The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-29
Southwest TimeS-Record,
Fort Smith. ArkansaS)

Fort Smith, Arkansas
BY an overwhelming plurality, which
almost attained the dignity of a ma
jority, Arkansas has chosen Chancel-
lor j. Marion Futrell as its governor.
He will take office pledged to SIM
plification of state government, an
honest use of the public money for
necessary functions and a ruthless
wedding out of the unnecessary and
the luxurious.
Arkansas will need all of that, and
more, to meet the problems which the
new administration must face. 1t
will need above all things in the gov
ernor'S chair true perspective on
the states affairs. balance, sense
of proportion which has not always
been in evidence.
The governor ELECT took things
rather calmly in his campaign, on the
whole. He was selected largely be-
cause the people Of the state had con-
fidence in his integrity and believed
he would "sit on the lid until better
conditions make possible more gener-
Gus expenditures and larger fields OF
governmental activity. He will need
all his qualities of calmneSs and ju-
diciousness to pass Judgment compe-
tently upon the many difficult things
which will be waiting for him when
he takes office.
If the new governor and the new
legislature go into office with the idea
that all the states ills are due to mis-
management and corruption they will
find this is not the case. Doubtless
there have been instances Of misman-
agement and corruption. They ought
to be weeded out. But their elimina-
ton will not solve the problems Of
the state, nor would their absence
have completely prevented the finan-
cial straits which face many state &C
tivitieS.
The trouble with state government
finances has been lack of balance in
planning, and severe reductions in
revenue which resulted from the de-
preston.
The remedy for the first lies in
broad viewpoint of state government
which can see the whole machinery
as a single unit, determine what func-
tions are most important and divide
among the numerous agencies of gov
eminent the available funds, SO that
each may do the best job possible for
the people of the state with the re-
sources available. Special interests
need to be subordinated to the good
Of the whole
| The remedy for the second diff
Guilty. shortage of revenue, Is a rigid
curtailnent of activities, so that the
reduced revenues will provide enough
money to pay the bills, and the state
will not incur operating deficits.
A sane administration Of govern
ment requires a balanced program Of
expenditure, conceived and carried out
with a due regard for the relative
value of services which the state per-
forms, and a fair balance between
them.
A sane administration Of govern
rlent requires, too, a balanced taxa
ton program, which lays its toll upon
all types of citizens with equity and
and reasonable regard fer the bene-
fits they obtain from the use Of the
money. The Arkansas state taxation
system Is not badly out Of balance
now. The total state revenues are
almost $40 900, 900. About one-fourth
Of that comes from property taxes.
The other three-fourths comes from
special taxes Of many sorts, chiefly the
gasoline tax and license fees, and in
GLIDING income taxes, franchise taxes,
tobacco taxes. severance taxes and a
number Of special fees and licenses.
A sharp reduction has occurred in
the yield Of all Of these sources Of
revenue in the last two years. Prop
erty tax delinquencies amounted to
about is per cent in 1881. Property
valuations went down about 10 per
cent in the same year. The yield Of
special taxes, aside from gasoline
taxes and motor license fees, went
down very much more. Gas taxes
and license fees dropped about is per
cent. These reductions In yield di-
rectly reflect lack Of earning power
Of our people. The sane remedy for
them is not the imposition Of new
taxes, but strict economy in the use
Of the funds which they yield, to
make them cover the fixed obliga-
lions and operating costs, If that can
be done.