Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-01-14

1t is barely possible cur friend Beck
may possess ingenuity to convince tax
payers of Vernon county like Christian
Science doctrine) that their present bur
dens and ills are merely imaginary. The
fact will not be disputed. however, that
in 1912 the state tax levy was, in Yer
non county, s43, 27l AZ, while in 1918 it
was 500, 1916 81, or the trifiing sum Of
$50, los 80 greater, which is not much
when you become aecustomedto it. II is
rot exactly like holding blind MAJ up
in an alley and sand-bsgging him, hut it
approaches that aspect.
The present day sophistry, so freely
handed out by those "higher up" and
which is the primary root much pub
lie extravaganza on the part of counties,
towns. school districts and other taxing
bodies, is this persistent deception that
the state and the university are able and
willing to do great things for the ''peo-
pie" gratis, or for the asking. Pray,
who is the state and the people when
we contemplate tax burdens? On this
point we believe no higher or better
authority can be cited than our own
state treasurer, Hon. Henry johnson,
who in a recent published interview,
tells well some bomely truths. But we
doubt not the state treasurer will be
roundly denounced as "reactionary,
stand patter and a stalwart" by the
political doctors who assume authority
to instruct the people when, how and
what they may think and say. Read
carefully Treasurer Johnson's state
ment:
81 am not opposed to mothers PEN
sions or to any other plan which has
for it's purpose the amehoration of the
condition of any considerable class of
people who are justly deserving" said
State Treasurer Johnson
But, continued M Johnson, 81 am
most emphatically opposed to the many
devices and schemes used by over zeal
Gus advocates of these reforms in their
effolts to establish them by hood-wink-
ing or deceiving the people"
For instance, said the state treas
urer, when it is argued before coun
ty board that appropriation should be
made for mothers pensions so that state
aid may be secured to aid in the care
of the unfortunates, the advocate be-
trays ignorance of the related econom-
ic facts or is dishonest. For it should
not be forgotten that the state has no
money to give for such AID. 4"
"The commonwealth earns nothing
All the money it has to offer in the way
of state aid comes out Of the pockets OF the
people Ind, further 1t should not be tor
gotten that for erery dollar that is paid IN
to the treasury only IS ceRtS come back, as
So cents disappear through the process Of
administration ?
Mr.. johnson holds that the whole
philosophy of state aid and county aid
is delusion nothing else. at serves
a purpose" he said, "to aid the politi-
clans in their schemes to deceive the
taxpayers, but in the end-or rather at
the beginning--it comes out of the pock-
ct of the taxpayer. The money cannot
be spent until the taxpayer has provid-
ed it."
Estate aid for roads, bridges, care of
the detectives are of the same
piece. They serve a purpose to lead
the people into belief that they are
getting something out of the state, and
some are so simple as to chuckle and
congratulate themselves over their clev-
erness in soaking the commonwealth
while the truth Is they hdre soaked tte4nSel
ceS and added a penalty OF about IS per
cent.
Then, too, said Mr. Johnson; ''it
has been urged recently before county
boards in advocacy of the adoption of
the mothers pension plan that if the
county does not make the appropriation
another county will and we will be tax
ed to help them while getting none of
the benefits ourselves. Well. it may