White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-01-30

livered here as part Of the inaugural
ceremony when he became governor
of the State of Washington:
To the members of the Legislature
of the State of Washington:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: AS an
aspirant for the office OF governor, !
made the people Of this state one prom,
Use and only one, that II elected, 1 should
use my every effort to reduce the cost Q:
government, by the simple standard OF
plain business, applied to such OF the
states affairs Is come q IN ts,a my sftort
earnestly desire and solicit your CO.
operation.
/ realize that in our attempt to pursue
a course of strict economy, we snaH be
demand Of sectional and occupational
groups, seeking to extend governmental
activities, and requesting new, or IN
creased appropriations: ana on the o!neI
hand, by the no less insistent demand OF
the whole citizenship for reduced taxes.
The two demands are incompatible. We
cannot extend the scope Of government
and at the same time reduce the cost OF
government
TOO MUCH GOVERNED
We may as well face the fact, and face
it squarely, that we are too much gov
been multiplied, their ramifications ex-
tended, their powers enlarged, and tneiI
sphere widened, until the whole system IL
top-heavy. We are drifting. into
dangerous and insidious paternalism,
submerging the self-reliance Of the citi-
zen, and weakening the responsibility
and sitting the initiative Of the indivi-
dual We suffer not from too little lesis.
lation but from too much. We need
fewer enactments and more repeats. We
IN ho1 '
pocketbook catches up with the desiren
and clamor of minorities for more gov
eminent and increased appropriations.
The tax burden constitutes the gravest
and dDi the sation. 81 much a 50 that taxa
ton Is the great unselved problem Of
means lighteGa 1t, Finding new sources
Of revenue Is ever fraught with the
uanger Of opening up new avenues Of ex-
penditure. In dealing with the tax ques-
ton, our first task Is to reduce the cost
of conducting the public's business, not
to devise new ways and means OF ratsint
revenue to meet the mounting cost Q!
only by curtailing and simplifying the
practice Of hard-haaded, close fisted
economy In meeting the requirements Of
win be in vogue during the next foul
years In those departments under the
governors control.
STATE HIGHWAYS
The pay-as-you-go state highway coli
struction policy, reaching all sections o
users Of such highways, should be con.
tinued under building schedule az
liberal az an economical construction
policy permits. A too rapid construction
the difficulty Of proper supervision.
| construction program involving tn:
expenditure Of five million dollars pc,
annum would meet this situation and
such a plan would permit the abandon
ment of the last OF the direct taxes or
account Of road work.
| / therefore favor that the permanent
highway tax formerly III mills, be not
levied, the counties to be compensatei
for this loss of revenue through appor'
basis as under the permanent highwa,
levy distribution. This plan would be In
harmony with the policy Of using all d
the revenue arising from the use Of roads
for road construction and maintenance
purposes.
| The increasing regular use Of the high
ways for public transport suggests those
so using should pay commensurate and
fair sum for such privilege and use.
BUDGET LAW.
| AS q means to greater economy thi
state needs more stringent budget re-
| quirements. The making Of bulge
should not be left TO expending official
nor to an ex-officio board Of cursory an
thrust upon the over-worked. time
pressed, appropriations committees .
the legislature. Budget-making shou,
be mandatory upon some official who's
duty 1t is to study the needs Of govern
ment and whose purpose 1t is to reduc
the cost Of government.
Unexpended balances in the varfou
funds at the close of year or bienniul
do not necessarily reflect economy. Sucl
balances are evidence that those re
sponsible for the estimates guessed poor
ly rather than expended wisely. TIL
true measure Of economy is the sur
taken from the people in taxes, fees an
assessments. for the purposes Of gov
never be paramount to the citizens abil
ity to pay. The welfare of the indi
vidual should never be lost sight Of 1
making budget. The Taxpayers none
own use rather than piled up, unuse
and inert In the state treasury.
recommend an executive budget
be prepared by the state director Of eff
cheney for submission to the governor
for his approval and later presented t
the legislature for consideration and &C
ton. A budget SO prepared will show
IN complete detail, every contemplate
expenditure Of every department and &C
the legislature, prior to its meeting. an
would be an earnest Of greater econom
ana long step forward In sound publ
administration.
Those states most advanced in mod
ern business methods are now using
budget so prepared, and q bill to provid
such budget will be drawn and sub
mitted to your early consideration.
TAXATION
Taxation and public expenditure ar
inseparable. Relief in the former can b
the states activities as far as possibl
to the essentials of government.
Fair financial provisions must Away
be made for the growth Of our necessar
posed to any expansion or extension q
the states other activities, and purpos
making critical survey OF some no,
performed that might in the public in
Before greatly modifying or consider
Ing important changes Of our revenu
laws, the present system, the result o
years OF legislative and enthusiastically
the functioning Of state board Of com
missioners, exercising ample supervisor
| powers over original assessments and au
| thority to reasSess, II necessary. With
control, state uniformity IN assessment
under our present, or any tax law, Is Inn
| possible.
To exercise the authority now granite,
unuer the cOoe 10 the olrector OF TAXA
ton, would suggest q state board O
tax commissioners, consisting OF tire
members with the added powers q
above, and who shall be further charge
with the duty Of studying the who'll
! subject Of the states taxation policy
and to report from time to time, witt
suggestions and recommendations to tn,
| governor.
ON BOND ISSUES
1t is with the greatest reluctance
suggest an addition to the number o.
state officials, but this function with 1t
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