The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-01-02

ly all created for the operation of
our state industrial program. On
these bonds we have paid $l,5S2 ,139.-
81 in interest for which we have tax
ed ourselves and this is just a start
er.
We are paying about $19,0O0,O00.0O
more in taxes each year now than
we paid up to 1915. This was alright
during the war period, but what: Of
it during these four years of de-
preston when the producers, our
farmers, have been forced down to
normal prices for their products and
paying war prices for all they buy
and taxes under war conditions?
Think of $4,000, 100000 extra tax
burden for these last four years.
1t is not only the paying of taxes
that has gotten away with us, but
it is also the bonding habit. We
have in this state a class of bonding
advocates, who are always ready to
bond the state and its political sub
divisions for every supposed flnan-
cial i'll and improvement scheme.
.
with political aspirations and graft
inclinations, who try to make the
people believe 81 did it and saved
the day"
What would our opinion have been
of the past generation in the state
if they had left us the tax and bond
burden We have contracted and what
will the future generations think of
us for the burdens we are passing
along to them?
When the situation is sized up can
4 there be any fault to find with tax
payers trying to organize and pr O.
tect themselves by protesting %and
demanding a reduction?
The Taxpayers Association is not
organized to close needed schools
nor other needed institutions, it is
organized to keep them open. Un-
der the present burden of taxation
we Will drive the taxpayers out OF
the country and close all our insti
tutions. We are trying to impress
on our, citizens, the necessity of gag
ing our public expenses according t.
the ability of the producers OF
wealth. principally our farmers, t,
pay. There seems to be no limit tt
the fads and ideas that are bein.
created. l just had information from
one of our largest cities in the STATE
that request was made of the schoo
board to furnish transportation TO
some of the children to and from tn
gymnasium where they go for prac
tice and exercise, and at that, in thi
fall and winter of this beautiful
weather The board granted the re
quest, can you beat it?
The Schools Will Not Be Closed
/, for one, have no fear of tn
schools being closed, as I believ
: there ara enough teachers with tn
good red American blood runnin
through their veins. who realize tn
situation and will not deprive thei
what they, in life, have had advantae
Of, by refusing to accept wage tn
taxpayer is able to pay. ! do nc
. believe they will say to the feilo
who is struggling out on the prairi
to save his home and the earning
> of life time, "If yo,r do not com
across to me 1 will not teach you
children so they may get an educ;
ton" This fellow has made the il
stitutions we have possible and ais
made it possible for them to acquil
the education they have. l do M
believe any leadership can Undue
whose struggles made opporturit
for them, in his time of.critical di.
tress and when his all is at stall,
and the best interest of the state
in jeopardy. Our businessmen, q
well, are suffering the same fate a
the farmer, many of them losin