Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-09-02
EXTRAVACANT
EXPENDITURES
Low Rate of Taxation Is I'm
possible Unless Expenses
Are Cut Down
NEW HOSPITAL AN OBJECT
Reduced Taxes Will Follow
When Big Interests Exert
Influence for Economy

Referring to an article in the Ray
ond Review, which was published
the Herald of last Tuesday, the
oquiam Washingtonian says:
"Quit throwing money tothe birds
and we will not have to raise so
much by taxation. Keep on at the
present rate and we will see the
ruin of the Pacific Northwest as
you predict. Extravaganza and
reckless waste are the chief char
acteristics in the expenditure of
public money today and every de-
partment of the government, ma
tional, state, county and munich
pal, is affected.
"At the Monroe reformatory a
$4,000 residence was built to
house a $4,000 superintendent.
while the inmates we're herded in
a factory building awaiting the
erection of suitable quarters. 1t
was at this same institution that
six kegs of horse shoes were
bought in four months for two
horses. These horse shoes must
have been used in playing an an
cient and honorable game for
surely the two horses could not
wear all of them in such short
space of time.
"In our own county and city
there is a continual demand for
the expenditure of money and all
must be paid through taxes. Work
is done on our county roads by
days labor amounting to thous-
ands of dollars, when the work
could be better done, for half the
money, by contract. The only
time the people Of Chehalis coun-
ty have arisen in their might and
swatted the demon of extrava-
gance, was when enormous pres
sure was brought to bear to pre-
vent the county commissioners
employing a farm expert at about
$500 a year. An expenditure
more meritorious than most.
Next year the valuation of
property in Chehalis county is
going to be largely increased and
the levy is not going to be appre-
ciably lowered. This is a predic-
ton and we will make another to
the effect that if valuation and
levy continue to increase and
spell of hard times comes along,
half the property in Washington
will pass into the possession of
the state by reason of non-pay-
ment of taxes.
There should be an organiza-
tion of tax payers with the duty
of limiting expenditures, check
ing extravaganza and carelessness
and thus reducing taxation. The
expenditure is where the trouble
begins and where it must be
checked"
The Washingtonian is catching a
of the real cause of high
xation, although it need not go as
r as Monroe to find extravagant pub
, buildings. Chehalis county affords
me striking examples along that
ne, including the new court house,
hich was built 20 years in advance
it's necessity or the peoples ability
pay for it. Closer to home we
I've the new county hospital, which
: the time it is ready for occupancy
Ill stand the taxpayers of the coun-
not much less than 100000, and
r which there was absolutely no
,cessity. The commissioners esti.
ate it will cost not less than $751;
o a year to maintain and operate
When the present board Of county
assumed Office, they
ade an effort to stop the work, the
only being laid, but there
ere nearly a dozen contracts sign
up by the retiring board and the
having good thing in
yht, wanted too much money to con-
mt to the abandonment Of the con-
acts, and there you are.
One will search the files of the
ess that is now trying to manufac-
re sentiment against the present
ard of commissioners in vain for
word of condemnation for those
hose extravaganza placed the coun-
in a position where a high levy
necessary. Nor was any attention
i'd to this long continued extraava-
nee by the heavy taxpayers OF the
unity SO long as large part of their
xes was remitted by local officials
40 owed their elevation to office
the interests SO favored.
Continued to page y.