Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-06-11

age run of citizens who will maintain that there many
good and sound reasons why taxes are high
They will you can't eat your cake and have it
In other words they will argue-with reason-tha the
public cannot enjoy the advantages of modern improve
mens without having pay for them And of these
public improvements paid for by taxation naturally
taxes are high.
of the board walks that fathers walked and that
trod when re-footed boys.
The public today wants gravelled and hardsurfaced
highways instead of the muddy ruy dusty country roads
common quarter of century ago.
Our towns and cities today demand electric lights and
power systems and adequate systems.
And and more money is being spent every year
in running schools and colleges
How many of those who are Directing that taxes are
high would be willing go back the lamps
of fathers the muddy and dusty roads and streets OF
few short ago; to water pumped from well in the
back yard and carried into the house pail needed
town pitch dark night where would be necessary
and practice to carry lantern when the
not shining?
No in his right mind would be willing to give up
all modern conveniences and go back the good old
days
We're just not built that way. We the best in
convenience and education--and it money
Hence taxes are high
unwise and sometimes dishonest management We offer
defense for such tactics We simply reminding the
readers of this newspaper that you DANCE
has to pay the piper If you want all the convenences
modern life bound to be less high
That's angle of the situation Here the subject i
looked at in somewhat different way.
The other day we were handed copy of the Denver
Post In very readable article by Arthur Scar
oted Of he
Chicago Tribune and Denver Post Henning WIS attempting
to give information in regard to present day taxes We
quote from his excellent article, in part:
All government this country, federal state county
city and village. cost last year about IS billions of dollars
four times what it cost before the World war compared with
population increase of only rs per cent
"One out of every 40 persons in the United States il
or the public payroll The army of bureaucracy that rules
is larger than the army sent France"
THE American people paying $l0O out every
$500 they to support this army of bureaucracy"
The writer says many economists charge increasing
alton to most luxurious scale Of living induced by Worlo
war profits AS example there is average of on,
automobile every family the land Increasing cars de-
manded better highways
In 1914 the construction and upkeep Of rural highways
the taxpayers little than 24O millions In 1926
they cost than billion 600 millions little matter
of 500 cent increase BY 1928 expenditures high
had become the principal item in the of state
government 81 per of the total cost compared with
% per cent, the next highest for education"
While the cost Of highway construction of gov
budgets multiplied times between 1915 and
1928 the expenditures schools health and sanitation
ebed In county, city and other local government the
cost Of education to "a per cent of the budget
while federal debt has been reduced from Is bill
lions about is billions in the last decade state and local
Indebtedness has been increasing New state and local
bond issues between 1925 and 1929 inclusive aggregated
more than billions Of the bonds issued in this period %
per for roads, and bridges per for
schools and Is per cent for Improvements"