The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-05-11
(Official City, State and County
Newspaper)
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER, BREWER
Uncorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
At Least Definite

At Least Definite
While The Tribune holds no brief
for any candidate or any party in this
election, it cannot refrain from CALL
ing attention to very definite
promise made by William LANCER,
Nonpartisan League candidate for
governor. LANCER told his audience
at New Rockford recently that, If
elected governor, he would reduce ap-
preparations by at least 81 100000 A
lot Of money. A definite promise and
one at which the average farmer
voter as we'll as the city fellow will
throw up his hat and cheer. What
the political situation needs today
is the solemn pledge on the part of
candidates that they will reduce the
cost of government to the voters who,
after all, are taxpayers, directly or in
directly. It is not as easy a task as
some think. In some states there are
as many tax eaters as there are tax
payers. Candidates don't want to cut
payrolls for that means cutting down
the vote-garnering machine.
In North Dakota, however, the tax
payers outnumber the taxeaters sew
eral to one and most effectively by
ballot can they elect men in every
political subdivision pledged to
lower governmental costs.
LANCER has made very definite
pledge. AS governor man can,
through the pressure of veto power
and other weapons, keep appropria-
tions down and payrolls commensurate
with necessary public service. If
LANCER means what he said at New
Rockford and the League political or
ganization runs its campaign along
the line Of tax reduction, real and
substantial such as LANCER promised
at New Rockford, it Is going to win
support to its banners.
State expenditures have been soar
ing since the Hanna administration.
Both League and I. v. A. factions
have been responsible for the in
crease. The increase in state gov
ernmental costs have been out Of line
with population increases. Voters
have, in the past, insisted on govern
mental service de luxe. They find
now that incomes have been curtailed
and they cannot afford the kind Of
government they have been having,
much Of which has been useless and
extravagant. If elected governor,
LANCER can cut state expenses by q
million II he will. The opportunity is
there.
OF course, Frank Hyland and other
candidates may make similar promises
but even II this should happen the
Hyland candidacy will labor under an
obvious handicap in this respect. 1t
may be unjust to him but he can
hardly escape the necessity Of sup
porting the record made by the pres
ent administration. And it is hardly
noteworthy from the tax-reduction
standpoint.
When the legislature met, the need
for economy was apparent and farm
ers and business men already were
crying for relief. They got nothing.
Instead, new commissions to create
new jobs and roll up new expense ac-
counts were created.
Later, when it became apparent that
revolt was in the air, economies were
instituted and the board Of admin
istration still Is carving away at the
expenditures Of state institutions.
The question arises, however, as to
whether this activity is not little
late to demonstrate effective political
foresight.