Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-03-10
BUSINESS METHODS
Straight Forward Statement From
Governor Willis - Governments
Should Be Conducted on Business
Principles Keep Expenditures
Within The Limit of The Revenues.

In view of the fact that the Demo-
cratic press bureau of the State is do
ing its utmost to hide from the peo-
pie of Ohio, by misrepresentation and
the juggling of figures, the real truth
that the present State administration
is carrying out its platform pledges
as to economy and efficiency; it is
good for citizens to read the follow
ing straight toward statement ad-
dress recently made at Waverly:
Governments Nhave been busy tell
ing farmers and business men how
to run their affairs. 1t is time now
for merchants and farmers to insist
that governments shall be run upon
at least as good business principles
a those which the wise merchant uses
in the management of his business
and with as strict and careful econ
running his farm. No farmer would
hire men to work for him when he
did not need their services and simply
because the men wanted the place
nor would he ,recklessly increase
salaries far beyond the real worth of
the services rendered just because he
wanted to please somebody. Yet
in recent years this very thing has
been done by the government of the
State of Ohio, offices have been
created to take care of political par
ties and salaries have been increased
in order to pay political debts out of
the tax payers money. This prac-
tice, however, came to an end more
than a year ago, salaries have moi
been increased, but on the contrary
have been reduced. Useless offices
have been abolished and sinecures
have been wiped out of existence
Tremendous savings have beer
brought within a few short months
in several departments of the stats
Government without in any way i'm
pairing the efficiency of the publ,
service.
If every POLITICAL subdivision of tn,
state will adopt and follow this slogan
of economy, fewer offices, lower sal
aries, less waste, there will be n,
need for higher taxes. Instead O.
seeking to raise more taxes to NEE
expenditures in contemplation, let u
curtail expenditures so as to keel
them within the limit Of the revenue
we now have. Instead of trying t,
make taxes grow to meet expenditure
let us cut down expenses to meet rev
enues, counties, cities, state and ma
! ton have gone wild on extravagan
expenditures. 1t is time to call
halt everywhere; halt has been call
| ed in the state government of Obi
and the same program of econom,
and retrenchment should be adopte,
by every political subdivision of tn
state. Limitation on the tax rat
must be preserved; I assure you ther
will be no special session of the legis
lature to break down the one pc
4 cent. tax law and increase the bur
den of the tax payers.
1 It is no easy thing to abolish
useless office when it once has bee
established. After the campaign
over and the departure of politics
opponents is assured, some friend G
the incoming administration is pref
ty certain to discover that the offic
is after all very useful and necessar,
He would even be willing to sacr
flee himself upon the alter of hi
country and accept the position fc
, the emoluments there unto belong
ing. And the appointing power rur
the risk of being called base il
CRATE if he does not shake down tn
, plum, so ripe and ready to fall.
In spite of the hinderances and d.
lays, however, we are making pr
, gress in economy and efficiency. A
effort to obscure this record may (
made but it cannot permanently su,
ceed. If useless office is elimina
: ed. the salary discontinues and r
: other position is created in it's plac
t that salary is saved. The fact is s
: obvious that it cannot be explaine
E away. The policy of retrenchmel
= inaugurated by the state is alreao
: making itself felt and will soon b.
1 come so obvious that it will be gel
4 orally known and appreciated wit
: out official announcement or publ
advertising.
It is to be remembered that ba,
Continued on page ten)