The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-04-04
ORGANIZATION
OF TAXPAYERS
is PROPOSED
A. l.. Martin of Sentinel Butte.
in. Statement, Proposes
Statewide Effort
WOULDWATCHE EXPENSES
lays People Ought to See
That Candidates Will Pledge
For Tax Reduction

Formation of local associations
fM the purpose of studying tax pro-
blems and watching expenditures is
urged by A. L. Martin of Sentinel
Butte, president of the State Tax
Payers Association in statement
today. Mr.. Martin urges that the
voters at the June primaries, care
fully scrutinize candidates and see
that they will give the reduction in
expenditures and taxes sought.
Mr., Martins statement follows:
The proposed tax reduction bill,
known as the Gunderson Bill. failed
of securing the necessary signatures
y place it on the June primary bal
rot, by few less than one thousand
names. The death of Senator Gun
derson, who as president of the as
sociation had the measure in hand,
left the association to some extent
disoTganized and the time was en-
tirely too short to pick up the
threads and get. the bill before the
people. In fact the petitions were
in circulation Just twelve days be-
fore the limit for filing expired. The
measure received splendid support
and ut this time many more sigma
lures than required have been re-
ceived. With the failure to initiate
lfts measure the activities OF this
.;,t, ..,x Inf at
tirely too many people of our state
realize. as they never have before,
that some organized effort must be
made to place the tax burdens of our
people at Il point within their means
to pay.
"Whether IN effort will be made to
imitiate this or Il similar bill to be
ted on by our people at the gener-
al election in November has not Eeen
decided upon. 1t is the purpose of
the association to organize local
units in every county of the state
and for this purpose permanent
secretary will be employed who is
familiar with matters of taxation
and will give his entire time to the
work. Our people demand reduction
of taxes, through economy in the
conduct of the affairs of our politi-
cal sub divisions and an awakening of
officials charged with the duty of
making tax levics. There is such a
thing as being obliged to curtall on
some of the less essential activities
of the departments OF our govern
ment. We must learn to cut our
garments according to the cloth we
have. The individuals and business
institutions have had this to do and
] can see no reason why this might
not become necessary in our public
expenditures. Let's do it before it
is eternally too late. With the local
association in each county of our
state working with the taxing board,
there is no question to my mind that
millions of dollars can be cut from
our tax levics and no harm done. Our
hople are demanding this and the
time has come when officers charged
with the duty of levying and ex-
pending of the tax money paid by
the people, must take notice. | find
a great deal of waste is to be found
in the miscellaneous expenses Of cur
taxing district. A careful checking
of these items would simply astound
sne. In many instances these Gem
paratively small items come from
purchases made or services paid
which are not really authorized by
the controlling board but contracted
by clerk or auditor. / find this
most prominent in our schools where
the president of the school, who is
really salaried man, is allowed to
make these purchases and the board
o. KS and pays the bill later. Many
of these are easy prey for high pres
sure statesmen. The easements and
mAtics of our school building are full
of trash bought in this way. All OF
this our tax payers have to pay for
The State tax payers association
shall urge, before the next legisla-
ture of our state, laws placing every
taxing district on the strictcst bud
get system.
SIN the coming June primaries the
names of candidates will be piacet
before the voters of our state fol
state and county offices. These
names should ne scrutinized with the
:1eatest of care by our people ant
only those pledged to an adminlstra
ton of strict economy, be- favored
with their vote. believe in man!
instances that definite promise o!
reduction in expenditures shoult
he asked of candidates. We have
been dealing in generalities only t.
see our tax burdens grow. Something
more definite should be required.
Fax Restriction Laws
~ number of very excellent law
relating to taxation and financinl
Of our taxing districts were 'passet
by the last legislature and became
the laws Of our state. These were
urged by the tax payers association
/ have in mind the measure PLACING
taxing districts on a cash. basis.
believe that thousands of dollar
were saved the taxpayers over gu
state through the operation of thi
law. One little instance. The small
school district at Fryburg where
bank in which 4 am interested
bought it's certificates of indebted