Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-15
WORK Of STATE
TAXPAYERS IS
SHOWN At MEET
Delegates Welcomed IN
Billings; Tax Reforms
Are Advocated.
Achievements Of Or
ganization Are Cited
by II. B. Mitchell.

Billings. Dec. a. by The ASso-
ciated Press.)-Tne second annuat
meeting of the State Taxpayers asso-
ciation convened here Thursday morn
ing. The delegates we're welcomed by
Mayor William Y. Beers. who sketch
ed briefly some ways in which axes
might be reduced. Less than fifty de-
legates attended the opening session.
President Harry i. Mitchell of Great
Falls delivered his annual address in
which he told Of the work done by the
association through its executive
board. explaining the difficulties I'M
der which the board had been working,
due TO lack Of proper organization and
insufficient funds, and making some
suggestions as to how the organiza-
ton might be improved by affiliation
of strong county units.
The president stressed the impnrt-
ance of the adoption by the voters in
tho last general election Of the consti-
tutional amendment providing for the
creation Of a tax committee. He re
commended that the delegates approach
al tax questions with open minds and
with respect for the opinions OF
others. More efficient handling Of
public funds rather than curtailment
of public service was advocated by the
speaker.
Following the presidents address r.
A. Haste of Billings spoke on the
value of publicity in bringing about
tor w. j.. Hannah of Sweetgrass
county delivered an address in which
he attacked the county unit system of
school administration.
Speakers for the afternoon session
included John \. Edy, chief engineer
ut the state highway commission; Dan
Kelley, Butte attorney; +. A. Cameron,
secretary of the Wisconsin Good Roads
association; +. L. Cummings of Lewis
town, superintendent of the Fergus
county high school, and A. G. Anderson
of Columbus, Saltwater county asses
sor.
Mr.. Mitchell spoke in part as fol-
lows:
AT the initial convention of this as
soclation a year ago certain recon-
mendations were made. The carrying
out of these recommendations was
placed in the hands Of a board Of d.
r%ectors, which. in turn. was to elect an
executive committee. As soon as prac-
teal following organization a meeting
Of the executive committee was held
~ ~ dt4lN a pAtlh VI " ttftiIlt tE~
cided upon. Subsequently this plan
Of procedure was approved by the
board Of directors. The recommends
lions made by this association for the
guidance of its board Of directors
were.
''The initiating of 8 measure sub
hitting TO the people the question of
calling 4 state constitutional conven-
tim NnJJr aynartsya annhTnit+aa want
into this question Mt considerable
length. The concensus of opinion was
that inasmuch as there were no funds
on hand Of any amount, and that the
organization ut the time was very
limited, that it would be futile to at
tempt TO initiate a measure which was
sure TO awaken the active and agrees
siye opposition Of the most powerful
financial and business interests Of the
state.
On Government Amendment.
The second concrete recommended
ton of this association a year ago
was for the enactment Of legislation
that will bring about the concentra-
ton of authority and the fixing of per-
sonal responsibility in our public serv-
ice, which will make for efficiency and
econoIn in all public offices. elimin-
ating duplication of work and expense
There had been presented TO the peo-
pie of the state by the latest legisla-
lure a constitutional amendment pro
viding for simplified form Of govern
ment in counties If the people of any
county desired such change, and for the
consolidation of county and city gov
eminent where desired by the people
Of the district affected. Your execu-
tive committee and directors gave out
Il pubic statement urging approval of
that amendment; and | believe that we
were the first state organization to
voice such approval. Later, just pre-
vious to the election, considerable pub
Lefty work was lone by the associa-
ton, through the press, in the inter
est Of this amendment. ] don't know
that we were Il vital factor in deter
mining the verdict of the people on
that measure, as there was no appar-
eut opposition to it. However, we
helped, and despite the lack of opposi-
ton the majority for the amendment
was not SO large as to warrant the
conclusion that it could have been car
ried without the campaign in its ia
vor that was carried on. In fact, the
vote on this amendment shows how abb
s~olutely necessary it is to have organ