The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-22

wv name beneath 1T. We will re-
spect such requests. We reserve
letters as may be necessary 10
conform to this policy.
Fargo, N. D., January 10. 1881.
Editor Of The Tribune:
In this time of unrest, depression
and economic distress. it Is we'll for
us all to pause in sober reflection
and view the situation in the cold
light Of calm Judgment.
II Is true that no industry or oc-
cupation Is entirely exempt from the
blighting influence OF these hard
times" In this section we are large
ly concerned with the dire distress of
agriculture. The natural law of
supply and demand has proven in
adequate to raise the prices Of farm
products to a parity with manufac-
tured products, and as a result the
cost of farm operations is far in ex-
cess of farm incomes, with resultant
failures and losses. The Federal Farm
board through its efforts to neu-
tralize by government subsidy the
steady falling of prices of farm prod
ucts has been only partially success
full in this staggering task. The gov
ernment's efforts along this line seem
at best to accomplish only a temper
airy stimulant to keep the patient
| alive until the effective and curative
remedy can be found. If such a rem
edy there be. But let us bear in
mind that while the doctors haggle
the patient is rapidly sinking.
/ am not optimistic enough to see
any causes that are likely to raise
! prices of farm products to the ex-
pected higher levels, and therefore
it in%exorably follows that If better
| times are to come manufactured
| products must come down to the level
! of the farm products. One or the
| other alternative necessarily must
happen. The economic scale must be
brought to q parity, either through
artificial factors or through deflation.
Agriculture has been debated. The
other industries must take the de-
flation medicine also, whether they
like it or not, before the nation can
| recover from its industrial and eco
nomic debacle.
The distressing unemployment sit
uation is largely a direct result OF
the agricultural depression through
| which such q large proportion Of the
nations population, the farmers, have
lost their purchasing power. thus re-
sulting virtually in a buyers and
! consumers strike"
Another milestone around the
| peoples necks is the excessive taxes.
| This includes both direct and indi-
rect taxes. Taxes also must be
brought to a parity with agricultural
income. Taxing unproductiveness and
! losses necessarily must result in still
greater losses and becomes wholly
c~onfiscatory.
But tax reduction, like charity,
must begin at home. It is popular
to rave and rant at the excessive
taxes and expenditures Of federal and
state government, and we admit that
they need a trimming, but let us not
forget to begin with u local munlc-
qualities. the cities. villages. town.
ships, school districts and counties.
Reduction of taxes is another pow
erful leverage In breaking open the
door of depression SO that prosperity
can enter.
In June 1925, then President Cool
idge, in reply to criticism of his pro-
! posed economy program said, Econ
omy in the cost of government Is In
separable from reduction in taxes. !
have been unable to determine how
reduction in taxes AN be injurious
to business"
But while the public shout in con-
certed unison that taxes must be re-
duced, and lombard their represent
ativcs in congress, their legislators,
[ their city boards, their township
boards, their school boards. county
boards and other taxing authorities
with vitriolic demands for tax reduc-
| ton, their attitude is not at all times
! consistent with their demands.
For example. 1 know OF a certain
| community in this state, where there
was much complaint about high
| taxes in the township. and the town
| board cut down the levy and appro-
| priation for road purposes to appease
| the irate residents. Shortly there
| after, one of the most active tax re-
| duction proponents was circulating
| petitions to get a highway graveled
| that an near his farm. and obtained
! plenty of signers on his petition, and
| became highly indignant when the
| township board rejected the petition
! in the interests of the tax reduction
| previously demanded. Likewise, in
a certain school district where there
| we're complaints of too heavy school
| tax, the hue and cry for reduction OF
! school taxes had hardly subsidized be-
fore petitions were circulated for fur
ther bonding of the school district
and imposition of additional tax bur-
| den for additional school buildings,
| and most of those who had clamored
| for reduction of school taxes turned
| around, while they were getting their
second wind" and signed petitions
| for increased taxes. No doubt such
cases are surprisingly common, al
/ though absurd. Tax reductionists
seem to sometimes think that they
I can have their cake without paying
for 1t.
Reverting to federal taxes, we find
that the federal government is under
| a violent barrage of demands for re-
duction of governmental appropri-
ations and expenditures, which. Of
course. all ultimately comes out of the
| peoples p~ocketb0ok. The expendl-
lures of the federal government arc
approximately four billion dollars
annually staggering sum, which is
levied upon our debt-ridden. tax-rid-
den and distressed people, The prun-
ing knife must be welded dexterously
and swiftly to bring relief to the dis
tressed taxpayers. But where shall
the knife be first applied?
Recently Postmaster General Brown
requested congress to introduce q bill
to raise the rates on first class mail
matter to helm take care of the huge