The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-06-03

to stop living beyond the means Of
the country. The politicians are still
on q spending spree. They are bor-
rowing to substitute everything and
everybody and buying every ccnceiv-
able kind Of civic and national luxury
on the installment plan.
Raps Concrete Project
"The Saturday Evening Post must
have had in mind our governor and
our state highway department when
it published that editorial.
: Let US consider the concrete high
way being built between Fargo and
south Of Mapleton. A short time ago
our state highway commission desert
ed this road and graded and graveled
q new highway a mile north as far
as Mapleton at the expense of $70,-
600 Of the peoples money. The fed
eral government refused to go with
them a mile north and refused to pay
one cent in the construction of this
$4,000 spree, and that $4,000, now
being deserted, came out of the tax
payers Of North Dakota. A similar
spree was entered into at Grand
Forks, where another road was built
between Larimore and Grand Forks
at a large expense.
But we are informed by these
friends Of high taxes that this con-
crete highway will not cost the peo-
pie one cent. May we ask who is fl
nancing this project? Who is fur
nishing this money, If not the tax
payers2
Again, on the same highway, No.
10, between Jamestown and Valley
City, this road was graveled about a
year ago and was in splendid condi-
ton. For some reason, the highway
commission decided that the road
should be reconstructed, and now
they are covering up the gravel that
was placed there about a year ago,
from a depth of from two to six feet
Not satisfied with squandering the
public funds in that way, they gray
eled a detour for a number Of miles
A more shameful squandering OF
public funds has never been wit
messed In this state. We respectfully
request the people to drive I've and
look at this stretch of road end see
how their funds are being spent.
These 'Taxiters' tell us, that unless
they can get this extra cent tax or
gas that they will be unable to gel
the federal aid for roads. This il
moi q correct statement. What they
wish to do is to borrow one million
two hundred thousand dollars from
the federal government and, in orde,
to make this loan, the fed..:il govern
ment requires that they raise ar
equal amount. Why don't they tel
us that this lean WILL have to be paic
back at the rate of $250,0O0 q year
beginning with the year 1888.
Say Costs Reduced
FINALLY, more roads can be built al
present. with the three cent gas tax
than could have been built q veal
ago. The depression has made i
possible to build cheaper and NOR.
roads with the same amount O
money-if honestly and efflcientl.
spent. We unhesitatingly state tina;
the governor and the state highwa!
commission have more money thar
they know how to in~telllgently spent
on roads. As Senator Bonzer cor
rectly pointed out when this increas
Of gas tax vas up before The legis
| lature last winter, less than IS cent
out Of every dollar paid to the stat
highway commission finds Its wa.
ineO the construction Of new roads.
Senator Bonzer also pointed out /
the legislature last winter that j
this law was passed and became ct
fective and the governor and the stat
highway commission were permttte'
to 60 OF with their spending spre
and complete their highway program
they would wreck this state finan
cially. He showed that it would tax
about four and one-half million dol
lars annually to regravel and main
tain the road program laid out b
them. This would mean that tn
gas tax would have to be raised, no
only to four, but to seven and eigh
cents q gallon and that the gas use
by the farmer for agricultural pur
poses would also have, to be taxed.
Last, but not least those high-ta'
fanatics have the nerve to tell U
that no matter what the people d
they will go on with their mad org
Of spending and that, if this gas ia;
is defeated, they will levy this Ia
upon other property. Their igno
rance surpasses their nerve. The
should know that under the law the
are not permitted to levy any tax
that all tax levies in this state ar
levied by the county commissioners
that they have nothing whatever t
do with these levies and that, tn
county commissioners are directly re
sponsible to their constituents.
I'VE submit, therefore, that this
no time to raise taxes Of any kins
All moneys spent in this state by GU
public officials, whether In the forr
of gas tax, q luxury tax, a propert
tax. an income tax, or an inheritanc
tax, has to come out Of the soil !
this state.
I'VE are for good roads. We can
not expect tax reductions from thos
who spend the money-it must com
from those who pay the taxes.
I'VE respectively submit this state
ment to the voters Of this state.
Referendum COMMITTEES,
III. G. Schumacher,
Chairman
H.. r. Wood
"Allen McManus
"Bert Morrison
~. A. Felver."
Child Killed. Three