Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-03


Tor considerable time at least, and
until private wealth and income have
greatly increased" "be financed out Of
the savings which are so patiently pos
siblc.' That is the conclusion OF the re-
cent report on Increase in Public Elk
penditures," by Or. Thomas S Adams
state tax commissioner of Wisconsin and
secretary of the National Tax association.
There are serious difficulties encounter
cd which ire inherent in our form of gov
arc also serious handicaps in the igno-
state tax rises the more rapidly because
so many voters pay no direct taxes OF
consequence out of their own pockets.
our general property tax law, also, by
encouraging tax lodging on great
scale makes Indifferent on the subject
large numbers OF people. They condemn
the whole system and are not much con-
cerned In any Of the by-products. There
are also serious handicaps in the igno-
rance Of the public concerning public
business and in the lack Of incentive for
OFFICIALS, who may or may not serve
long terms to save public money as they
would save their own in a private enter
prise The form of State government,
as in most municipalities under the older
charters. is contrived on the system OF
checks and balances, which diffuses pow
er and responsibility. Efficiency and
economy fly out of the window when no
one In particular has power to do things
without being harasscd and thwarted nj
every turn. In order to secure the eff
cheney that will result in the elimination
OF waste in administration, VI may be In
dispensable to simplify the machinery of
state government.
Colorado. a state which has not escaped
severe criticism in some respects. has tax
Limitation laws that have special merit.
) The committee of the National Tax assoc
citation, Of which Or. Adams is chairman.
recommends that. except in emergency
cases. the taxes levied by any political
subdivision should not be permitted tn
| exceed those of the preceding years bv
five per cent. To have such rule apply
to tho state legislature il would be
necessary TO amend the constitution. But,
in order to finance future extensions Of
governmental activity out of savings due
to the elimination of waste, very much
moro would have to be done The report
already referred to, which is applicable
to all State and municipal governments.
/ 'IltlS OJHtf recommendations tnat are
worth considering. In order that States
and cities may compare themselves with
others, the federal census bureau should
publish annually statistics Of expenditure.
taxation, public debt and wealth of
selected list of States, counties. cities and
| towns in the United States. Bureaus of
public efficiency should be esta blished
| everywhere, so constituted az to have the
work continuously, and have their recon-
mendations treated as other than mere
academic proposals They should be
made an integral and permanent part Of
government, bent upon reducing cost
AS for changes in the form of govern
ment, the recommendat ton may be regard
ed as radical. for the statement Is made:
Modern government must be simplifled
and the existing diffusion Of power and
responsibility corrected. The short ballot
and those notifications which logically
go along with it, should be introduced.
A single Legislative chamber reduction in
the number Of elective executive officers
closer relationship between legislative and
executive departments of government. a
budget which emphasizes the spirit but
wastes no time and effort on the form
of this prOcedur"-are probably all neces-
sarY accomplishments of any movement
permanently to reduce public expendi-
lures and increase public efficiency"