Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-06-24

concerned; fourth, to the elimination
of avoidable expenditures in our sew
eral department sof government, we
must center our best constructive
thought; fifth, when the meeting is
over and we return to our several
homes, 1t must be with an invitation
to every citizen to present honest
suggestions and constructive criti-
cism fully realizing that we must act
with a firm hand and a strong heart,
for nothing can be eliminated with
out wounding some one.
Must Have Courage.
This meeting will be worse than
failure If you haven't the courage to
do the thing that ought to be done;
or If you feel that friend must be
protected in some expenditure in
which he is particularly interested.
IF we are to be swayed by ,he
imaginary political effect of carping
criticism of theiconoclast, then in
deed we are failures.
LET us keep ever in mind the
most good to the greater number
without only anticipated reward the
consciousness of duty we'll done.
II fully appreciate the immensely
Of the task before you, but you must
not regard your neighbours job as less
than your own.
State Has Heavy Daflcit.
"The state closed the fiscal year
March 81, 1921, with deficit of ap-
proximately $2,s00.00o.00. which we
confidently expect to wipe out during
this biennium, and at the same time
we are anticipating savings that will
allow the state board of equalization
to make a material reduction in the
general fund state tax levy for the
year 1922.
III we can reduce the levy and
wipe out the deficit of over two and
half million dollars in the state,
surely you can find something to
eliminate from your county, city and
school district budget. OF course
there will be plenty Of people to COM
plain because you spent this or failed
to eliminate that, but you are the
persons whom the people have Sc
lected to do this work, and you must
do it now; let the carping critic do
1t when the people elect him for that
purpose.
disappointment Will Disappear.
"Of course many good people will
feel chagrined that you strike out
something that they believe ought to
be continued. but II you act firmly
and with true vision, their disap-
pointment will quickly disappear
when they see the reduced tax levy
for next year. They must not wholly
endorse your judgment but they will
admire your good intentions.
with what elimination or reduc.
lions you may be able to make in
your several counties, cities and dis
tricts, I would not presume to sug-
gest or interfere.
Each must be controlled by your
local conditions, bearing at all times
that about four-fifths of the entire
tax OF the state is levied and ex-
pended through the various munic-
ipal subdivisions, and that being
raised and spent locally the people
feel that they have right to say
what they shall have so long as they
pay the bill, a right I would not
question.
"And this brings me to the con-
clusion which might have been stated
in the outset.
Realizing the capitalization Of
sentiment for tax reduction, ! wish
to present to you my ideas as how
this could be brought about.
II want your neighbors to know
and expect you and the public press
to disseminate the Information
that certain charges are fixed. and
that only material reductions that
can be made are through you as local
taxing bodies, and that without the