Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-18


the Butte Miner, which sometimes
takes the form of ring that has little
or no concern for the welfare Of the
taxpaying citizens. The only thought
of these officials apparently being te
get their own salaries raised, secure
more deputies and find opportunities te
place their friends upon the public pay
roll. This situation will continue tc
grow worse instead of better as long as
the taxpayers remain unorganized, anc
not in position to force economy upon
their servants"
Organization of taxpayers associa-
items, in the opinion of the Chinook
| Opinion, lis a good move If it is car
ried out right. Such an organization il
| it will select good conservative fair
minded men who will give time to help
| ing public officials work out problems
of effecting economy and will stay with
the job long enough to accomplish re-
suits can be very much worth while.
ANY public official should welcome the
aid of such body if it can induce the
right kind of men to give the time and
energy to the work that will be neces-
sary to accomplish definite results"
ut is certain" says the kaiispell
InterIake, that if there is a united de-
mand by the people for tax reform and
better methods in the handling of pub
lie funds that the next legislature will
be bound to respect public sentiment.
About the only way in which anything
definite can be accomplished is to let
representatives know what is expected
of them, and to see that they stand
hitched to the program which the pub
lie demands"
SC ,~h1
taxpayer should know how much he or
she is paying in taxes and where the
money goes" says the Bozeman Chr0n-
be found out. That is by studying the
subject and getting at the facts. The
suggestion has been made that the start
made by the organization should be fol-
lowed with series of meetings extend
ing through the winter, so that the en-
tire subject of taxation may receive
intelligent consideration and study"
There is no mystery about the
causes of high taxes" says the Red
Lodge Picket journal. They have
come as natural result of war time
high prices and high wages. The eff
feet on public funds was slower than
upon private pocket books, but it last
ed longer, SO the taxpayers are feeling
It in no uncertain manner this year
Curtaliment of public expenditures has
been talked ever since there was q
public to talk about it, just now the
public demand is becoming so insistent
that there is prospect of q general
and wholesale curtailment actually
taking place. But the chief element
Of tax reduction which may be hoped
for must come from reducing costs of
material and labor. The influence of
the associations of taxpayers should
be wholesome and beneficial, but NO
one should expect immediate or start
ling reductions in tax levies to result "
The main cause Of all trouble"
says the Big Timber Pioneer, "is that
the ordinary taxpayer pays little or
no attention to the after effects of a
tax he voluntarily votes upon himself.
So long as it does not call for a cash
payment it goes. If he gave the same
thought and study to where he will
get the tax money when it becomes due
as he does to plan to evade it when
it is due, there would be far less kick
ing and fewer public meetings of tax
payers to reduce running expenses.
Boards of aldermen, county commits
siOners, state examiners, and others
charged with the handling of city, coun-
ty and state affairs are powerless to
evade the payment of the just debts
of community. Interest becomes due
annually or semi annually, and the dis
charge of a deputy here and there, or
reduction of $40 a month in the sal
AIRY of some officer does little toward
the payment of six per cent interest
on bonds amounting to 100000, half
million, or million of dollars"
Thn htIn nf hn
lief that the cost of county govern
ment is too high. 1t discusses various
ways of reducing these expenses and
concludes by saying: Recently a dep
uty state examiner suggested still an
other plan that seems to have greater
virtue than any of those heretofore
proposed He would have law con-
stituting the county clerk, treasurer.
auditor and superintendent of schools
an executive committee vested with
administrative powers, eliminating the
county commissioners altogether. Tn
der the arrangement there would be
strong likelihood of qualified men and
women always being in charge Of
county affairs and sizeable chunk
would be Topped off the county payroll.
Tt is this gentleman's contention that
the work would be done more salts
factorily by a council composed of of
ficials receiving fixed salaries and OBJ
ligated to the performance of pre-
scribed duties. 1t is certain that the
treasurer and assessor are better quail
flied than anyone else to determine
values and tax leyies; the county clerk
is the proper administrative head; the
superintendent necessarily has superior
knowledge of schools needs, and the
auditor should be specially qualified as
purchasing agent. There is no rea-
son in the world why a county sur
veyor should not be employed from
time to time as need arises. or why
county peace officers should not be
appointed from list of qualified ap-
plicants. Half the weakness of the
present system would be remedied by
cutting down the number of political
jobs"
OF NATION
TO VISIT MONTANA.
sin securing for his town, next July,
the annual convention of the National
Editorial association, M. ]. Hutchens,
editor of The Missoulian, who present
ed the invitation of the city, has per-
formed a great service not only for Mis-
soula but for Montana" says the Hell
ena Independent. THE men and wom-
en- who compose the association are
the brainiest in the country,
trained observers and connected with
the greatest sources of publicity in the
world. Montana, which the editors will
tour for nine days, will be the subject