Weekly journal-miner., 1915-05-12
COST IS OUT OF
 PROPORTION TO BENEFIT
(From Saturdays Daily.)


 those who pay them. Operating ex- penses are added to first cost, and in the final anaylsis, practically all the taxes are paid by the people.
 The rapid growth of public ex- penditures, the ever-increasing cost of government is becoming a men ace, a serious obstacle to the growth and development of this new state. It is generally agreed that the growth of expense is vastly in advance of the growth of taxable wealth.
 A halt must be called. Steps must be taken by this legislature so that no provision is made for the main tenance of expensive departments of state that are unnecessary, in the scheme of public welfare
 Let us institute few compari- sons:
 Arkansas
 The legislature of 1913 appropri- ated $12,700 for each of ensuing two years for maintenance and salaries of three tax commissioners.
 Connecticut. z One commissioner appointed by governor. Approved by senate. To tai expense 1914, including salary of $3,OOO-$6838. Florida.
 Three tax commissioners. Salary $3,0O0 each. Expenses, salaries in cluded, year -$11,738.
 Kansas.
 Three tax commissioners. Salary $2,5OO each. All expenses, salaries included, 1914H$16,7O5.
 Maine.
 State board of assessors. Duties similar to Arizona state tax commis- sion. Expenses, salaries included, 1914$12,475. Montana.
 State tax commission consists of the governor, state auditor, treasurer, attorney general and one tax com missioner who is appointed by the governor, and whose salary is $3,6O0 year-and all necessary travelling expenses. Total expense, including salaries, 1914 -$7.4OO. New Hampshire.
 Three commissioners appointed by the Supreme court. Commissioned by the governor. Annual salary two members, $2,5OO each; one member designated secretary draws $3,OOO. Total expenses, salaries included, l914$11,235.
 Oklahoma.
 Has no tax commission. Board composed of governor, auditor, treas urcr, secretary of state, attorney gen eral, president of the board of agri- culture, examiner and inspector-all | elective ofice-s-perform the duties of state tax commission and board of equalization. Total expense, clerical help, blanks, stationery, etc, 19l4.- $3,5OO
 Oregon. Two commissioners appointed by the governor, who with the execu- tive, secretary of state and treasurer perform the duties of state tax commission. Total expense, 1914, salaries included-$15000.
 South Dakota.
 Three tax commissioners, appoint ed by the governor-yearly sala-y $2.OOO each. Total expense, 1914, salaries included-$13,744
 Wyoming. One tax commissioner appointed by the governor. Salary S2,5OO per annum and travelling expenses. To tai expense including salary, 19l+ $4,5OO.
 Texas.
 Appropriations for this department by the thirty third legislature for the maintenance of. the tax commission for the year 1914, exclusive of the salary of the one commissioner, was S1 .872 for all expenses. All the above states are older and much wealthier than Arizona.
 It is only fair to mention that in many of the states, the expenses ot maintaining this department run very high, but in no other state is the ex- pense so absurdly out of proportion, if we consider the taxable wealth, and the labor involved in the discharge of duty.
 Oregon's state, county and munic- ipal tax amounts to more than four times the taxes of this state, yet the total expense of the tax commission of Arizona exceeds that of Oregon by 25 per cent.
 The sum appropriated for the main tenance of the Arizona tax commis- sion exceeds that of the State ot Kansas by 20 per cent; yet the total taxes of Kansas are six times as great as those of Arizona.
 It must be said, that there IS no