Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-22

confront the community" says the
Fort Benton FLYER Press, land the in
lection of partisan or class differences
into the affairs of the organizations
will wreck their capacity for useful.
ness. II the members of taxpayers
leagues will rigidly exclude all personal
and political pickering from their de-
.liberations and working program, and
apply their united effort toward re-
the public business. there is reason for
the confident belief that they can ac-
complish the purpose of their organiza-
ton !. 1t is comparatively easy
to criticize and condemn existing con
ditions, but it will require real work
and the exercise of good business judg-
ment and ability to devise government
oil methods that will give satisfactory
public services ut less cost than the
sy stem that now prevails
That county politicians have already
secured control of the Hill county tax
payers league is the belief Of the
Hinqham American, which says: "Ihe
tag of the old Havre gang is being
taxpayers league. The taxpayers
league as a political and economic
movement is dead horse SO far as
the county is concerned. The execu-
tive committee-a handful of Havre
business men--will regret the stand
taken on the county agent matter.
This editorial evidently was written
because the editor of The American
believed mistake had been made in
discharging the county farm agent to
save expense.
The Muscular approves of taxpay-
ers' leagues and their efforts to re-
duce taxation because a high tax rate
will keep many thousands OF people
from coming to this state for resi-
dence." However, Ths Muscular
cautions: mo community ever grew
by giving all its thought toward saving
the money Of its taxpayers; Inns !Ihs
same newspaper points out that tine
heavy tax delinquency in Montana. as
in Oregon and other northwestern
states, is due to the money losses IN
livestock, and to the appalling slump
in agricultural values. Delinquent tax
certificates in many counties will not
sell at any price, as the property IS
not regarded as worth paying high
taxes on year after year. 1t is, there
fore. patent that every reasonable
method looking toward tax reduction
should be encouraged; every practlcai
means of economy should be employed;
there should be the fullest lnveshga-
ton of all sources of expenditure
Everything pertaining to taxation should
be threshed out, and it is only through
taxpayers gatherings that agitation
may be started in the right direction
While a taxpayers league cannot act
with authority, the Stevensville North
west Tribune believes it will be a
source of aid" and continues: 1T
would be body to which officials
might appeal for advice. 1t would en-
able them to solve problems which are
perplexing and difficult and which of
ten. though handled in the most judi
cious manner, bring criticism and con-
demnation. This criticism, to be sure,
Is not always just or deserving. 1t Is
often xiyen by people who do not know.
They see what has happened and they
make howl If the facts were brought
out, as could always be done by tax
payers organization, then there would
be no guess-work. We would know
what to complain Of, where to place
the blame
The Shelby Promoter urges the or
ganization Of taxpayers league IN
Toole county-"one that win operate
to be of help to all officials, commend
| ing efficient and economical admins
tration of affairs, at the same time in
yestigating every expenditure and of
| fering suggestions for economical ad-
ministration where possible