The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-01-08
Editorial Comment
The Governors Message
(St. Paul Dispatch.)

!
Like two years ago, economy fu;s;shes the bread
and butter ct Governor ChristianssA's message to
the new Legislature. By this he chiefly means that
the budget must not exceed by single penny thar
of 125. He means some other things, tao, but his
chief concern is naturally for appropriations. The
Legislature is therefore under injunction to keen
the budget down to about S4OOOO,OO0 for the
bennum.
Now no one would care to take the position OF
advocating extravaganza, but it may be questioned
think whether the value of economy, thus rigidy
defined, may not easily be overemphasized 1t might
be different if economy and taxation were inter.
changeable terms In that case it might be argued
that the tax burden had reached point beyond
which it would become insuppertablc, and that tn.
first duty of craftsmanship should be to sec that
taxes reduced, or at least not raised. But
taxatica in this case is only remotely involved.
Unless the Legislature were tn emulate the pro-
verbal drunken sailor what it approprates is only
Of the merest trifng concern to the general tax
payer. The expenditures Ct the state government
play insignificant part in the total Of taxes levied
by the state and local units of government Nothing
that the Legislature is at all likely to do will break
any backs still remaining unbroken.
Under the circumstances it is at least doubtful
whether the supreme public interest at this time is
to prevent the addition of single penny to the
example, the proposal FIR state coastabulary.
which. we are sorry to say, is nowhere mentioned
in the message. To organize state constabulary
would manifestly cost some money. but no economy
the state could practice would be greater than this
expenditure. It is necessary to remember that
Minnesota has not yet come to the point where We
must surrender all idea of advancement and better
ment Important issues await solution at the hands
Of the Legislature. The supreme interest of the
public, We think. is to have these issues met in
the most Intelligent manner of which the Legs
lature is capable If that is done one can be sure
that the Legislature will have practiced true
economy.
However that is. there be no doubt that the
organization undertaken two years ago has justf led
itself to the full. Not only should nothing be done
to jeopardize the new system, but it should be ex-
tended. as Governor Christensen recommends, to
bring purchases Of the Board of Control under the
Department Of Administration.
The idea of licensing drivers as one means of meet
ing the traffic problem does not find favor with
Governor Christensen. Instead he fayors the rev.
ocaton ct the vehicle license q penalty for reck-
less driving. 1t would seem that he has permitted
his determination to oppose all new expenditures to
close his mind en- this subject The purpose is no.
to rule the automobile off the highways, bat the
reckless driver. The best way Of doing that is to
have drivers license law.
Governor Christensen has s-me excellent sug-
gestions for the reform Of the banking laws, cal
culated to give the public greater protection agains.
unsound practice. He urges the adoption Of the
Crime commissions report, and gives some es-
pecally sound advice to the Legislature on the new
forestry amendment. It i not necessary to Be
hasty in the formulation Of new tax policy, and
the Legislature would d we'll to fellow his sug-
gestion Of an interim committee. in this session
kanntk
basic nature. There Is also every reason for acting
on his Recommendation for IN increased estate tax
Under the new Federal inheritance tax, this cai
b done without raising the fetal tax paid BY the
sstate. The only difference would be thaE Mime
eta would get money now going to the Federal
government This field o. taxation properly bslong1
/ q ~ states, ~ lnneSotA should make -