The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-06-20
In the Right Direction

Appointment by President Davis of the Association Of
Commerce Of a committee to cooperate with local public
officials on tax matters is a step in the right direction.
In the interests of better understanding by the public
OF the problems of government as well as of sanity in the
expenditure of money by governmental bodies, it is to be
hoped that this group will be made a permanent one and
kept In active existence. =.
It's value to the community will depend, Of course,
upon the wisdom and attention which the committee
members give to the problems presented, but the idea is
so sound, fundamentally, that it cannot fail to benefit
the heavily burdened taxpayer.
The personnel Of the committee is such as to command
public respect and the list contains men Of recognized
ability. Even this, however, also is relatively unim-
portant for any committee of property owners and busi-
nessmen would bring to the job the same attitude toward
matters to be considered
And the attitude which these men will bring to the
work is. after all. the really important thing.
Theirs will be the task of studying budgets, of esti-
mating the need for development and improvements, OF
advising the taxpayer what he can afford to spend money
for and what he can get along without.
The public will not expect these men to be any more
parsiinonious in dealing with public matters than IN
dealing with their private affairs. 1t will expect them
to give to things affecting the public purse the same
sound thought and attention, the same business judy
ment, which they exercise in their private lives.
II they do this, much of the bunk will be taken out
of the public business and several leaks which now may
De SlItlng money out OF Cne puDuc treasures may De
stopped.
1t is no reflection on either the honesty or ability of
public men to say that a committee OF this sort will be
valuable. Everyone knows the pressure which may be
brought upon officeholders and when the clamor is all
in one key, when the pressure is all in one direction,
who can blame them If they yield?
One of the jobs of the new committee will be to stiffen
the backbone of officialdom in such cases. 1t will be
their duty to point to the financial consequences of every
important movement: to examine into the need for i'm
provements and, in those instances where the questions
of hard, commcnsense are not answered, to say mo- in
unmistakable terms.
The duties of this group will be onerous and at times
dstasteful, for it is no pleasant task to oppose pet
schemes which have nothing to condemn them other
than the fact that they cost. the people money. Bit
ternesses may develop if the ideas of taxspenders clash
with those of taxsavers. but if such clashes must come
it is important that the men who pay be satisfied rather
than those who spend.
This committee may do a great deal Of good in promot-.
ing the growth and development Of our city. for few
things are so attractive to business, industry Or the home
give better evidence of a citys stability than the fl
nancial soundness of it's various political governments.
When Chief Justice Hughes finishes saying something
the listener or reader feels that something has been said.
Some of the jazz band leaders who call themselves doc
tors of melody come nearer being undertakers.