The Carbon County news., 1931-09-24
THE REMEDY rs WITH THE PEOPLE
By GEORGE B. LOCKWOOD

Taxation has become one of most pressing national
state and local problems It deserves more popular at
enton The time has when the burdens of taxation
threaten the livelihood of the people, the stability of bust
ness the very perpeuty of government Just recently
government has fallen III England because its people have
been put hopelessy into debt.
Ihe reasons taxes have scared rapidly are apparent
We had private spending orgy during the World War
and afterWard Extravaganza got into the blood of the
American people, Recent events have cooled that fever
III individuals, from necessity But the resources of the
government still uneXhausted Taxing bodies have
unlimited control everybodys property, and the bot
tom of that barrel has not been reached
Public officials not primarily to blame for these
mounting public expenditures and taxes, except in so far
as they fail to to It that dollar in value is secured for
every dollar III expenditure They are brought about as
the result OF locaand personal organized demands In
these demands general considerations are lost sight Of
each group believing that it is well get everything pos
slbe while the getting IS good Many of those who
plain most loudly about high taxes are among those whose
demands have made these high taxes inevitable.
Properly government is doing more and more in SUP
port OF education roads, police protection and fufment
OF other duties OF government to the people. Public ex
penditures grow rapidly enough in meeting the proper
demands for increased public service We do not want to
back to the mud roads and log school houses of our
foreaher On the other hand do not want to go broke
trying to do things too costly and eXravagan scale
Ii the stories OF hardship imposed farmers home
owners, mercantile and industries by reason of
taxes becoming almost confScaory could be told would
be tragic tale is possible for government through ex
cessive taxation to bankrupt the people, destroy their
prosperity undermine the very security Of orderly govern
ment.
What is the answer: Only one is possible Those who
bear the brnt of taxation should be organized so that
their demand will Influence the action of public officials
and make them understand that they will be protected in
resisting nWise demands, and curbng extravaganza in
using money and will be punished if they fail to offer
resistance And those who bear the burden Of these taxes
not merely the taxpayers but all those who pay rent
or bear in any other way the cost of their own living into
which taxes enter fixed charge.
Without regard to political, religious, occupational OF
fractional affiaon organization should be effected
in this and every other country in order that the light of
day may be put the taxation situation and present and
future abuses stopped Such organization should not
be dominated by selfish ghtwads opposed to all public
improvements 1t should have enrolled in it every citizen
who feels for the future financial and moral sol
vency of his community and country. By such large
and Influential body such controversies as those now 90
ing on almost everywhere could be scrutnized and the
facts determined in the light Of public interest rather than
OF personal or political advantage.