Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-12-02
The Tax Problem OF
The Md. Farmer
By MILES H. FAIRBANK
Secretary Treasurer, Maryland Farm
Bureau Federation

that there is nothing new or novel
about the fact that we read and hear
everywhere today of the 'tax prob
lem"
Since history began, men have wor-
ried about their tax problems; wars
have been fought over taxes and this
nation of ours had its inception in a
controversy over differences in opinion
on the tax question of that early day.
"Taxes are the contribution" some
one has said, shat a citizen pays to
the community of which he is a part,
in exchange for what he receives from
the community"
This is splendid theory, but prac-
teal government has reversed the pro-
cedure until today stakes are the
tribute exacted by the community in
exchange for the services requested by
the citizen" We say requested because
in democracy such as ours, the mat
ter of taxes lies largely in the hands
of the voters.
The high cost of government is the
sole reason of high taxes and with
few exceptions the citizens are respon-
sible for the high cost of government.
One exception is, probably, the debts
ACQUIRING from the World War-since
it is doubtful if by any theory of
democracy the war debts could have
been controlled by the rank and file
of the citizens of this country.
But, by an large, the bonded indebt-
mess of our counties, cities, and states
has been brought about by the de-
mands for improved roads, viaducts,
airports, bridges, etc., by the citizens
OF our communities, usually aided and
abetted by various civic organizations
which we, as members, support.
Our school system and costs of edu-
cation have grown apace largely be-
cause of overly enthusiastic parent
teacher associations, community clubs,
well-meaning delegations and other
bodies, advocating something special
or extra for their own particular com
munity, little realizing that numerous
similar movements elsewhere, by re-
questing the same thing, help make it
a permanent fixture.
Thus, by our organized demands or,
in some cases, by our lack of protest,
we have permitted the development of
a system that many thinking people
believe today is beyond our financial
ability to maintain.
Certainly, with national tax bill of
over fourteen billion dollars annually,
we can well question whether or not
the time has not come to call halt.
Unfortunately, when hard times come,
government cannot retrench as can
private businesses. Aside from the fix
lures we have developed, with the de-
velopment of these more elaborte SER
vices of government, the purely adj
ministrative cost must, of necessity,
increase since supervision must be
supplied, with each new governmental
function. In tax revision programs the
administrative costs are usually the
first attacked.
1t is highly possible that desire
to keep down the administrative costs
in some governmental units is re-
sponsible for the higher total expen-
diture, since fixed items, such as roads
and schools, might not be as efficiently
managed and, in the long run, be more
wasteful than if properly supervised.
There is much evidence that we are
penny WlSS
ish.
We have had developing in our
country, almost unnoticed by many of
us, never-ceasing growth of indus
trial and scientific development. Being
human, few of us have grasped the
possible significance of this develop
ment in its relation to our national
life.
Since our legislators are also hu-
man, they too have failed to properly
gauge the meaning of these changes.
The result is that our method of
handling a new Industrial or scientific
development is. to seek to control it
by creating new board or commits
sion or regulatory body, or pass a
new controlling measure without elm
mating or changing existing agencies.
The net result is that these bodies
are today overlapping, interfering,
| and are reaching a noint Of cost that