The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-01-14
(Official City. State and County
Newspaper
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER. LEV1NGS
d BREWER
Uncorporated)
NEW YORK BOsTO
Blood in Their Eyes

members VI VIC l~OStA AoAOeh Az"
payers associations committee who
closed a three day session mere We'd
nesday, seem to mean real business
with regard to cutting the costs OF
government. They have begun with
their local political subdivisions, such
az the township. school district and
county, and the meeting here was to
lay the groundwork for a survey Of
state tax expenditures and attempt
to determine how they may be re-
duced.
That has been the professcd aim
OF a good many people for a long
time, but somehow nothing definite
has been done about it. It seer1s 10
have been an end more ardentiy to
be spoken of than to be worked for.
The taxpayers association is organ
lied with the protested intention OF
working for nothing else.
Some wholly new ideas Of taxation
such as the proposal to prohibit the
state from levying taxes Oh real
estate and tangible personal prop.
erty, are under consideration
Whether or not the latter iuea is
sound is a matter for much thought
and consideration. In taxes, cs IL
other things, attractive glitter Is not
always produced by pure gold
But the spirit behind the suggestion
is praiseworthy. 1t shows willing
ness to take an independent view ana
to cast off the bonds of precedent. II
we are to have an adequate solution
Of our pressing public problems, no
matter what their nature. it is cs-
sential that things be seen in the
light OF modern conditions and strip
ped down to their essentials.
II Is one thing to recognize the
sound doctrines which have come
down to US from the founders of the
state. It Is another thing to adhere
to them blindly or to close our eyes
to their defects.
Although their work parallels that
Of the governmental survey commits
sion appointed by the governor, the
Taxpayers association was wise in
refusing to ally itself with that body.
II the association is to command
public respect and support it must
keep away from partisan politics.
Any other course would so prejudice
its program as to make 1t practically
impossible Of realization and no
permanent good would come from
this movement which really seems
to have the welfare of the public At
heart.
Had businessmen and property
owners taken q real interest In taxes
during the years when the tax bur-
den was mounting so rapidly. the
problem today would not be as grave
as 1t is. Members Of the Taxpayers
committee. during their session here,
admitted sadly that the tax horse
has disappeared from the public's
barn. They say the immediate objec-
tive Of their movement Is to save the
barn and perhaps, some day, to get
another horse to put in 1t.
In view Of the program under con-
sideration by this group, it seems
clear that the political brethren are
in for some troublous times. Al
though tax-reduction has been held
out rs political aim by all rep
resentatives OF all political factions,
it has been practically impossible Of
realisation because, in the past. all
the organized pressure has been di-
rectcd toward enlarging public activ-
tiles and thereby increasing the tax
bill. The taxpayers propose to en-
courage public officials to learn TO
say mo" to future tax-eating pro-
posals.
In movements such as these, OF
couyse. there always IS danger that
the mark win be overshot and that
some essential public services will be
eliminated. We shall have to de-
pes,d on the sound judgment {: the
lo6ders ana members Of the assccia-