Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-19
$6O,9OO SAVED
TAXPAYERS in
COUNTY, CLAIM
r. H. Wright Reports to Meet
ing; Paid Secretary Is


Decision to obtain the services of
a permanent paid secretary to create
interest in the program Of the Cascade
County Taxpayers association and 70
enlist more taxpayers Of the county
as members of the organization was
reached Thursday night, when the ex-
ecutive committee was empowered to
seek a man capable and qualified to
handle that position.
No means Of financing the secre-
taryship except that the man who fills
the position will be expected to collect
his salary in dues from the members,
was discussed by the association. It
was the sentiment of several members
that it would be difficult to interest
any man in the position, knowing that
his salary was entirely dependent on
his ability as a collector. The treas
urer, when asked about the present
state of the associations finances, re-
ported So in the exchequer.
City Expenses Cut
Quoting figures to show that city,
county and school governments are be-
ing conducted more economically this
year than in 1921. Secretary r. II.
Wright, in his first annual report, set
forth reasons why he believed the as
sociation could be credited with accom-
plishments during it's year Of work.
In the city of Great Falls" the
report reads, I'VE note that there is
a saving of about $1,000 in the re-
duction of salaries of appointive Off
GERS. There has been a further saw
ing of $2,462 in the fire department.
$1,000 in the police department and
S1,O7O less expense in the police mag
istrate's office. The building inspect
or's office has been abolished and the
work done by the city engineers Of
flee at a saving of $2.53s. The engi-
neer's office has saved 1881, the city
clerks office. $500: the city treasur-
er's office. $500. making a total city
saving of s16.sOO.
County Expenses Cut
I'm the county, the county assessor
reports that he has saved $500 for
the months Of January. February and
March this year. from his own record
in 1921, and that he expects to lower
to $4,000. He has completed his city
: assessment work about two months
ahead of last year and his county as
sessments will be 30 days ahead. The
county engineer has cut off one field
man, two helpers, one stenographer
and one craftsman. for eigth months.
at a saving of about 5000. The coun-
ty superintendent. one clerk and re-
corder. auditor and clerk of the court
have each dropped a deputy, amounting
to a saving of $1,000 total saving in
county salaries of approximately $17,-
100.
School district No. 1 has dropped
about $4,000 in salaries. making a
grand total in county, city and schools
of $4,000 less for salaries alone in
yearly expenditures"
The secretary continued further in
his report by saying that the Cascade
association was the first Of it's kind
in the state and in the northwest as |
far as it is known. He said the asso- |
citation had a membership of 351. add
ing that Hundreds have taken part in
our meetings who have not signed and !
there are thousands of taxpayers in |
the county who are in sympathy with |
the movement"
Monthly Meetings Recommended
Several members of the association. |
in speaking of the influence of the or
ganization. expressed the belief that il
was going down hill' and that some
thing must be done to make it a power
IN the county. The question of the
dssoclalOu : Standlng came into discus
sion when B. j. Boorman, member of
thes executive committee. recommend
ed monthly, rather than twice a month
meetings. Mr.. Boorman said he did
not expect to attend the meetings next
year unless there was a better attend
ance at the meetings. There were 20
present Thursday night.
County Assessor Harold Mady will
he asked to address the taxpayers at
the next meeting and to explain the
reason for the apparent inequality of
land values in this county and the coun-
ty of Lewis and Clark. II. B. Mitchell,
who acted as temporary chairman OF
the meeting, stated that the creation
OF a state tax commission would re-
move such defects in the taxation sys-
TEN, which is the principal object of
the state association of which he is
president