Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-02-25
THE FAD OF CRITICISM


People and human institutions all
run 10 ''fads" OF doing things. II any
one has some particular thing he yssshes
10 put over on the public he begins
trying To marguerite fad for it so
that everybody gets 70 saying or doing
or thinking the same thing. or along
that Lac II is a time honored Gus
tom during session OF the Legislature
for people IN general and newspapers
in particular 10 food the Legislature
with advice and criticism and to as
sault it with loud baliyhooing about
everything that il should or should not
sdo until every member of the legisla-
ture. unless he be sort OF super
is so confused in his mind as to be un-
able 20 pass fair judgment on any
measure coming before him. That is
the condition in which the ballyhooer
desires TO get the Legislature 1t is
then comparatively easy to slip iokers
into measures which appear to have
merit in some entirely opposite direc-
ton.
~ tho present time we are facing the
fact that we are all burdened with
taxes so high as to amount almost to
confiscation. Every taxpayer. and
every state official and every member
of the Legislature and every news
paper in the state are united in an in
tense desire to reduce the burden OF
taxation.
There is just one way to reduce taxes
That is 10 spend less money. To spend
less public money. All, there's the rub.
For when public money is spent some
person or some organization or some
institution gets the benefit of IL and to
spend less money means for some tax
eater to get his snoot out OF the trough
or become detached from the public
test. Did you ever know of a sucking
calf to wean itself2 Or a hog to get
his feet out OF the feed trough unless
Kicked out? The calf corral on a cat
tie ranch at weaving time is a mighty
noisy place. The calves bawl for the
missed milk and the cows bawl for
the missed calf until the din is deafen-
ing for a mile distant.
The Legislature is a good imitation
just now OF a weaving pen and every
individual. every head OF a department
of state government, every industry,
every institution. every organizati n.
which has been receiving benefits from
the public treasury starts to bawl like
q weaving calf the moment the effort
10 reduce taxes threatens its supply of
public funds. Each one is loudly de-
handing that the reduction be made 10
apply 10 the other fellow or institu-
ton or organization.
Increase in public expense to an un-
heard OF degree. This multiplied many
fold the number OF persons. institu-
lions. organizations etc. supported by
he public treasury. To get back to a
peace basis requires that all these ex- (
ras be discontinued n we wish 10 re-
luce taxes. II Is a poor tax eater who I
amt find plausible reasons for his I
continued existence as a tax eater. II
$ succluent and juicy fodder obtained
With less exertion than elsewhere. So
very beneficiary Of the public purse
$ rs not only loath 20 let go but is In
lined 10 make a loud noise about being
orced into the weaving pen. His bawl-
ng starts the rest OF the herd and they
u Join In the uproar OF noise and
awing OF dust and tossing il into the
yes OF the Legislature. II is inn
ossible TO enumerate All OF tho sin
ers in this line who stand ready to
aiiyhoo the legislature the moment
ny weaniing calf Is threatened 10
ave its supply OF pap cut on. The
tate highway, the state institutions
ne university extension. the commits
Qner OF education are only among
ne chief weanlings In the calf pea
hey each are adopts in using ex-
ert propaganda IN establishing their
lain 10 justihcable continuation.
lost OF this propa ganda is exceedingly
Ibtile and Ingenious and calculated
} deceive the public as well as the
gislature. Money Is abstracted from
le taxpayers pocket by these tax
tiers by the cunning manner OF
lshing in his right hand direct tax
fore the tax payers eyes with a loud
that the few cents thus dis
aged is all il costs Mr.. Taxpayer to
pport this or that particular eating
'tivity while with the left hand the
llyhoo man Is by indirect taxation
four to ten times the
Mount Of the direct tax and quietly
pBihH th"t diHouiif nni u btSnt OF
g taxpayer.
To illustrate this matter In nearly
cry county in the state the con-
ued employment OF county agent
s been under discussion with a view
curtailing public expense along that
e IL possible. The direct cost of EN-
wing such an official is around $25-
per county. An active and compe-
It agent can more than Justify such