The Princeton union., 1922-10-12

Montevideo, Minn-''Tax reduction"
will be the battle cry of the republi.
can party in the Minnesota campaign
Governor J. A. o. Preus, in his key.
note speech here, called attention to
the fact that last year and this year
for the first time in Minnesota's his
tory, the people have been relieved
of direct tax for maintaining the
state government, but said that such
action is only the beginning of state
wide program for general tax reduc
ton.
Due to the public's demand for bet
ter roads, schools, public buildings
and "better everything" the governor
stated, "tax rates have almost reached
the breaking point" He called for a
united program of economy extending
from the school district, township
village, town, and city to the state
government itself.
Governor Preus said in part:
Last year, for the first time in the
history OF the State OF Minnesota, the
people were relieved Of direct tax
upon them for maintaining the govern.
ment of the state, including all activi
ties under the state officials elected
by you, as we'll as all appointive Off.
GERS named by the governor.
"The entire cost of state govern
nent and state institutions was
paid for out Of taxes collected
from corporations such as the
gross earnings tax on railroads
and other public service corpora
tions and departmental fees.
"This year, for the second time
in the history OF the state, the peo-
pie will pay no direct tax for the
maintenance of the state govern
ment, and this is largely due to
the fact that the occupation tax
upon the business of mining iron
ore was placed upon the statute
books"
Mr.. Preus stated that this achieve.
ment was in line with the republican
state platform, which pledges the
party to "the greatest retrenchment
possible in state expenditures.
So important does he consider the
need for lower taxes. Governor Preus
added, that he decided to confine his
opening speech to this topic alone
leaving other subjects to future ad
dresses.
Causes of advanced taxes in recent
years were outlined by the governor
as follows:
High price Of labor and commo-
dties.
Expansion Of governmental func-
tions.
Public demand for better public
service, better educational faciIi-
ties, better public buildings, better
health and sanitation regulations,
better roads, "better everything."
Salaries represent very small
percentage of the total public ex.
penses," the governor said. If they
were entirely wiped out the reduction
in taxes would be so small as to be
scarcely noticeable. OF the total gen.
eral property taxes levied in 1921,
amounting to $108,019,763, only $685.
45l was levied for purely state pur-
poses, and Of the latter amount ST.
s34,S32 was levied for soldiers bonuses.
Education Costs Advance.
The governor pointed out tax levies
for educational purposes in Minnesota
in 1921 amounted to $42,56s,23S, rep.
resenting nearly 3911 cents of each
dollar paid or to be paid in taxes this
year. In 1911, he said, the cost per
pupil was $2772, and in 1921, $s2.26.
"Much may be said in Justification
of increased educational COSTS" he
added THE days Of the little red
school house, have gone, just as the
days of the OK cart and the sickle
Under the improved living conditions
OF today the unsanitary school build.
ing of a generation ago, would not be
tolerated now. Improved school build
ings which we now demand and en-.
Joy are a considerable factor in the
growth Of school taxes.
Another factor in growing school
costs is the increase in the salaries
of teachers. A cheap teacher is a
poor investment, just as cheap man
on the farm or in the factory is almost
sure to be an expensive one in the
end
ECONOMY in school expenditures
should be rigidly applied if growing
school costs are to be halted. Let us
have good school buildings with up.
to-date equipment, and let us pay sal
aries that are sufficiently high to at
tract and retain competent t@ncher&
BUT IF WE ARE mi JLG!NG r,