The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-02

Boston, January 2-Pointing out that a grave emergency" still ex- ists in regard to state and munich | pal expenditures in New England, | Chairman John F. Tinsley of the community development commit | tee of the New England council declared today that despite the fact that New England enters the year 1894 with a business situation measurably better than existed | twelve months ago, continued vigilance is required to maintain public expenditures and taxes at the levels to which they have been reduced"
 Chairman Tinsley called the at- tention of public officials, represen- tatives of the people in state leg islatures and municipal councils, and members of taxpayers associa- tions in New England to a joint statement by the state tax officials of the six New England states, made public by the New England council here today. The statement is signed by Frank H. Holley, state tax assessor, Maine; John R. Spring, chairman, state tax com mission, New Hampshire; Erwin M. Harvey, commissioner of taxes, Vermont. Henry F. Long, commis- sioner of corporations and taxation, Massachusetts; Zenas w. Bliss, chairman, board of tax commis- sioners, Rhode Island; William H. Hackett, tax commissioner, Con- | necticut.
 Nothing will add more to the economic strength and stability of New England than the mainte- nance of sound policies of finance in every unit of our government, MT Tinsley declared: "To this end, | the New England council hopes that the warning and suggestions of the New England state tax off, cials will receive everywhere the serious consideration they de- serve.'
 The statement of the six state tax officials follows in full text:
 "The New England state tax off, cials welcome the opportunity to expres complete approval of the leadership developed and consist ently pursued by the New England council in constantly pressing for an aroused citizenship which un- derstandingly will adapt the needs l to the present ability of the people to contribute.
 "The statement of principles subscribed by the heads of all de- partments of state taxation in New England in the fall of 1881, re- affirmed and somewhat amplified by the statement in the fall of 1882 seems so comprehensive in scope | as to call for little other than further reaffirmation. Although elaboration of theory is possible and may be quite limitless, never theless it is hardly the province of a composite expression of this character to enter into detailed discussion of ways and means which can only result in an inva- sion of the realm of divergent viewpoints.
 | Subsequent experience appears to have demonstrated the sound ness of the principles heretofore expressed. We note with satisfac- tion the trend toward increasing tax consciousness and the growing concern over the employment ot identical tax bases by a plui llitJ of governmental agencies, the null tiplicity of overlapping taxing jur-
 isdictions and the constantly
 increasing burdens upon real es. tate. Such concern is at least some evidence of a healthy awakening which should in time secure to the respective units of government each without encroachment upon the other, those sources of rev. enue naturally belonging to each