Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-09-28

unacquainted with the various de-
partments of government, and in
session but sixty days, find it inn
possible to make a thorough in
vestigation to determine that
which is essential to efficient, eco
nomical government.
The Constitution says: "The
governor shall at the beginning OF
each session, and from time to
time, by message, give to the leg
islative assembly information of
the condition of the state, and
shall recommend such measures as
he shall deem expedient."
The legislature is entitled to
have from the governor an intelli-
gent statement of the states af-
fairs and conditions of the various
departments and activities with
his specific recommendations. This
| will do.
state is Extravagant
Following the crash of 1923
business institutions, farmers,
merchants, in fact every individ-
ual was forced to eliminate every
expense not actually necessary,
Income dwindled. Every dollar OF
outgo was budgeted by the rich
and the poor alike, But the great
State of Montana did not cut out
a dollar of its expensive and ex-
travagant operations.
The load of taxation is now in
tolerable. Thousands of our citi-
zens are suffering by reason of
the depression and the drought.
And there has not been even o
gesture of relief or amelioration
from the state government.
The people are rebelling against
this condition. They are demand
ing, not nor taxation but more
economy and a reduction of the
tax burden. There are many COM
munities in the state where the
people r finding it absolutely
impossible to meet this excessive
burden. This condition cannot con-
tinue. There is no reason in COM
mon sense why the essential func-
lions of state government should
cost the people of Montana more
than $5O,0O0,000 in ten years.
If elected, / shall take immed-
late steps to put an end to the APP
palling growth of Montana's state
expenditures, and to bring about
a substantial reduction of general
property taxes. There must be q
definite program of readjustment
and coordination of state and To-
cal taxes to relieve real property,
especially farm property, from I'M
fair burdens of taxation which
present day values have brought
about. ! shall Immediately devote
myself to this task and give to the
next legislature my findings with
definite recommendations.
/ will go into every item Of ex-
pense and cut from the payroll all
activities and services that are not
vital to the government of the
state. All duplicating and non
essential operations will be elimi-
mated. Where consolidation is pos
sible, 1t will be brought about.
Any expense not required for es.
sential government service consti.
tutes a vicious taking of money
that should be left with the far.
mer for the improvement of his
farm or with industry payrolls.
Of course, the debts of the state
must be paid. In order to do this
there should be set aside each yea,
a definite portion of state income
over a reasonable period of years
This can be accomplished without
impairing the efficiency of gov.
eminent and without laying heavy
burdens upon the people.
We have a state budget law but
we have no budget control. Oul
budget law should be made effec.
tive in the interest of strictesi
economy.
Promote Home Industry
believe in the promotion OF
home industries. This should con.
sist not merely of lip service, but
of determined, persistent anc
practical action. Montana. 6
young state, with a small popula.
ton and unlimited opportunitie.
for growth, has tremendous nat.
ural resources. Capital should b.
encouraged to develop them as 6
basis for new enterprises, while
every effort should be made by The
state government to assist our es,
tablished agriculture, mining
stockraising, numbering and Goa
and oil production. The governor
of the state should lead in thi:
endeavor, with practical plans. II
this manner the prosperity of al.
the people of Montana may be in.
creased.
The people of Montana are en-.
titled to full participation in anc