The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-24
(Official City, State and County
Newspapcr)
Foreign Representatives
SMALL. SPENCER, LEV1NGS
& BREWER
Uncorporated
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON


Suggestion by the Burlelgh county
Taxpayers association that the state
taxpayers association not discrimi-
nate in considering the question Of
mileage allowances for state and
county officers has the virtue of COM
mon sense.
A recent proposal by the state Or
SANITATION was that the allowances
for the sher1ffs and county superin-
tendents Of schools be reduced. The
Burleigh county body suggests that
it might be advantageous-and GER
tainly only fair-to make all public
officials meet the same standard.
Some consideration of the mileage
question discloses that flexible
standard Of mileage allowances might
save money for the taxpayers. AS it
stands now the rate is fixed by legis-
lative enactment on flat basis 1t
remains the same until it is reduced
by the same method and the result
is to keep public allowances for travel
far above the costs to the average
citizen.
It Is true that in the case of some
officers who are required to travel
over all kinds of roads and in all
kinds of weather, allowances should
be higher than for other officials,
but the fact remains that neither Of
ficials nor taxpayers will get square
deal until the matter Is placed on
some sort of factual basis.
The state allowance for travel is
generally 10 cents a mile by motor
car and actual fare when travelling
by train, bus or other method Of
public transportation.
Figures kept by the highway COM
mission on the operation of cars
owned by it show a cost Of about six
cents q mile, including Gas, oil, re-
pairs and depreciation. The cars are
small but they operate under all
sorts of conditions.
AS motor vehicles improve and
roads get better, the cost Of motor
transportation will diminish, just as
it has done steadily for the last 10 or
20 years. If the oil-burning motor
car becomes a reality. as seems pos
sible in the not distant future,
the cost will show an even sharper
shrinkage. The public, which pays
the bill, should be entitled to what
ever savings may be made from the
improvements in transportation IA
cilities.
# the legislature wishes to pass a
really economical mileage bill it could
delegate the task of fixing mileage
rates to the state auditing board with
instructions to fix them at actual
cost plus a cent or two a mile addi-
tional to allow adjustment for spe-
cial conditions.
The actual cost for various types
of cars could be determined by the
experience of state departments
which operate state-owned automo-
biles and from that of private con-
Germs which would gladly make their
data known to the state for this pur-
pose. County officers could be re-
quired to conform to the scale set by
the state or the question OF mileage
could be turned back to the counties
for them to determine according to
their own judgment.
If the state taxpayers association
is to attack the mileage question it
should do so only after careful study
Of all factors. 1t should try to give
the travelling official as well as the
public square deal. The Burleigh
county group does well to suggest
further consideration OF the question.