Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-01-11
ARE TAXES TOO HIGH?

ARE TAXES TOO HIGHT
MUCH is being written in the pre-.
AvAof the past few weeks to the effe,
that retrenchment is necessary in a
lines of public and private expend
lures.
Insofar as the sentiment has to d
with taxes, an unusual scrutiny !
being given to the matter. Gov. Davi
in his message to the Idaho legisla
ture, touched on this question of tn
burden of present day taxes. TIL
governor said:
eve must face courageously
and firmly the fact that economy
must be practiced. Financial
conditions demand retrenchment.
Agriculture and industry are de-
pressed; labor is none too Sc
cure in employment. Industry is
heavily burdened, and there is
uncertainty in the future. The
people of America are the vic
Tins of personal extravaganza.
OF extortion and of Incidence.
They have with but little protest
submitted to the Vaccinations of
profiteers and to wastefulness of
the Stacker in industry. No
class is free from reproach for
the part it has played
Public expenditures must be
curtailed, we must rigidly econ
om1ze, but in so doing bear in
mind that radical curtailment of
necessary expenditures is as
dangerous as corresponding. We
can i'll afford to suspend public
building, but our building pro-
gram should be limited to what
we are able to bond for.
There should be no increase
in the limit of our taxing
bodies"
1t is natural-and customary-ai
this time of the year to hear more
or less protest against the cost o.
government, state county and mu.
nicipal. Now is the time that taxes
are paid, and it seems a trait of hu.
man nature to protest against parting
with money when the benefit derived
is so intangible as that coming from
taxation, however necessary. Never,
theless it is the part of wisdom tc
consider whether or not the people
are over-burdened with unnecessary
or unwise government expenditures.
When the citizens of a municipality
are called upon to pay a tax levy OF
SO mills, as are the people of Sand.
point, it approaches very closely a
real burden. Eight and three-tenths
per cent is too high levy, if the as
sessed valuation is properly made. On
the other hand taxes may be altogether
100 low, as witness the time when Bon.
ners Ferry's levy for municipal pur.
poses was below five mills-and there
wasn't a cross walk in town at that
time. The part of wisdom is to use
careful judgment and keep as close
10 a happy medium in the tax levy
as is possible. This, however, is not
an easy matter.
There is another factor in this ques-
ton of taxation-and a strong one
Yon cannot eat your cake and have il
too. You cannot have needed i'm
provements and still keep your money
in your pocket. Some of it must
necessarily go to pay the cost of COM
munity advancement. This necessar-
lily comes high in a new country pass
ing through the process of develop
ment. Roads must be built. school
houses erected, streets paved, sewers
built, and a dozen and one improve
ments made without which a commu-
nifty is unfit to live in and lacking
which there inevitably follows a period
Of retrogression; progress dies.
At the present time Boomers Ferry
is very close to the happy medium in
taxation total levy of SO mills in
the municipality, 80 mills below Sand
points excessive SO mills. And vet
Boomers Ferry needs other improve
nents and judging from the past
temper of her citizens, they will not
refuse to finance worthy public i'm
provement in the future, should it be
put up to them.
The governor spoke wisely when he
said; THE radical curtailment of
necessary expenditures is as danger
Gus as corresponding. Let us de-
mand efficient government, a full dol
lar in service and value for every dol
lar spent, and then follow out rea-
sonable program of public improve
ment.