The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1913-12-26
Friday. DEC. 20. 1918
why Taxes are High.


It Is seldom that we have found
occasion TO disagree with j. d. Robert
son, the tax expert, upon matters of
taxation, but if he YVES reported cor
reetly 10 bis statement. at ths Open
log session Of the convention Of
county commissioners, of Che state We
cannot fully ACCEPT his views As De
WAS quoted, he WAS represe nied as
holding that the high taxes are more
largely due to our system of govern.
ment. than to any other cause.
We are willing tc admit that we
have an archaic system Of government
which could net. ty any plan, which
we are able to conceive, be made more
expensive than the one we have. By
that, we DO not mean that this Is true
because ours Is supposed to be de-.
mocratic form Of government, but be-
cause of the system adopted Co carry
out that govrernmen f. II Mr.
Robertson had laid the blame 60 our
political system instead of to our
governmental system, we could nave
come nearer agreeing with him.
The fault is most largely tiaoeable
to our Anticipated political system
and, Ia our opinion, there will never
be any permanent remedy devised uu-
til that lystem of politics Is revised,
OF IN fact, entirely eliminated
Under our political system. men and
women art taught to think, study. aud
plan for the benefit of the party fret.
considering the good Of the country
as secondary to be looked after only
insofar as It is necessary to look at.
ter the oountry's good in order 10
serve the party's welfare We are
taught 60 ee partisans first. and pat.
riots after thsS~.
Do We not see II n rsougressl To
fact. have We not just se3n an exam
pie of 1t in the meetiugNof be Re
Iulican national committee at Wash y
iDgi on, where the question basAll ~
time been Glow can we ge.u - rs
back 10 power?n It has bee1 Althe
time a question Of what coussf ,oue
to make, what plans to pursdy, hat
rules to adopt, what policies to advo
cate to bring about the main result
In the minis OF those oongregated
tnere-namelY the future success Of
the party.
We cite this merely as 40 example
and not because we believe the Re-
publican patty is not any worse 40
this respect than the Democratic
party nor than The Progressive purity
will bee NE Ia time # it should get
into power anu our pol teal system is
not changed.
Why not meet the Issues ia riy
aud face to faceY
The nigh gust of government is
most largely due 10 the fact that
political workers must be cared TO-
and political debts must be paid.
And any party, under our present
system Of poiitial parties, that gets
inlo power and remains there very
long, will become just as bad ss any
other party
DoD't we all know that roads have
been built. bridges counstrosed, irsti.
tutions of one kind or another been
favored. and men aud women, almost
Without limit been kept ia office. all
at public expense merely to pay Pc
lltioal support?
We have too much confidence iu
the good judgement Of our friend
Robertson 20 believe that he will at
tempt to deny the truth Of tnis. he
has bumped up against our legislat
ures 10 an effoIt TO secure action ben
ehcial alone tosthe publiosloo Often
not to oe fully aware that his chief
obstacle has been the desire 60 serve
tue party aud to reward some party
workers.
Until the people get independent
enough 10 quit voting for men merely
becHuse they happen Co be the Domin
ees Of given party and thus quit
putting into power men whose chief
obligationls to the party workers who
put them 10 Office rather than 20 tho
people. we need not expect much
relief. And Il Will be long hsrd
fight for relief even then. Boise
City furnishes an example OF how wa
may be deceived even sitter poIitics
have been eliminated Capital News