Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1933-01-19
Governor White Prepares Article
On Public Office Economy

On Public Office Economy
Herewith Is an article prepared
by Governor George White, at the
| request of newspapers and students
of government, summarizing the
views of Ohio's chief executive on
economy in the administration of
public offices:
AS in the world war we were
taught to "Give till it hurts, in
Ithis period of readjustment of meth
fods in business and. government we
are learning to "Save till it hurts. y
And in applying the economy adj
monition to governmental expendi-
lures we are finding that enforced
saving may hurt some public Off
cials accustomed to disbursing
seemingly limitless funds in times
of plenty. But no complaint that
retrenchment in the cost of govern
ment pains him is heard from the
average citizen.
Tax-burdened but inartciulate for
years, he has become tax-minded
and vocal His cry for relief is be-
ing heard and needed A beginning (
has been made toward tightening
the burden of direct and indirect
taxes taken from the individual in
come for the support of govern
mental functions and services.
For two years in the operation of
the state government we have en-
deavored to provide greater re-
turn for the tax dollar and to reduce
the number of tax dollars siphoned
from the private purse If we have
set an example which is to be de-
veloped until it's fullest possibili-
ties have been realized in township,
village, municipal. state and fed
eral governments, the benefits even
tually to be reaped will Make the
reduction of nearly twenty million
dollars in Ohio's expenditures in the
past biennium seem pittance by
comparison.
1t is not generally realized that
our state government derives no in
come from direct taxation. None of
the money which we hand in at the
county treasurer's window when we
pay our semi-annual tax bills goes
to pay the administration of state
government. The new intangible
tax, designed as substitute for the
old tax on personal property, yields
nothing to the state itself, except
the small portion allocated to the
state tax commission to pay for ad-
ministration of the act.
The states income is nearly all
derived from various forms of indi-
rect taxation. Inheritance taxes
normally yield us biennially be-
tween five and six million dollars.
Taxes on corporations bring in
something like nine millions. For
eign insurance companies contribute
nearly twelve millions. Public util-
titles are taxed for approximately
fourteen The states share of the
gasoline tax and motor vehicle Ii
cense fees normally amounts to
about sixty millions every two>years
The remainder of the total state
revenue comes from a long list of
comparatively minor contributions.
There are only two ways to bal
ance a budget-increase the income
or decrease the expenditures. We
had promised economy and were re-
solved to fulfill our pledges. Fur
ther taxation was out Of the ques-
ton. The only feasible course,
therefore, was to reduce expendi-
lures to level consistent with the
revenue available.
I. Until recently public officials, in
different and unrestrained, were
accustomed to piling up deficits in
stead of stretching pennies, and
saddling more taxes on the tax
sources, when revenues proved in
adequate to finance the multiplying
frills and fads of government.
Through the elimination Of nom
essentials of government, abolish
ment of unnecessary jobs and re-
duction of public payrolls in con-
formity with decreases found neces-
sary in industry, we have demon
strated that it is possible to check
the rising tide of administrative ex-
penditures. We have applied in gov
ernment in Ohio the principles of
thrift and economy that prudent
cit;1opo nra ntica in manaoament Of