Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-01-07

THE WESTERN NEWS,
so expressed himself-because the highway |
over which he travels had not been snow 1
plowed to suit his idea of what should have
been done 1t did no good to call to his at
tention the fact that his highway had been
powed once this winter, that the machinery
was in distant part OF the large district
working on other highways, that it was at
the time he was making his complaint onl
its way back to Libby and that as soon as 1t
arrived the highway would again be plowed.
That seemed to make no impression on him..
He wanted that road plowed and he wanted
it plowed right then.
Wrapped up in this little incident IS
one of the greatest reasons for high cost OF
government and increasing taxes. We have
always had corruption and extravaganza III
governmental affairs We doubt If condi
tons III that regard are any worse today
than they have been formerly. We only
have to recall Boss Tweed and his band of
robbers to realize that thieves and crooks
we have always had with us. 1t taxes are
increasing-and Of course, they have been
for some time-one chief reason for 1t IS tbs
ever-increasing demand Of the people for
more service by the government.
A few years ago if a board of county
commissioners had been asked to snow
pillow highways they would have laughed at
one and the request would have been con-
J lsidered ridiculous Back in the Middle West
where the writer grew to manhood farmers
got out after storm and broke their
: own road and banded together to shovel
their way through snow drifts in many
: places from five to Is feet high. They never
Thought Of calling OH the county to keep
their highways cleared of snow so that they
could drive easily and with comfort into
town They did the work themselves and
thought it was their job to do it. And the
county was saved that item OF cost.
Now everyone demands that the county
keep the highways open through the heav-
lest of snowfalls and nearly everyone IS ag-
grieved if that work is not promptly done,
lust as was the man referred to here. The
J county has to run up big bill OF expense
!, lin doing the work that the public now de-
mands and which they did not have done
!, a few years ago. Hence, one reason for the
increasing tax burden. We do not contend
that it would be better not to pillow out the
roads but the public must realize that II
must pay for service If it persists III de-
manding it from its governing units. The
people cannot continue to pile additional
/ burdens upon the national, state, county
and city governments and expect to have
all this additional work done for little Of
no cost. 1t just simply cannot be done
I Anything that will do away with dis
honesty and inefficiency in our government
$ should receive the commentator OF all goo6
G citizens. But the American people have go
! to learn that they must reduce their de
! mands on their government II they wan
! lower taxes. They can't have old age pen
Q sions, widows pensions, unemployment III
I surance, increasing veterans pensions
7 gravelled and paved highways, expensive
4 school buildings and equipment, electro
lights and water systems, paved, grayenet
i and oiled streets, sewer systems, snov
: plowed highways and other services AM
!. conveniences world without end withou
G. paying for them.
If the American public wants taxes
!. reduced watch for crookedness and lneffl
e cheney in governmental affairs; don't b.
e afraid to praise and stand back of an homes
and hard working official when one !
found; and then-and this is highly import
|ant-stop demanding more services by TIL
government.