Evening star., 1932-01-08

Figures from the Census Bureau
showing an increase Of several hun
dred per cent in the per capita debts
of numerous States have aroused ctti-
zens to the need of checking such in
creases and seeking a safer basis for
State finances. 1t is observed that
much of the increase has been since
the war period, and is believed to re-
fleet the tendency toward large expendi-
lures developed at that time.
One obstacle to improvement Is seen
by the Omaha World-Herald in the
fact that while general defiation OF
the functions and activities of govern
ment from top to bottom" is desirable,
"the public reluctance to recognize and
to accept that way out is greater even
than the public irritation over paying
taxes" Quoting Jefferson's statement
that the best government governs
least" the World-Herald concludes
We are probably agreed that Jener-
son was right in principle, but IN prac-
tice We don't believe Woro OF II.
THE only answer to the problem con-
fronting government today IS 10 De
found in severely curtailed debt COM
mitments" thinks the Yakima Morning
Herald observing that "the sum OF
debts owed by Federal, State, County,
citv and other sub-units of government
stands at the highest point in history,
with a total of 80 billions" The Dan
bury Evening News advises that ii 1882
is to see any substantial revival OF
business, all tax-impoSing authorltleS
will have to do their best not to raise
g. tax-bogey that will prevent business
from leaving the hole in which IL mas
been hiding since 1929.
what is needed is some such pro-
cedure as was followed in North caro-
lima" declares the MorgantoWn DO
minion-News, recounting: THE govern
ment of North Carolina stopped the al
yancing tax burden in its tracks ano
turned the curve of taxation downward.
Resort was had to various means 70
accomplish this desirable end; county
Jurisdiction over roads and schoolS was
abolished. The Capitalization OF TINS
Jurisdiction at Raleigh cut the properly
tax S12,O00,000. Property Whlch pal9
IS per cent of the State tax IN 1871 WIN
pay So per cent this year. Furtner, II Is
no longer possible for small board IN
a town or county to confiscate the
nronertv of its citizens through unllm-
tied and unrestrained power to mort
gage its future, because OF the local
Government act, which makes a state
commisisn., the supervisor OF all local
financing, although the people by vote
NAV give the approval which has been
refused by the commission.
."rhe people in the States" advises
the charleston, w. Va, Daily Mail,
will have to find some way of checking
the costs of government or have their
hacks broken under taxation loads. The
probability is that they will eventually
And a wav. If the depression hastenS
this accomplishment. it will have
proved a public benefaction."
particular attention should be paid
to the possibility OF financing more
public projects out of current revenues,
contends the Providence journal, with
the statement as to the source OF the
nresant conditions: ut is contended
that tax exemption on State bonds
greatly stimulated the market for them
during the past decade, especially in
the years when Federal income taxes
on large incomes we're so high that
avenues of escape were sought, and thus
acted as a contributing cause to the
issuance of such securities. That the
temptation to incur debt should be
steadfastly resisted, and bonds issued
only by virtue of necessity, are trlte
statements, but they will bear repeti-
ton"
Some States" 1t is pointed out by
the Topeka Daily Capital, have very
high debt, such as Maine, Vermont and
Rhode Island, in New England, whose
debt in each case is double that of Kan
sas per capita. Illinois also has more
than double the debt per capita OF this
state. while South Cardinals is consid-
ersbly more than twice that of Kansas.
Kansas hasa tribe greater per capita