Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-16
u. S. Manufacturers
lContinued from Pane Qnel

try will always favor every aid for
the disabled but will just as stoutly
oppose the sweeping unreasonable
bonus for all: the railroads, dccry-
ing any attempt that may be made to
place them under unhusiness like
government ownership; immigration,
reiterating the policy of the asso-
citation which believes in a wider
application of the seleCtive system;
law and order. declaring the efforts
of misinformed groups to develop
disrespect for our institutions, make
it incumbent upon every real Amer
lean to give his strongest support to
constituted law.
The matter of perhaps the largest
concern to most citizens today and
the most potent factor in the eco
monte life Of the nation is the tax
alton question: said Mr.. Edgerton.
Takes seem to have ceased to be
the mere means by which govern
ment is enabled to perform its order
ly and legitimate functions and to
have become the chief end Of all
government activity. On the other
hand it has come to pass in these
days Of much acting and little think
ing that the public treasury is re-
our population as Natures perennial
spring in the Desert of Life from
which weary travellers may quench
their thirst without ever affecting the
source of supply.
Reflect for n moment upon the
recent disclosure of the National
Budget Committee. According to its
careful estimates based upon federal
statistics, the total annual cost of
government in these United States
national, state, county and municipal
is eight and one-half billions of dol
lars, which is approximately II per
cent of our national income. More
than two million persons, or five per
cent of our adult population. are on
the public payrols. on the basis Of
five persons to the family, the cost
of government is about S400 per fam
lily per year. Subtracting the paup-
crs. non producers. criminals, and
those otherwise exempt from taxa
ton. the burden upon the elements Of
thrift and honesty is not only dis
raging to individual initiative,
enterprise, and thrift. but a serious
menace to the moral fibre of the ma
ton.
when It is considered that this
primary cost of living in a free coun-
try is growing prOportionately larger
than our national income as leEiSla-
tive bodies become more reckless in
their appropriations to satisfy poll
teal passions for graft and advan-
tage on the inside and the insatiate
appetites Of multiplying clamorers
for gratuities, adjusted compensa-
tons. privileges, and exemptions on
tho n,,fc side tho cnOcl,,cion mos
capable that our Ship of State is
headed towards the reefs of economic
disaster. Study of the proceedings of
having to do with the problem, and
you will discover that in most in
stances the chief consideration is
not with the causes of taxation and
how to reduce them sanely, but with
methods of taxation and how to OBJ
tain the largest revenues easiest,
quickest, and with least offense to
the sources Of greatest political pow
Err
"As long as the attention Of the
public can be kept away from the
mounting totals by the legislative
legerdemain of shifting the burden
about from the shoulders of one
group to those of another so as to in
terrupt continued soreness and keep
the forces of protest divided by al
ternating vacations of partial relief,
we can expect to make no progress
towards a permanent cure of our
taxation ills.
Until government in America is
forced back by public sentiment into
constitutional channels, ceasing its
exercise Of alien functions in the