The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-09-21

on the solution OF problems
; state finance. I have never shirke
or attempted to evade the RESPONSE
bility for my actions and at the sam
time expect others who are associat
ed with me in political or bushes
way to assume the credit or blame fo
their own brain children. I have n
apologies for my action In this matter
I did what I sincerely felt was TO
the good of the state and what tn
exigencies of the moment seemed t
require, but refuse to have the legis
lative proposals Of another evel
though he be q governor, palmed Of
on the public as coming from me. I
there was merit In the governors sug
gestions at the time they were mad
he Is entitled to all of the credit;
he now finds that the suggestions wer
founded on bad policy he must assum
whatever unfavorable responsibility
accrues.
Made Definite Promise
During the legislative session ru
mors were more or less current tina
a demand would come from the gov
ernor for some form OF a sales tax, /,
conformity with his public campaign
utterances. Those of us who had par
ticipated in the conference referred t,
placed little credence in these re
ports because in that meeting he hat
pledged himself that no sales tai
would be sponsored by the admins
tration These rumors became SO per
sistent that Congressman Lemke ant
had further conference with thu
governor and we left the governor;
mansion with the assurance that NJ
sales tax measure would be proposed
by him to the legislature. To my ut
ter surprise and CONSERVATION the
! next morning personal appeal from
the governor for a sales tax meaSur,
was placed before the legislators ane
| this appeal Is matter OF record II
the Journals of the Senate and thu
House.
shall dwell but briefly on the his.
tory Of the passage OF this measure
through the legislature; on the fact
chat 1t was several times defeated be.
! fore worn-out and harassed member;
finally gave 1t approval on the last
long night of the session; on the
methods of coercion that were usec
by the administration when every ar
gument had been exhausted and wher
every promise OF political reward hac
been rcsorted to; on the recorded vote
OF a bare constitutional majority II
both houses, and In neither house 3
majority of the members OF the party
which carried him to victory IN the
campaign; nor on the fact that the
rewards to those who submerged theil
judgment ard the wishes of their con-
stituents to the assurances Of jobs anc
POLITICAL preferment as later recorded
in the payrolls Of the departments q
the state.
Favors Script Law
| Just prior to the passage OF TIN
Sales Tax. the Scrip Law passed botf
houses. Now let me point out tina
the passage of the Sales Tax COM
pletely nullified the workings Of tn.
Scrip Bill for If both were put int
operation no one would voluntaril,
support double sales tax It ma,
be worth while to point out that tn.
Scrip Law provided no opportunit,
for the building up Of a large force
Of paid collectors and inspectors wht
would recognize no duty paramount
to that of serving the administration
which gives them official life. Thu
fact that all of the collections made
under the sales tax law now before us
are to be first available for the pay.
ment of salaries of these collector!
may be responsible for the fact tina
this child of adversely finds such favo
with the present state administration
It will not be amiss for those Of vol
who are asked to vote for this meas.
ure to inquire of those who are 81
vigorously supporting it In the pres
ent campaign whether they expect tx
reap material reward in the event o.
its approval by the people.
Also let me point out to you tina
any form of sales tax will, unavoidab
~, pyramid the cost of living ane
cause you to pay not only 2cc but II
some some instances as high as 1Opt
or 1870 more for the purchases vol
make. All taxes must be paid in thu
final analysis by the worker and the
farmer. The businessman will, in sell
protection. pass OH the tax, and t.
make use Of honlely and we'll worr
slogan: Zones pays the freight"
LANCER Lacked Courage
Let me also commend the courag,
Of Senator Nye, who. in his declara,
ton against the sales tax at Sykes
ton, came out openly in opposition t
that measure. His attitude on thu
question is entirely consistent with hi
record in Congress where he has al
ways been an opponent Of nationa
sales tax, taking the position that i
was move to relieve the larger in
terests from contributing to the fin
| ancial support OF the government
through the income tax. Let me sa!
that on this occasion the governor
had not the moral courage to speal
his mind in the presence of the JUNO
senator; that in his remarks at tn,
time he virtually repudiated the sale
tax but did valiantly rally to its de
tense In later addresses when neithe
the senator nor were present to an
swer his charges.
My attention has been called to al
editorial appearing in the Mclean
County Independent, one of the few
papers in the state openly defending
the sales tax measure. in which tn
writer criticizes Senator Nye for no
assisting the members Of the legisla
ture when they were struggling will
the problem Of taxation. quote from
the article as follows: "Lemke, al
though elected to Congress for tn
first time, was able to find time t
assist the state legislators when the
framed the compromise bill. On
cannot expect. perhaps, that q mem
Der Of the most august body in tn
world should lower himself to aid
mere state legislature"
Author Has Promise
The author Of this statement can
not avail himself Of the plea Of ig
norance, for he has long fished In tn
troubled waters Of politics and tn
price Of his political allegiance is cur
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