simply TO make a place fol
q ward heller. Yet that is often the
practice. Grover Cleveland said
that "Public office is a public trust.
The opposing prInclple-and 1t is
widely held, though seldom avowed
lis that ''publio office lie a private
snap" The old battle against us
ufpatlon has not yet been won-us'
urpatlon by q professional ruling olasl
But We are making progress. Th,
people are beginning to insist that
their affairs are indeed their affairs.
Il 10 true that any effort on their
part to take them into their OWL
hands Is resented by the bosses. pro
fesuional office seekers aud Office
qolders, professional bondsmen and
hangers on, as a piece Of imperti
o But the people have seen th'
light They know Whist government
is for, and they are determined tia.
Il shsll perform its true function.