The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-04-29
Tax Reduction Big Plank
On Democratic Platform

VII DGIIGOC1(
Prohibition Referendum and
Frazier Bill Also Recon-
mended by Party
New Rockford, N. D., April o.
(AP)-The full text Of the platform
adopted by the North Dakota State
Democratic convention Thursday fol-
lows:
Democrats Of North Dakota in
convention assembled reaffirm their
confidence in the candidacy of the
Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt for
President Of the United States and
urge upon the delegates elected at
the presidential primary on March
10. to use all honorable means at the
national convention to be held at
Chicago in June to bring about his
nomination, believing as we do that
his nomination and election will in
sure the realization Of the long-de-
ferred hopes of the northwest for
bringing agriculture on parity with
industry and at the same time lead
the, nation out Of the economic chaos
into which we have fallen.
"The immortal Jefferson, founder
of our party, truthfully said, 1.-THE
power to tax is the power to destroy.
The force Of this ,utterance has been
abundantly brought home to the peo-
pie of our state and nation in recent
years and months. In 1929, at the
peak Of our inflated prosperity, the
total national income was estimated
at 100000, 100000 dollars. At that
time the taxing units of the govern
ment-federal, state and local, were
spending $4,000, 100000 dollars a
year, or Is per cent of the total in
come. Our national income in 1881
dropped to $4,000, 100000 dollars
and it is conservatively estimated
that in 1882 it may fall as low as
$4,000, O0O, 900 dollars. In the mean
time, under Republican rule, govern
mental expenses have remained prac-
tically the same. This means, con-
cretely expressed, that in this year
1892, about two fifths, or 40 per cent
of what each man, woman, and child,
produces or earns in America will
be turned over to support govern
mental activities and government Of
ficials. No less an authority than
Melvin A. Traylor, president of the
First National Bank Of Chicago, has
estimated that if governmental &C.
tivities grow at the same rate for
the next 20 years, there will in 1850
be one person on some government
payroll for each taxpayer to support.
We assert that it is more lodging of
the issue on the part Of our state
and national government to say that
most Of this burden is imposed by
local authority.
Government Should Lead
1--WE contend that it is the first
duty Of our national and state gov
ernments to lead in matters of finan-
cial and economic stability. We de-
liberately charge that the Repub-
1ican administrations at both Wash
ington and Bismarck have complete
ly failed to show any example to the
subordinate units in the matter of re-
ducing governmental costs. On the
contrary with sign posts on every
hand warning of approaching bank
ruptcy during the past four years
they have gone ahead creating and
expanding governmental activities,
providing at the expense Of the tax
payer more Jobs for political hench-
men.
1--WE interpret the avalanche of
Democratic votes cast in North Da-
kota in March and the growth of the
taxpayer associations in the state
since the close of the 1881 legisla-
ture has a direct challenge and ap-
peal to the Democratic party Of
North Dakota to assume leadership
in this crisis.
Eve have accepted that challenge
and here and now pledge the Demo-
cratic party Of North Dakota, if
elected, to make a tax reduction its
first order of business. Specifically,
we pledge our party to an immedi-
ate and definite program of not less
than a 20 per cent reduction below
the total Of direct appropriations
made by the state legislature and APP
proved by the governor in 1881. We
will indicate by citation of few
specific instances the manner in
which such reduction will be made,
without impairing governmental eff
ficiency.
Stand For Repeal Program
As a party we stand for a repeal
program coupled with a promise to
oppose the passage of any laws un-
less the urgency and need therefore
is plainly apparent.
We favor the repeal Of the pub
1icity pamphlet law which costs the
taxpayers thousands of dollars each
time it comes into operation and
serves no useful purpose.
I'VE favor the repeal Of the law
creating the motor vehicle depart
ment at Bismarck to operate which
for two years the last legislature APP
propriated 100000. This work
should be handled by the several
counties through some county officer
with practically no additional ex-
penses to such officer and with
greater convenience to the public.
The tremendous amount of money
expended by the state highway COM
mission must attract the immediate
attention Of any honest effort to
reduce taxes. A halt should be i'm
mediately called here both in the
matter Of new construction and for
reducing the cost of engineering and
the army Of unnecessary supervisors
and inspectors.
"About AZ bureaus and commits
sions are in operation in North Da-
kota, many Of which should be
abolished completely and the work
Of many more should be consolidated
under as few as possible heads with
a saving Of hundreds of thousands
of dollars to the taxpayers and at the
same time furnish greater efficiency