The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-10-12
Shows State Administration Has
= Taken Lead-CaIls On Coun"
s.t ties and Townships to
s = Cut Expenses.

~
Sssssssssss's'
GOVERNOR J. A. o. PREue.a~
:, Nontevidso. Ninn.-Taz reduction
viii bs the hattls cry Of the reDubli
can party IN TIE Nipuesots campaign
Governor ia 0.Prsus, n his key
nots speech here, called attention Il
the fact that last year and this year
for the first time In kinnssota's his
tory, the people have been, relieved
Of i direct tax for maintaining the
state government, but said that such
action 10 only the beginnins Of state
wide program for general tax redue
tion. ~ r, >>@'
4 Due to tho 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 q
united program Of economy extending
from the school district, township
Village, town, and city to the stats
government itself.
Governor Preus said In part:
:-,"Last year, for tho first time in the
history OF the State OF Minnesota, the
people were relieved Of . direct tai
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 ON.
GERS named by the governor.
$. "The entire cost Of state govern
ment and state Institutions was
paid for out. Of taxes collected
from corporations SUCH az 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- .
.ple will pay no direct tax for the
maintenance Of the state govern.
ment, and this 10 largely due to !
the fact that the occupation tax
upon the business Of mining IRON
orc was placed upon the statute
books" 'I
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 tho
need for lower taxes. Governor Pfeus
added, that he decided to confnS his
opening speech to this topic ilone,
leaving other subjects to future I'D.
dresses. !
Causes of advanced taxes in recent
years were outlined by the governor
as follows:
High price Of labor and eommo-
-; !dltles. g.. -.
Expansion Of governmental tune-
tiens. ,5H:
Public demand for better public i
service, better educational jifaciIi-a
ties, better public buildings, better
health and sanitation regulations,
better roads, "betterf everythins."
Salaries represent a very small
percentage Of the total, public e1.
penses," the governor said II they
were entirely wiped out the deduction
in taxes would be so small as to be
scarcely noticeable. OF the total gen.
eral property taxes levied lin 1891,
amounting to $10S,01s, 7s3, odly $685..
Isl was levied for purely state pur-
poses, and of the latter amount S..
ss4.ssl was levied for soldiers' bonuses.
~ Education Costs Advance.
: The governor pointed out tax levies
for educational purposes in Minnesota
in 1921; amounted to $42.569,238, rep
'ressnting nearly 39h cents Of each
dollar paid or to be paid in taxes this
year.: In 1911. he said. the cost per
pupil was $27.73, and in 1921, .$S2.2e.,
= Much may be said in justification
Of increased educational costs, ;" he
added 1.-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 = generation ago. would not be
tolerated now. Improved school build
'ings which we:now demandl 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 q cheap man
on the farm or in the factory is almost
sure to be an expensive one in the
end. s3.r-
Economy IN school expenditures
should be rigidly applied II growing
school costs are to be halted. Let ,ls
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 teachers,
BUT IF WE ARE INDUCING IN
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