The Bismarck tribune., 1924-02-18
GUNDERS0N'S
TAX WORK TO
BE CARRIED ON
Vice-President Martin of State
Association Says Plans
Go Forward
HOLDS IT IS A DUTY
Tribute Paid to the Work of
Mr.. GundersOn by Vice
President of Association

The work Of the North Dakota
1axpaycrs' association started by J
Il Gundcrson of Aneta, who died re-.
emily will be continued, it is an
nounccd by A. l. Martin. vice prcsi-
dent Of the association and president
of the Interstate bank Of Billings
county.
In a statement issued in Sentinel
Butte, both as a tribute to Mr.. Gun /
icrson and as an announcement of
futurc plans, Mr.. l"arCn says:
John Gunderson is gone but his +,
rood deeds shall live after him. He
ave literally of his time, his re-
.ources for the good of the people /
i our state. The world is better |
or his having lived in it. The |
ritter had the pleasure Of serving, I
during two sessions of our legisla-
;crc, as colleague of Senator Gun
eerson and never knew him to vary |
rom the channels OF sound thought |
and judgment in Legislative matters. |
IL had the courage of his convic-
ions. As president of the State Tax |
payers association, realizing, as he !
lid, the condition our property own
srs found themselves in, it was he !
who took the cudgcI in hand and !
ought for reduction in taxes, both |
state and local. Through his efforts |
much has been accomplished but his |
untimely passing has left much to be |
done. The work has only started.
las vice president of the State |
Taxpayers association | shall see to !
it that the organization is perfected |
and campaign Of education and in !
,truction in tax matters vigorously |
pursued and lntelligently brought to |
the attention of our tax payers. |
Taxes are too high from every angle |
and have destroyed the value of our
producing property. Investigation |
shows that the local taxing districts
are TO blame for greater portion of |,
this but state and national taxes !
should be given attention. Petitions |
are in circulation at this time to !
place upon the ballot in June, for the
consideration of our voters, Il bill, |
which will ne known as the Good |
Roads Plan. The writer has not had |
time or opportunity to study all the |
provisions of the proposed initiated J
law. Our tax payers should study |
it with the greatest of care and
believe they will find that it pro
poses the expenditure of money in
such volume that we are unable to !
meet it. Is 1T not possible that a
mortorium on road development for
a period of from three to five years !
would not be wise act on the part |
Of our citizens? Good roads are fine !
and enjoyed by everyone but we
must recognize our limitations.
School Maintenance.
''In the matter Of our school main |
tenance and development, every time !
anything is said about reduction OF
school expenditures our educators
throw up their hands in holy horror
and start to tell us how it cannot
be done. They tell us that teachers
salaries are still up to war time lev
els sbut must not be cut. They tell
us that such special courses as Man
ual Training, Domestic Economy,
Commercial Work and Laboratory
Sciences are essential parts of our
school curriculum and cannot be
eliminated. They tell us many other
things which l believe are not within
the province of the salaried superin-
tcndent or professor to impose upon
the tax paying public l believe it
prerOgative of the man who pays the
bll to say how far he can or he can
not go in the pursuance Of these and
other special courses to be included
in the curriculum of our public
schools. 1t may be that his financial
resources were such that for time
at least some of these should be
dropped and more emphasis placed
upon the fundamentals of an educa-
ton which does not necessarily en-
brace these special courses. Certain
~ not one seeks to tear down our
educational structure but if it were
made more responsive to the wishes
and ability Of the property owner to
pay, | believe a great saving can be
made in this item.
Il note that the city Of Duluth has
an active tax payers league, also the
realtors OF the city of Minneapolis
arc considering the organization of
such league. 1t would seem un-
necessary that such an organization
should be had but the question of
taxation has become so serious and so
complex that the tax payers are
cropping in the dark never knowing
where to place the blame or having
any ideas of remedy. They simply
resign themselves to their fate and
say.it can't be helped. This is not
true. An active organization con-
Quoted along the lines of educa-
ton in these matters and kept free
from political influence, can do a
great deal Of good. This is matter
that every tax payer should take an
interest in and avail himself Of every
opportunity to study the question of
taxation.
He's Seen Too Much Already!
''They have machines now that can
tell when q man is lying. Ever seen