Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-04-04
FRIDAY. APR. 4, 1919
Are Your Taxes Too High? If So, Read This.

Are Your Taxes Too High? If So, Read This.
Only school districts and town meetings, village and
county boards councils and the legislature can
levy taxes They fix the amount of the tax burden They
make your taxes.
In the United States whole, public expenditures
steadily increase from year year with the certainty and
uniformity of natural law. So regular is this move
that the aggregate of all appropriations evies ana
expenditures any consider all tell the same
tale. The very uniformity of the movement In the lace
vigorous opposition implies that there must be COM
polling necessity somewhere Let briefly inquire what
that necessity is.
The first explanation of the increased cost of govern
ment to suggest itself the increased cost of everything
REQUIRED to carry it on In last analysis in cost
of government results the increase il
the cost of private business.
The government purchases supplies and employees
labor The cost of these increased in private
business; why should it not do in public affairs? Rail-
road managers manufacturers merchants and business
of all classes testify to the increased cost OF con-
Quoting business and the owing margin between net
and gross earnings Private families have the same ex
perence Can you supply your table, clothing,
provide fuel and maintain household for the same
amount that it cost ten or twenty years agoP not
why expect the public do so2 In this respect grow
ing state is not unlike growing family Its expenses
naturally and inevitably increase even for the same class
and amount of service. But second and more impor
tant consideration is that public service has changed In
character and enormously increased in amount People
are no longer content with the facilities furnished de-
have and better streets and sidewalks larger parks
and Fairgrounds, finer and more expensive buildings
brighter lights and purer water and better heath
police and fire protection and and better facilities
and protection of every kind.
The modern buds let covers many items for cOmmun-
ty benefit unknown century ago. The present day tax
bill includes for medical service life insurance, old
age PENSIONS school tuition and constitutes license to
call any department of government for any and all
kinds and protection These things cannot be had
thpY
promptly induce public officers to Them No
considers high desirable in and of themselves and
public officer would voluntarily increase them. lie
we'll realizes high taxes not popular and does not
enjoy the criticism they provoke Nevertheless
constantly with increasing completely of civil
cation if in obedience to natural law. How is the
phenomenon to be explained Why must we all have
what nobody wants2 The obvious answer is that while
nobody high taxes practically everybody wants the
things that make high For months in the
year class of community the promoter, the educa
tor the philanthops the aesthetic the pleasure seek
err each after his Kind clamors for increased expendl
ture scarce voice heard in protest until tax pay
time arrives Then there is loud outcry and ex
cept in partisan circles the matter again subsidies for
another year.
Herein lies the explanation of high First: the
increased cost of labor AID material and of all facilities
required for conducting public business second: the in
creased activity of government in many feds Whether
all of these activities worth while is for
the people themselves and their legislative representa-
tives to decide. 1t is not problem OF tax admlnlsGra
ton; If they insist upon the service the increased
cost must follow necessary consequence.
If you to reduce your taxes, don't build roads,
don't build schools, close up your schools Don't build
bridges Don't do anything in governmental line and
your will be reduced Do you realize that it costs
keep bums tramps wife beaters and wife de-
serter in your ias and that your reformatories and
pententiares cost the Taxpayers Are you spending
your taxes to teach enemy language in your schools at
this time?
If you do want the things mentioned, see that your
share of in paying for them is neither too high nor
too low. Full value is the law. But don't blame your
assessor, he DOESN'T spend your taxes Attend Your
Boards of Review.
When tax paying time don't grumbe. It
isn't patriotic. 1t sounds like enemy propaganda Back
up boys the trenches If they offer their lives
surely you can your taxes Remember you be
hero and patriotn paying just share OF taxes with
finding fault If you love your children the TAX
country which protects them and do 1t cheer
fully Don't find fault with your coun try by complain
ing of it's taxes That is method of enemy spies. In
of civic Importance and in matters of taxation
stand by America. BE AN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
State Tax Commission Bulletin.