Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-19
INTELLIGENT COOPERATION.

I .' i 1AA40EIN4 NO.O1 IN AA0N. NE#
In the letter which Governor Nestos recently
addressed to county and other local officials
throughout the state, he made a strong plea for the
cooperation of all public bodies in North Dakota in
the work of reducing the expense Of government,
and thereby reducing the tax levies to be made next
year. In taking this step, the governor has shown
a grasp OF an important subject to which attention
must be given in the most thoroughgoing manner if
the funds of the people are to be protected and relief
is to be had from the burden OF taxation shichthas
become SO oppressive. In doing this Governor
Nestos pledges to the officials as he has pledged to
the citizenship generally that everything will be
done by the state government itself that lies within
the bounds of possibility to conduct the states at
fairs on a basis of economy and efficiency which will
give the people the most efficient business govern
ment at the least possible cost.
It>would be a serious mistake to interpret the
governors letter as an invitation to public bodies to
slash. appropriations right and left, reducing ex-
penses at the cost OF Efficient service. Governments,
no matter whether local or general, exist for the
service of the people. They have certain duties to
perform; certain responsibilities are entrusted to
them and certain funds are placed in their hands
in order that the money may be invested in activities
necessary to the good order, the progress, and the
prosperity of the state. There is no suggestion in
the governors letter of the limitation of these activ-
tiles. What is urged upon all concerned is that the
greatest economy consistent with efficiency be OBJ
served, and in making that recommendation. the
governor will have the support Of every intelligent
citizen of the state.
!. 1t is not possible to lay down any rigid rule as
to where appropriations for public purposes should
begin and end. There is a certain minimum, doubt
less in the activities which relate to the mere cost of
administration Of those matters which are purely
governmental in their character, but beyond these,
there is a wide range of subjects which affect the in
terests Of many thousands of people which involve
expense in varying sums, the utility and desirability
of which must be Judged in the light, of the sur
rounding conditions. Schoolhouses must be built
land maintained difchee r,,1efN re d,,o. roade vnnet
be built and improved; bridges must be constructed,
and many other lines of work must be pursued in
order that there may be, not 'retrogression, but pro.
Igression in the right direction in the various sec
tons OF the state. How far our people may wisely
enter upon such enterprises at this time depends
largely on the local conditions. There are sections
in the state, doubtless, where these public enter
prises must be severely restricted just at this time
because the crop and other conditions in those sec.
tons have been such that it is bound to take some
time for the people to catch up, even if the cost OF
enterprises desirable in themselves but not immedi-
ately essential, is eliminated. There are other Sec
tons which it would be a mistake to abandon pro.
jects for public work which have been contemplated
or undertaken. The conditions there being such as
to warrant the immediate undertaking or compile
ton of such projects. All of this is entirely consist
ent with the governors recommendation The
spirit of his letter is that public officials regard thei,
office as a public trust and administer it to the very
limit of their powers in the highest interest of the
people affected.
There is one field in which every public body
can cooperate benefcially and that is in the elimina.
ton OF waste from its management of public affairs
If all those who have control of the business opera.
tons of the municipalities will see to it that the PEG.
pie receive a full dollars worth of value for every
dollar expended, whether in work or construction O,
administration, there Wilt &c an immense gain and ar
immense saving. This will be reflected in mex,
years taxes.
1t is gratifying to have the continued assurance
that the state government, under the leadership al
Governor Nestos, supported as he is by the heads Of
the departments, intends to put forth its best ef
forts in this direction.