The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-11
LOCAL TAXES
DWARF UNITED
STATES LEVIES
State and Local Rates Arc
Going Up While Govern
ment Makes Reductions
BY CHARLES y. STEWART
NEA Service Writer

Washington, July 1.-THE theory
Of taxation is that rates should be
high enough, but no higher than
necessary, to support an efficient
government; to pay interest on, and
gradually reduce, debts piled up by
preceding governments which failed
to live within their incomes; that
the burden should fall on the tax
payers in proportion to their means.
This is the theory Of all taxation,
from the federal governments down
to the pettiest townships.
But when it comes to the ques
tion Of tax collection methods, the
federal governments theory is. one
thing, and the theories of state,
county and city governments are
something else again"
/ The federal governments idea
is to sugarcoat its taxes all it can
to rely on indirection, particularly
the tariff, and stamp duties, which,
while they yield revenue, do it so
sUbtlv that the average taxpayer
doesn't know he's being taxed.
The income tax isn't like this,
Lord knows. It's an exception, how
ever-an emergency war tax.
Besides, it catches only a minority
At that, the federal governments
aware how unpopular II is.
Take note--it's the first federal
tax to be reduced.
State and lesser governments pre-
fer the strong-arm method.
Summoned into city and county
treasurer's offices, the taxpayer is
forced to hand spot cash through the
wicket, under threat Of dispossession
of his property-like highwayman's
victim surrendering his dough at the
point of gun.
This extortion has reached pro-
portions lately which alarmed some
state governments, lest it breed a
revolt, and they're borrowing a few
of the federal governments tricks Of
indirection.
AS a general proposition, however,
the federal governments taxation
policy is to be slick and the local
governments policy is to be crude.
The explanation? 1t seems to be
this:
The federal government is so far
removed from the masses Of voters
as to be hardly recognizable as their
own creation. If it arouses their
resentment, they'll make no allow.
ances.
"A Washington senator or rep.
resentative fixing Florida's taxes!
Gotta be careful.
But a local government? The
people who made it know they made
it themselves. It's up to them.
Let a national politician make q
mistake and he can't explain to
the country. Let a local one arouse
his constitutions anger to the boil
ing point-if he's smooth enough, he
can talk 'em out Of it.
Federal taxes are high but coming
down. State taxes are higher and
coming up. County taxes are higher
yet and coming up still faster. City
taxes are highest Of all and no rise
equals theirs.
The nearer you get to the people
who have the most to say about
their own local affairs, the worse
the situation gets.
The natural conclusion is that
the people, basically, are least ia
be trusted Of all.
It's automatic that a people gets
as good government as it de-
serves. The American people seem
to. be getting better ones, all up and
down the line.
Then why so much kicking about
taxes-and other things? We ought
to be pretty we'll satisfied.
DEVICE AIDS BLIND TO READ
BY SOUND, INVENTOR CLAIMS
Leninkrad.--[R)-Professor Ros-.
ing, q famous Oculist Of this city
has invented new device by means
of which it is claimed the blind
are able to orientate themselves and
~ rea0. IN TINS apparatus all day
light effects are replaced by sound
Experiments carried out in the Len
ingrad Institute for the Blind showed
that the children, after the use OF
the apparatus was explained to them
were able by the different shades
of sounds to define many articles
in the room and to recognize per-
sons who were passing them.
Professor Rosing is working ia
perfect his apparatus and is also
evolving new radio apparatus foI