El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-04-28

q association asked M James = city
and county officials invited the tax
payers association to meet with them
as an advisory committee while sitting
as boards OF equalization; II Il would
be within the function OF the associa-
ton TO give such advice Mr.. James
replied that z the association partici-
mated or Interested itself in property
value equalization il would bring about
its early disruption Equalization OF
property values. the speaker said, was
a question for the city and county au-
thorities and individual property own
Membership Fee Il 81.
Hamilton Rayner, $3.50 Montana. said
he could not understand why the small
taxpayer should have 10 pay a 81 men,
bership fee when only this sum was
charged the large and wealthy tax
paver- Il was explained to him that
This was the minimum fee and after II
was paid the taxpayers would be
charged a percentage BY the associa-
ton according to the amount OF taxes
they pay
budgets. Principal Function
?. A. Krakauer asked Mr.. James
what the principal function OF the as
ISOLATION would be and he replied that
il would be Of advising with the city
and county governments in the mat
ter Of estimating budgets OF expendi-
In opening his address last evening
taxpayers association idea and OF the
wonderful results that have been OBJ
tanned in many OF the larger cities
where such organizations have been
operating. The speaker said the move
ment had It's inception in the work
OF the bureau IN publishing financial
statistics OF cities. The movement re-
ceived its first practical application
in the city Of New York, when. IN 1905.
a bureau OF municipal research was
founded
The Root of IneffleIency.
a public official comes 70 an Office
concerning which he knows nothing
and which is so organized. equipped
and encountered by legal and other re-
strictions commonly known as red
tape that Il Is impossible for him 10
carry on the public business IN such
manner as effectively to discharge his
trust" said Mr.. James An informed
citizenship itself is the only force in
the community able to correct these
defects; the citizenship and not the
officer IS primarily responsible Tor
conditions--esp onsible because OF
charter and constitutional limitations
impressed, responsible because Of in
difference. responsible because OF lack
of provision for leadership which could
be held TO account for bad administra-
ton.
Citizens Too Apathetic.
ut IS an unfortunate fact that the
average taxpayer and the average
citizen takes practically no interest in
the manner IN which the public bust
ness is conducted. The study OF pubic
affairs is intricate and difficult and re
quires an amount Of mental concentra-
tiOn TO which the average citizen seems
90 be averse-
Every taxpayers association. what
ever its name must look for its
financial support to those whose busi-
ness training and whose general eX-
perience in public affairs is greater
than the average"
he gave a history Of tbs work IN
New York city, Of its fight against IN
compe tency and waste and Of the ad-
vertisinE gained for the organization.
This advertising led 70 the formation
Of taxpayers associations elsewhere
and the movement is spreading, he said.
lie told also Of the operation Of the
municipal research bureau IN Ne-v
York.
Movement Spreads.
This movement starting first IN
New York. hsd rapid development
throughout the country" he continued
Taxpayers associa tons have been or
ganiZed IN several Of the western
states and bureaus OF municipal re
search have been organized in many
cities during the past few years, mos
Of them securing as EXPERT directors
men trained by or who have kept in
close touch with the work OF the par
enr bureau in New York. The results
accomplished by those bodies have
been astonishing in improving the tone
Of public affairs They have brought
home TO the citizen a realization thar
inefficiency in government is unnec-
essay and that II IL exists Is his fault.
They actually accomplished savings Of
public money which are almost Unbe-
lievsble.
1t is not 10 be expected that these
ASSOCIATIONS can actually permanently