The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1922-10-19

years we're outlined by the governor
as follows:
High price Of labor and commo-
dities.
Expansion Of governmental fune-
tions.
Public demand for better public
service, better educational facill-
ties, better public buildings, better
health and sanitation regulations,
better roads, "better everything"
Salaries represent a 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- $10s lois, 1853, only $685.
451 was levied for purely state pur-
poses, and of the latter amount 49,
634,S32 was levied for soldiers bonuses.
Education Costs Advance.
The governor pointed out tax levies
for educational purposes in Minnesota
in 1921 amounted to $42,569,23S, rep
resenting nearly 1914 cents of each
dollar paid or to be paid in taxes this
year. In 1911, he said, the cost per
pupil was $27.72, and in 1921, 1926.
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 a 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 teachers,
BUT IF WE. ARE INDUCING IN
ANY FADs OR FRILLs OF DOUBT.
Full UTILITY, let us eliminate them.
and thus tighten the burden OF the
taxpayer. = 5s2 -. --
Growth, Ii Road Taxes.
"In percentage Of increase in
amount of taxes, the ,levies for roads
and bridges lead all others, the, Id.
crease being 1,sls pei cent Id the last
- in 1s~i iISasi, lid .utail. is4iss ,or roads
amounted 70 1s1,040,s65, OF nearly
1914 psr cent 81 I'LL dirsot taxes isyisd
in that year. Tp This atiohht should
be added 15,s1S,11S, fspfsssntins
taxes On motor vehicles -, -. -, -,
"While the economic value 81 good
highways ~ conceded, their construe-
ton should not b pushed too rapidly,
lest the burden o. the taxpayer be.
come 10 great that Il viii rstard DC.
velopment along other lines.
County Taxes az Up.
"The increase in county taxes, ex.
elusive Of road and bridge levies, has
been quite large, though smaller than
for education or roads. - -
"City, village, and township taxes
also have grown. Factors entering
into the increase in cities and villages
are the extension of water and sewage
systems, better paved and better
lighted streets, the improvement OF
parks and Fairgrounds and better ltv.
ing conditions generally. .-..-
"Inasmuch as the amount Of town.
ship taxes to be raised In any year
is determined at the annual. town
meeting, the burden Of town taxes Is
under the direct control Of the people
who pay them. II the burden is heavy
the people themselves are responsible
for It.. ....@e>. - !. <~,.,.,ss,~a~ .~->s..--
3 I'LL : Farmer 10 Hardest Hit. '
s 1.-THE growth In the tar hnrdA" Soon