Omaha daily bee., 1922-03-17
Reduction
of Taxes Is
Pro blenl
Advantages of Gradual Della.
rion Are Indicated in the
Action of Special Lcpis.
latiye Session.
S6,5W,0O0 Over Prcwar
BY PAUL GREER.

STATE taxes have gone mp so,su0,.
coo since 1917.
That looks like a pretty big ball
loon. The problem Nebraska iacep
Is 10 let out some of the gas. To
cut one side out Of an inflated bal
loon is not the best way TO get back
20 earth. The advantages OF sane
and gradual deHation are indicated
IN the action OF the special session
of the legislature, which reduced the
need for state taxes in l922 one
third
This will leave the levy for ihig
year S3,2S.,0d0 above the prewar
level OF 1917.
Nebraska has grown in five ycars,
but that does not explain the balloon
ascension. A glance at the several
items Of increase shows. for one
thing, that the state has been sad
died with number of new response
biiiies. Some OF them have consist
I'd Of matching dollars with the fed
cral government. Which OF these
activities must be eurtailed or elimi-
mated is up 10 the people and the
next crop Of legislators.
Big Relief Fund.
One outstanding figure that will
cease 10 appear III state expenses
after 1922 is the Sl.oo0.o00 for relief
OF veterans of the world war. The
Legislature appropriated s2,0o0,000
to this purpose in the biennium. All
except Ss000n was ordered perma-
nently invested in bonds, the interest
on which is to be used through the
soldiers organizations for needy
service men.
After 1924 the annual levy of
soS9, So for building the state capi-
tol will be dropped. Nebraska then
will have a S5.00o,oo0 statehouse,
completely paid for and without any
bonded debt,
Good roads cost $320,00O in 1917.
Last year $1,000, $40 vas levied for
the purpose. The special session has
reduced this to SS35,0oO for this year
The question oil good roads will be
foremost in the legislature which will
convene in 1925. 1t will first have to
decide whether road building is to
continue, then whether the state or
the counties shall do the work,
whether the state shall stand the
expense alone or join with the led
eral government. Another question
will be whether road funds shall be |
raised by property tax, a gasoline
tax or some other measure.
Vocational Education.
Another case of matching dollars
with Uncle Sam is that of vocational
education. Most of this state and
federal money goes back TO local
schools, some for night classes, SOME
for teaching trades, and some Tor re-
habiIitatiug criples so that they may
earn their living. Five years ago the
state Appropriation was $4,000; III
1921 it was $4,000.
Whereas nothing used to be spent
for social hygiene, which concerns
the stamping out of venereal diseases,
S1o,l40 was lut up to match the ted
eral appropriation.
In anticipation of the passage OF
the federal maternity bill, the state
has established, at an expense OF Slo,-
2lO, a bureau of child welfare and
hygiene. This was advocated by
many women voters and is designed
to meet another federal appropria-
ZION.
Health Bureau Expense.
Along somewhat similar lines IS
the increase of Sl4,455 in the health
bureau. This branch OF the govern
ment enforces the various laws to
protect the people against disease,
going into communities where conta..
sion is spreading to aid the local
physicians. 1t passes on matters OF
sanitation and superylses the con-
struction OF waterworks and sewage
systems. .,
Vital statistics are registered here,
and testing laboratory maintained
Various boards aud commissions
that have been combined i'll the De-
partment of Agriculture were re-
ceiving Sl4l.440 of the peoples
money in 1917. Last year S275,0oo
Was SSPCldru III tiiio Noy
There are those who defend the
work of preventing bovine tubercu-
losis as measure protecting public
health. At all events, farmers, live
stock merchants, packers and federal
government have encouraged the
service. Five years ago this did not
exist: last year it cost the taxpayers
of Nebraska s142, 500. Similar con-
ditions surround the 1921 appropria-
tons Of $500 for the prevention
of hog cholera. Some will regard
this as subsidy for the farmers.
Others point out that by preventing
4 possible shortage of hogs from
disease the price of meat is held
down.
Labor Expense Doubled.
Since 1917 appropriations tor the
Labor department have been dou-
bled, amounting last year to S2z95a.
This office has charge OF workmen
compensation insurance and tor the
first time the proper execution OF
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