The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-10-22
OFFICIAL PAPER OF cnOUrEAU COUNTY
WEDN ESDAY, OCT. ~, 1918.
HIGH COST GOVERNMENT.

xAO OWAC10 VI k0AdUlc plOHOlty IA
every county throughout Montana are
being notified that they must soon
make their annual contribution to the
public treasury. In each county the
open season for tax payments is an.
nounced by the county treasurer in
an official notice that is being sent to
every citizen whose name appears
upon the assessment roll.
In many this notification is
not welcome or pleasant news to the
recipient. He regards tax payments
as an obligation for which he has not
received adequate return, but his duty
as a citi4 en- and property owner re-
quires that he pay his share of the
expense of government.
The Montana taxpayer, however,
finds that the expense of government
is constantly increasing, and that his
contribution to the treasury is being
advanced from year to year. This
condition is not confined to any par
ticular part of the state; in nearly
every county there is an increase in
the tax levy, and a demand for more
funds with which to meet public ex-
penditures. The theory that an in.
crease in the amount Of property sub
ject to taxation will result in a re.
duced tax levy, is not sustained by
recent developments. In many of the
counties an increase in assessable
wealth has not produced this result,
and in the state at large-with a val
uation so per cent greater than that
Of a few years ago-the rate of tax
alton is double the amount originally
fixed by the constitution.
The high cost of government is due
largely to acts of the Legislative as
sembly that result in additional ex-
pense to the taxpaying community.
At each session the expenditures of
the state and county governments are
increased by some of the laws that
are enacted. Additions are made to
the machinery of local government
and the number of public employees
increased-the thirteenth assembly
making a record in this respect. At
the legislative session of last winter,
more employees were placed upon the
public payroll than on any former &C.
casion.
Montana law makers seldom give
attention to the matter of reducing
the cost of government. Provision
is made for increasing public revenue
by the exercise Of the taxing power,
but a proposition to reduce expendi-
lures does not appeal to them as a
proposition that should be considered.
In a public speech recently delivered
Judge Clements, of Helena, called at.
tention to what he considered waste
full methods in conducting the state
government, caused by legislative IN
actments, for which each Montana
taxpayer is assessed a proportion of
the expense.
The increased cost of government
is becoming a matter of public inter.
est in most of the western states
the authorities in Washington being
now engaged in devising methods by
which expenditures may be reduced.
In state, county and municipal affairs,
the cost Of government has necessi-
tated an increase in taxation to an
extent that has caused strong pro-
test from the taxpaying community.
The payment of his tax dues is not
a matter of embarrassment to the
owner of large properly interests, but
to less affluent citizens it is often
a burdensome infection. The citizen
who has difficulty in meeting the high
cost of living is confronted by an ad-
vance in the cost of governments
combination that is a menace to his
future welfare. Some asu of re-
lief would be welcomed by all citizens
who are affected by these conditions.