The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1925-10-01
Letters From the People
Where Saving is Crime

ton, wouldn't at all enjoy speaking
of tax increase-nor does he even
enjoy speaking against fractional
reduction.
But there are places where saving
| is a crime
| 1t is crime to send ship out on
| "just one more voyage when her
boilers are in need of repairs, but
might last" another trip.
1t is criminal to refuse to repair or
build a new water system where the
health and prosperity of the COM
munity are gambled against a tenn
porary Saving" in expense.
1t is criminal for city council to
refuse to provide an adequate fire
department for the protection of life
and property, because the same would
increase the taxes.
And so on / might detail any num-
Der of cases where it would be GRIM
inal to fail to provide public neces-
money.
No less is it crime, after more
than century of fruitful experience,
to let any portion of the National
Guard of the United States go to
rack and ruin on the ground of econ
omy.
| Congress has reduced the national
defense to degree Of impotence un-
paralleled in American history. The
American National Guard today is
the front line of the nations defense.
The action of the state board of
equalization in reducing the state tax
levy is most commendable. But dam
gerous to the point of actual calamity
is its action in reducing that part
of the lew going to the support of
the state National Guard from two
tenths to one-tenth of mill.
1t has been the policy in years past
and is now the policy of the officers
in charge of the military affairs of
the state of Washington, particularly
Adjutant General Thompson, to make
the National Guard function at a
minimum cost, but if the present cut
in the tax levy made by the state
tax commissioner is in any manner
trimmed OF cut by the legislature,
the National Guard of the state of
! Washington will be unable to func-
ton in anything like practical man.
ner in which the people of the state
intended and expected it to function.
| / venture to say that there is not
man or an officer in the National
Guard who is making any consider
able money for the service that he
renders to his state and government,
but nevertheless each of those men
must be compensated in some man
ner for his services, material and
equipment for administrative func-
ton must be furnished, and the Ma
tional Guard cannot exist on mere
patriotism alone, by those who are
| in the service. Those, who are unable
or unwilling to give of their time to
their government by actually belong
| ing to the National Guard, can we'll
afford to give small portion of
their money that the National Guard
may exist. In time of peace | believe
there is no doubt but that National
Guard unit inadequately provided
with its necessities, might better be
disbanded rather than try to exist
crippled by the lack of necessary ia
cilities.
Should any great conflagration
start in any city of Washington, what
would we do?
When we get into another row with
Mexico, what will happen?
When war comes, what then!
When the crowds must be kept
back from scene of disaster, such
as that at Wenatchee, what is the
first word?
When Santa Barbara falls in ruin,
who is called?
When organized riot or insurrec-
ton rears its ugly head at Concrete,
what does the sheriff telegraph the
| governor of the state?
"Call the National Guard"
"Our reliant super-police;" "Our
last resort when the ordinary mode of
living breaks down in front of catas-
trophe,'' "Our ultimate protection"
Here indeed would Saving be a
monumental example Of criminal
economy, and every thinking citizen
of this state must demand that pro-
lection at the hands of the legisla-
ture, in other words, we must inn
press all who represent US at Olym-
pia that where we want our saving
in taxes is in places where extrav-
agance and waste exist, and not in
those things which are fundamental
and necessary for our existence as
| great commonwealth and state.
I say these things for the benefit
of those who may not know the con-
dition as it exists, and with the hope
that those who have in mind the in
terests of our state will take heed and
insist that our legislature cut the
frills and leave the necessities alone.
Very truly yours,
DnCT