Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-01
ACCEPTING PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY.

The decision of the city commission to take
over and be responsible for the work of the visiting
nurse is in. line with enlightened practice, and with
the progressive development of recognition by the
community Of it's duties. Heretofore the work of
the visiting nurse has. been directed by the Public
Welfare association, and the funds required for the
maintenance of the work have been provided
through that agency. lnasrnuch as the Welfare as
ISOLATION has been financed in part by the city gov
eminent, the financial responsibility for the work of
the nurse rested in part on the taxpayers through
their official representatives. The city now takes
over the work in its entirety, and the funds for it
are to be a regular part of the city budget.
In the history of almost every form of public
work there is to be noted a similar development.
We have a conspicuous illustration of this in the
case of educational work. Fortunately government
concerned itself only slightly with this work. At
various times in the past progressive governments
have granted subsidies and established foundations
for many forms of educational work, but it is only
in recent times that the education of all children has
been recognized as an imperative obligation on the
1t is not so very long since common school cd
ucation was regarded as purely a private matter.
Children were taught in private schools provided
their parents were able to pay for the service. What
they were taught, and how, were matters for priv
ate decision. Many of the church organizations
took upon themselves the maintenance of schools
in which the children of the poor could be taught
with little or no cost to, their parents. To the early
colonists in Massachusetts, belongs the honor of be-
ing the first people to tax themselves voluntarily
for the maintenance of educational work in which
all should share. Today the obligation of the state
to provide the means for the education of all its
youth is accepted as commonplace.
A similar transition. has, taken place in many
other departments of public service. Work that has
been deemed necessary from the standpoint of the
common good has been undertaken first by private
agencies, and maintained by means Of funds con-
tributed by individuals. As the value of the work
has become recognized it has been extended; more
funds have beenjrequired; steps have been taken to
obtain these funds from a larger group3of people,
and ultimately the work has been recognized as dis
as a whole, and therefore properly to be maintained
by the public through the medium Of public tax
alton, and under the direct control of public officials
who are responsible 10 the community.
Sometimes in observing the manner in which
taxation increases we overlook this tendency in our
community life. Undoubtedly money is wasted in.
inefficient management, and public bodies are con-
stantly urged to spend money on enterprises of
doubtful value. But, after making all possible al
lowances for these tendencies, the fact still remains
that taxation tends to increase because there is con-
work which was formerly performed through priv
ate agencies, or which was not performed at all.
Doubtless taxes would be much lower if we had
public schools to support. But who would con-
slider depriying the youth Of the country of educa-
tional opportunities, or having those opportunities
depend on the contributions which public spirited
might make, while others, equally able,
evaded payment Of ttleir share Of the cost?
All Iowa newspaper notes 4 disposition 10
make The pubic pay tor the coal strike. So long as.
y $500 the door open to such sports, we must paw
Ifors thNe fun. -Minneapolis Journal.
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