Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-02-20
Those Certainties

1t has been we'll said, years ago. that
but two certainties existed namely,
death and taxes. The first cannot be
evaded, the second it is possible to
dodge-for a time. Much has been
said recently, not only in Chehalis
county, but state and nation wide,
of the growth of the tax burden and
many have been the suggestions for
a remedy. None so far advanced ap-
pears to have the edge on that advo-
Gated by the Herald some time ago,
which was to the effect that to reduce
expenses there was but one method
to pursue-spend less money.
Among the numerous articles in our
exchanges bearing on this subject, the
following, from the Tacoma Ledge,
is most timely:
Nearly everybody who has prop
erty is complaining of the high taxes
to be paid this year. The public mind
was turned to this subject when let
tiers were sent out a few days ago
giving notice to each taxpayer of the
amount due. It's too late to change
the levy on which we are now to pay
It's not too late, however. to consider
the reasons for high taxation and to
take steps against it in the future
If steps are not taken, the tax rate
will probably go still higher, for there
are a hundred and one improvements
and so.called reform schemes being
put forward that will, if adopted. nee
essitate another increase in the levy.
Government is being looked to now
adays to do all sorts of things for
the people. 1t is expected to make
them good, to make them comfortable,
to give them pensions, to furnish hot
lunches for school children whose
parents got along first rate on a
cold piece" to provide pupils with
free school books, and so on. This
all costs money, and the money is
raised by taxation.
High taxes are not peculiar to Ia
coma and Pierce county. Conditions
are even worse in Seattle. One of the
candidates for mayor Of Seattle, in
undertaking to offer a solution of the
taxation problem, told an audience
that reduction of expenditures could
best be brought about by doing away
with the cumbersome form of govern
ment, which he said now existed in
Seattle, and substituting simpilfied
commission form such as that now in
force in Spokane and Tacoma. He's
barking up the wrong tree. The grow
ing cost of government is not due to
the form; it is due to the present-day
tendency to adopt all sorts Of reform
schemes and make numerous big i'm
provements without counting the cost
The Seattle candidate for mayor holds
out a false hope to the taxpayers Of
that city when he tells them that
their taxes will be less if they adopt
the commission form.
takes will not be less until the peo-
pie who pay them act unitedly for can
didates for Office committed to reduc-
tions and act unitedly again when
measures involving increased expendi-
lures are submitted under the refer
endum.
AS long as we vote for more gov
ernmental activities, we can not rea-
sonably expect taxes to come down
for new functions require more money
at is inconsistent in the extreme for
us to vote for all the new-fangled
schemes that come along, or to sup.
port candidates for Office committed
to them. then turn round and com
plain because our taxes are high"
Credit for Currency Reform