The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-12-28
WHERE TAX REFORM MUST BEGIN

WHERE lax REFOftM NJ UOl BEOlI
Governor Davis rightly declines t.
call special session of the legis
lature at the request of the com
missioners Of Blaine county for thu
purpose of endeavoring to work ou
some relief from the prevailing high
taxes. About the only result, that car
be imagined from a special session
at this time, would be to add little
more expense to be met by the tax.
state government is high, in keeping
with all expenses, but 1t is equally
true that from the money raised by
taxation in the various counties, but
a relatively small per cent goes to
defray the expenses of state govern
ment. The schools, the county gov
eminent, city governments, highways,
and other local expenses absorb the
big percentage. And it might be
added too, that to a great extent
these expenses run into big figures
because of the public demand. 1t is
true that there must be retrenchment
in order that the taxes may be
brought down to something near a
relative point with the taxpayers in
come, but this retrenchment must
start with the individual and with a
willingness on the part of the indi
vidual to forego for time some of
the things which deplete so rapidly
the public purse. A public demand
for retrenchment as strong and per-
sistent as the public demand during
the past few years for extensive pub
lie improvements, would undoubtedly
affect to some extent the tax prob
lem.
In the recent past the value of a
public official was measured very
largely by the public improvements !
which were brought about through
his efforts and which, of course, had
to be paid for out of the taxpay ers
pockets. Now the people are paying
the bills and are asking for relief. !
To get this relief, which, however,
cannot be secured at once, they must
urge retrenchment, within the bounds
IF reason, but not to an extent which
will interfere with the efficiency of
established institutions, and they
must be willing to wait for time
before insisting on further extensive
public improvements.
1t is somewhat interesting to note
hat in Blaine county, from which the
oudest wall comes, 81.3 of the taxes
S for county taxing bodies, and only
ST. for state purposes. OF this only
g goes to defray the expense of
the various state depart
nents and so for state institutions.
- p "a
One of the biggest stumbling blocks
4 the way to an independent press is
he tendency of the editor to lose
light of the fact that his first duty
to the reader Not alone in his
olitical ardor does he lose sight of
lis fact, but as we'll in his zeal to
snder service to the advertiser. In
} doing, he emasculates his endeav-
RS and robs his profession of its in
erent powers; for, after all, the
reatest possible service any editor
IN render either to his party or to
IS advertisers is to merit and to hold
e confidence of his readers in him
If and his publication. Confidence
begotten only through the very
avenues of honesty, fair play,
Id a square deal. Requirement en-
myers it. Deception destroys it.
r. Gardner, in The Washington {
ewspaper.
"a n "a :
The Nonpartisan league of Wash &
gton attempted to hold meeting
Spokane last week. A date was
led, but no one showed up, except :
e ones who fixed it. 1t was de- !
led to wait few days and try it
ain Nothing doing this tine, either.
sxlt: No meeting held, and the
lgue salary grabbers feel their feet !
piping. 1t takes lots of nerve to {
ok to discredited organization, !
leader and founder of which is !
lind prison bars for disloyalty to I
ceuntry-Banner. I
"a "a "a !
The New Years resolutions are !
,ut due. AS a rule they will last (
ut as long as the fragile plaything {
t some husky youngster received !
Christmas morning. Their prln- !
Il usefulness seems to be in the :
of breaking them. :
"a "a "a {
woman is as old as she looks :
en- man gets old he doesn't look. !.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer