White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-02-02
where ARE We GOING
TO REDUCE the TAXES?

Material reduction i'm the cost
of state government with the
hope for reduction in the tax rate
will be impossible of accomplish
ment ut this session of the Legis-
lature, observers at Olympia are
now saying.
The Legislators, individually.
are for a general slashing of ap.
preparations all down the line.
remembering their campaign
pledges and the temper of their
constituents. But-drastic cuts
in school costs, for instance, are
merely mentioned when there
comes a loud cry: Glands off the
schools" Mention of reducing,
the amounts to be appropriated
for building and maintaining
roads and bridges causes loud
shouts of protest from many
other quarters. Faced with the
demand that they reduce taxes
by reducing expenses, and also
faced with violence if they begin
slashing appropriations, the
Legislators are bewildered.
Because the people will not
stand for cnrtailment of govern
mental activities, or interference
with their roads and schools, leg.
islative leadersipoint out, tax re.
ductiOn through cost reduction is
hopeless of accomplishment. If
property is to be relieved of it's
disastrous overload of taxation.
then, impartial observers declare
that wealth that is now escaping
taxation must be forced to bear
a portion Of the load.
This state of mind of the Legis,
lature is daily lending strength
to the 40 mill limit-income tax
program, recently embodied in
House Bill 20, now in the hands
OF the House committee on rev.
enue and taxation. The interest
in the bill is shown by the fact
that the state printer had to run
off an additional 500 copies of the
for distribution to in
dividuals and organizations all
over the state. State Master A. s.
Goss Of the Washington State
Grange has requested each of his
more than 300 units to endorse
the income tax. measure, and
notify their LEGISLATORS or that
action. Judge George Turner of
former U. S. Senator,
created more than mild sensa
lion last week when he told the
House taxation committee that if
something was not done in this
session Of the lawmakers to cor
rect the tax situation in Wash
ington, the state would eXper
fence a political upheaval, and
that he favored the 40 mill prop
erty tax limitation and the in
come tax.
The tax limit-income tax bill
will be favorably reported by the
House taxation committee, it is
freely predicted, and the House
will act upon it within the next
week, when the most interesting
developments of this legislative
session will take place. Propon-
nnts of the bill are confident OF
it's passage by the House, while
enemies of the measure, contend
ing for continuance of the pres
ent system Of property taxation,
only hope for it's defeat in the
Senate.
Mrs. Margaret Herring has re.
5 'yned as teacher of the 7th and
9th grades and as principal OF the
White Bluffs grade school and the
board has elected Miss Eula Thorn
ton of Cheney to teach the 7th and
9th grades for the remainder OF the
school year. Miss Thornton is ex-
pected to arrive Saturday and to
take charge Monday. The board
says that she is graduate of Che
ney Normal, has a life certificate
and has had 10 years teaching ex-
perience and that the Normal rec
ommends her as an exceptionally
efficient class room teacher. Miss
Vida Scudder, who is teaching the
9Th and 9th grades. has been elect
ed by the board as principal of the
grade school for the balance of the
school year.
w. S. Angle and daughter,
Sadie, made a trip to Yakima
afternoon, returning