White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1936-01-30
GOVERNMENTAL ECONOMY

Like Mark Twain's comment on the weather,
there is lots Of talk about governmental economy
but nothing ever seems to be done ABOUT IT, -, Ine
people. through the newspapers and through their
spokesmen shout their demands for decreased ex-
nenditures by governmental agencies and, IKE
The person who doesn't let his right hand see what
his left hand is doing ask the government TO
spend more money for their special benefit
There are two ways of achieving economical
administration of public affairs Either the elected
officials themselves can turn dear ear 10 Tue nu
aerous pleas and demands for special aid and
hold down the expenditures to only the most nee
essary phases of government, or the people them
selves can take the lead by demanding that the
officials economic and doing everything IN their
power to discourage spending OF public funds Tor
all but vital needs
How much good does it do the people to elect
an economical administration IT they turn rlght
around and ask them to spend vast sumsy
Just now we are alarmed at the size OF the ma
tional debt. We want it reduced. But how do we
want it reduced? We apparently believe that the
government can reduce expenditures and at the
same time find money to construct a PROJECT Ior
the benefit of certain locality, or certain group.
We apparently believe that the government can
pay old age pensions, unemployment Insurance.
relief for the needy, aid the veterans, and carry
on the many other financial transactions de-
manded of them and still keep expenditures With
ID the limits in vogue before those functions be-
came part Of governmental activity.
At the past two elections the voters OF TINS
state have enacted laws forcing the local and state
governments to keep their expenditures within
an amount which could be raised by limited tax
alton This is a splendid move and would lead to
economy in government save for one thing: the
people have refused to limit their demands to the
same degree County commissioners, as an IN.
stance are definitely limited as to the amount OF
taxes they can levy This limit makes it necessary
for them to cut out all unnecessary expenditures
and to stretch each dollar as far as possible Ana
vet they probably receive more demands for funds
from organized groups today than they did before
the 4O-mil limit law was passed.
In some counties the commissioners have re-
fused to make such appropriations, even when
they themselves believe the object a worthy one
In other counties, they have yielded to the de-
nands and have made emergency appropriations.
Some day, of course, there will have to be reck-
oning. And the taxpayers, the people who de- !es,
manded that the appropriations be made, Will
repudiate those officials and elect others VINO
promise them an economical administration For
bv that time they will have forgotten that 1t was
themselves who asked for the expenditures, and
when their new officials fail to live up to their
promise Of economizing they will lay the blame
on sscorrupt politicians" rather than on them
selves, where it rightfully belongs.
Governmental economy is objective which
,l,o,,ld no wa1comed nv EVERYONE To achieve 1t