Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-12-28
NEsTos ASKS ECONOMY

SSA0o A<cSSShD W v8lAUU6 OOunty Aus
ditors Requesting Meetings of
Officials to Plan Economy Pro-
gram
Herewith the Record reprints the
letter received by Co. Auditor Brant
from Gov. Nestos requesting a meet
ing of newly-elected officials to plan
an economy program for the coming
year. The brunt Of this effort must
fall upon the board Of county commis-
sioners, as they have to do with maxi
ing the levies and expending the funds.
While there are many fixed expendi-
lures that must be made, it is possible
to cut down disbursements a great
deal in this county. The county dads,
when they organize in January, should
set out to slash the bridge and road
expenditures to the end that the levy
can be cut down in July. The $1,000
for engineer, assistants and mileage
can come of. An annual saving Of
$25,000 to $4,000 can be made on
these three items alone. There is abb
solutely no sense in having county
engineer eating his head of all
through these winter months. Less
expensive bridges, and care in making
improvements will give US just about
as much road-building and up-keep as
heretofore with material saving.
1t would also be good idea to keep
the public informed as to the amount
of county aid being given to individu-
ais, as we'll as. the amount paid for
deputies, etc. The old plan Of buying
the winters coal by contract instead
of by the load should make the cost
less. Let it be understood that this
is not "trying to dictate to the COM
missioners," but simply mentioning in
a general way some of the things the
taxpayers want. The Record pro-
poses to keep after this matter Of
economy throughout the coming year,
without regard to the political effect
it may have on our own fortunes.
We believe that newspaper commen-
dation is due where public officials
are honestly and intelligently working
for the public welfare, and we likewise
thoroughly believe in little timely
criticism where officials become ar1o-
CANT, or olt Of touch with the inter-
ests Of the taxpayers.
Following is the letter from Gov.
Nestos to the various county auditors:
About q year ago I wrote you and
asked your aid in securing the CO.
operation Of your county officials,
and the officials Of your cities, viii
lagos, townships and the school and
road districts in a general campaign
Of economy and retrenchment, in orr
der that BY our united efforts we
might be able, before long, to reduce
the tax burden now weighing so
heavily upon the people Of our state.
"At this time / want to thank you
for the corporation given by you
and to express through you my ap-
probation to all the other officials
Of your county and the various po-
litical subdivisions of the county for
their helpful attitude and for what
by their aid, we have succeeded in
doing even in this short time.
II realize that some Of the county
officials, who co-operated with us dur
ing the past year, were not candidates
for reelection this fall, and that many
changes will also be made in the va
rious city, village, township and
school election during the coming
spring, and that therefore it is most
essential that the new officials for
1928 should also be impressed with the
Importance Of scrutdnizing all expen-
ditures with great care. and to reduce
the levy wherever possible 90 that by
the united effort Of the state and the
political subdivisions, we may be able
during the next two years materially
TO tighten the tax burden. n.
~ sincerely hope that You will call
all your county officials together for
. conference as to what can and
should be done in both your county
and in the; various subdivisions Of
your county during the coming year,
to insure that in each case wise econ-