The Bismarck tribune., 1932-12-28
Their Job Is Cut Out for Them
(BowbellS Tribune)


Plenty of schemes for lowering tax
es will be proposed to the state leg
islature when it meets next month.
Associations and organizations galore
have met and duly resolved that
something must be done, and have
proposed exactly what must be done
and in what manner it must be done.
Plans are of course necessary. From
the welter of conflicting material
that will be laid before it our legis-
lature must work out something that
will actually stand chance of be-
ing workable.
The state taxpayers association will
try to rule the roost. Don't doubt
that for a moment. The success it
had with the initiative measures,
which all went over-some of them
big-has swelled the heads of the
leaders Of that organization so they
believe they are invincible, and the
only body entitled to say how taxes
shall be levied, who shall pay, how,
how much, etc, etc.
The taxpayers association made
more blunders than anyone who is
not fairly we'll posted can appre-
ciate. The so per cent reduction
measure was perhaps the most griev-
GUS of the lot, but it is not the only
one that is bad. Look at the salar-
les reduction measures, for example.
Under it none of the professors at
any institution can get more than
$2,4O0 a year. Which means what?
1t means that North Dakota may
have to accept indifferent material
or incompetent PROFESSIONAL timber at
best, for its higher institutions of
learning. We talk of American STAN
dard OF living and boast that we will
not lower that standard. Well, the
taxpayers association tried it's hard
est to get us to put the salaried men
ana women OF our state on the level
with European paupers Not only
those professional men and women
who must spend small fortune to
get their qualifications for the posi-
tions they have filled, but other
workers as well, the taxpayers asso-
citation salary reduction measures
have ground down until there is not
an honest man left who cares to
strive for a responsible public posi-
ton and is really capable of holding
one.
What did the salary reduction
measure do to the county auditors
OF small counties, for instance? The
auditor of Burke county will have to
work for about $121 a month after
the first of April, when his old term
expires and the new one commences.
Does Mr.. Lamb, the president of the
taxpayers association which backed
the measure and caused it to be
brought before the people, believe
that he can hire men, put them un-
der $4,000 bond, make them do all
the work and take the responsibility
the county auditors have, and place
them in private institutions at rate
OF $l21 month? And would he be
willing to try to raise family and
live in decent comfort on such
amount? Folks. he would not, nor
would anyone else do that, and have
the CUTS to claim that he favors an
American standard Of living. A man
can not keep a family in town where
he must purchase EVERYTHING
and live up to even depression stan
dards of living on $121 a month.
And that is only one of the county
offices. The other officials as we'll
Will have to work for starvation
wages for the next two years, if this
law stands as it now is. The states
attorney will get the same wages as
the auditor, the register of deeds
likewise and the treasurer. Respon-
sible positions all Of them. Yet the
men who will take those offices are
expected to give efficient service for
day laborer wages.
Taxes must come down. Surely
there Is no opposition from any
source to this. But what good does
1t do to take the money out of the
men and women who MUST do res
ponsible and necessary work? What
good does 1t do to place men in posi-
tions Of trust and then starve them
BY paying them q salary that can
not possibly permit them to save
enough TO lay aside even a modest
amount to take care Of their families
In case Of illness? II some Of those
offices are not essential they should
be abandoned altogether. Those tina,
are essential should be filled by mer
and women who are able to earn
enough to keep body and soul to.
gether, and they should be paid
enough for that work IN do that