Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-02-02
FINDING THE LEAK

FASDASo al ADhh
Notwithstanding the rather childish charge that the Mon,
tana Taxpayers' League is composed largely IN Is. leadership VI
disgrunted and undesirable politicians, there is evidence tnat ne
ASSOCIATION mas started out IN z m us raSn IN !" @ order to Get a line
on the proper method of curtaIing some of the useless expendi,
ture II is reasonable to assume that it is first necessary to find
out what the money has been spent for in order to pick out the
place to begin the economies that every taxpayer Is convinced
has become necessary if industry and business is TO survive IN
Montana.
One diagram made public by the researches of the state asso-
citation is most Illuminating to the average taxpayer, showing
as it does the distribution of the dollar paid IN Montana taxes.
By the diagram we are informed that out of every dollar paid in
taxes, az cents goes to the public schools, 80 cents to the county
IL cents for municipal purposes and 8 cents TO the state treasury
That AZ cents to the schools looks good to the most of us. i is
evidence that we stand high IN educationai YORK anu are eau y
back our pride in our schools with liberal support. Ihere is also
evidence that our per capita cost of education is just twice as
much as 1T was eight years ago " { a. NC ~ ~
seems that here is an opportunity to start something in the way
ment shall begin, for we realize some OF the difficulties officials
with the best of intentions run up against when the attempt 10
cut down what looks to them to be rather useless expenditures.
1t was only recently that our board of county commissioners con-
Guided to abolish a certain bureau of county activity that was OF
very doubtful benefit. Petitions representing a very small percent
age of real taxpayers, backed by a personal appearance u mter-
ested parties before the board. resulted In a resembling OF the or
der and the bureau is retained and supported by the county funds
supplied by taxpayers, of whom by far the greater part VIII de-
rive not the slightest benefit from the retention of this bureau.
The trouble seems to lie in the fact that a certain standard
of public service has been created, and in reality is demanded
Further, through rivalry of communities and forces u emulatlon'
this standard is being constantly raised to higher elevations.
Public officials are constantly confronted with the problem OF
cutting down expenses and still retaining the standard Oh service
in their several activities and generally finding out that IL can
not be done. 1t follows that the only solution that promises re
lief to the taxpayer is a sacrifice of standards.
While the biggest slice of the taxpayers dollar goes to the
schools ana therefore SHOWS up WIN RATHER IdTluiB lOtCc, VIC
general attitude of the public toward the cause of education pre-
cludes a vigorous assault against the standards in force. The
next largest part of the dollar goes for county government and
the attack of the taxpayers associations will likely center upon
this as the most promising for results. The various counties, our
own not excluded. contribute largely to the support of various
bureaus whose efficiency and value are exceedingly hard to de
termine, but the adjustment of which would undoubtedly raise
a veritable hurricane of protest.
We note that the average duration of life in the United
States, according to statistics, has been increased ten years during
the last half century, for which result the federal board of health
promptly and modestly takes the full credit to itself, apparently
forgetting that its functions have been of comparatively short
duration and also that possibly the widespread knowledge of hy-
giene disseminated through magazines and newspaper articles
by millions had some influence in the matter The numerous
field workers under salaries that are paid from public funds are
probably sincere in believing that they are doing grand work
among the dwelers of the agricultural districts, but there is quite
a large possibility that they are simply duplicating the theories
fully explained in the excellent agricultural journals found In
practically every farm home in the land.
In fact it appears to us that a preponderance of instructors
in the public service, all good in their way, but from our view
point duplicating work performed by sefsupportng agencies.
They, of course, claim that the personal contact" is the most eff
fective and it is possible, but not probable, that they are right.
At least all will admit that the personal contact" is a most ex-
pensive method and the actual value left in doubt.
Another thing that looms up in this tax problem is the fact
that as the taxes become more burdensome, the value of taxable
property is declining and will continue to decline until the con-
fiscation point is reached. 1t appears to us to have already ar
rived at the place where the attack on extravaganza should be
made with the sole end in view of reducing the public expense re-
CARELESS of class or private interests. The problem is an admit
teddy difficult one, and one that will require courage of a high
order to solve.
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