The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1938-03-10

MARCH 10, 1888 |
JAMES P. MCDONNELL, PRESI-
dent of the Minnesota Taxpayers association,
calls the townships "the most economical
units in the government" and there is much
to say for his contention.
There are also very good reasons. Town.
ship levies are set directly by township vot-
ers who fully appreciate that they will pay,
personally, for any luxuries voted. Con-
sequently they vote none. There are no high
salaried jobs, no plush upholstered offices in
expensive buildings. Every item down to
the individual telephone call is of interest to
the taxpayer and is scrutinized by him. Since
officers are restricted in their spending to
the amounts voted at annual meetings, they
are not vulnerable when small groups make
loud noises for special projects.
When depression hit, most townships
had their bills paid and no debts hanging
over them. They could cut expenses to the
core and practically forget tax levies until
the storm passed. In fact township levies
are quite accurate barometer of the finan-
cial circumstances and feeling as to business
prospects in the rural areas.
One of the reasons for high government
costs today, is the feeling "the money is 60
ing to be spent anyway, lets get some of it. !"
Mcdonnell touches on this point in his sug
gestion: eff townships were eliminated, COM
petition would develop between townships
for county money, just as there is now COM
petition between counties for state aids and
in states for federal aids. This would likely
result in much higher town COSTS"
IF ALL THE STATE OFFICES VA
Gated willingly or otherwise during the Ben
son regime had been as wisely filled as that
of secretary to the executive committee, the
position being assumed by Julian E. Morten
of Redwood Falls, good many party lead
ers might have been disappointed but Min
nesotans in general would have little to COM
plain about.
In accepting the appointment, which he
had not sought, Morten leaves a practice
fully as lucrative as the position and con-
siderably more permanent, if not more pro-
missing. Beyond selfish desire, perhaps, for
the valuable experience and contacts which
the position offers, it is safe to say that he
wishes to be of what service he can to the
state and his party.
State is placed before party advisedly
for Morten is liberal who affiliated with the
lFarmer-Labor party some years back as the
one having principles nearest approximating
his own. He is not of that political nature
which pretends "our party is never wrong"
and he has nothing in common with the rad
iee1i ClCHlCHC WHICH, IIle pdIIy appears W ne
recognizing, at last, as more of liability
than an asset.
ABE HARRIS OF THE FL capitol
News Review" provides almost limitless sub
ject matter for editorials. This week he
| criticized st. Paul's Mayor Mark Gehan for
taking the realistic attitude that relief is a
current problem likely to continue current
and expenditures for relief should be from
cash on hand rather than borrowed money,
to be repaid with interest perhaps at some
future date when even more ex-taxpayers
have given up the ghost and gone on WPA.
MIR. Harris defends such borrowing on
the grounds that we borrowed to build roads,
streets and public buildings in conser-
vative regimes when bonds were issued to
allow few privileged contractors to cash in
on fat contracts"
| Surely Mr.. Harris doesn't contend that
labor isn't benefited evenly remotely by
PWA contracts? Was our school built for
the benefit of the contractor? Even a poll
tical writer should TRY to write sense.
WHEN THERE is so MUCH NEED
for more activity in the building trades and
heavy industries, it should be possible for a
corporation to invest in plants or equip
ment( Expecting to pay real estate or per-
fetlre the debt without paying an income
sonal property tax on the Improvement and
tax, an undistributed profits tax and per-
haps an excess profits tax on the amounts
paid on such debts.
JUST THREE LINES LEFT. ROOM
to remind the highway II and postoffce
committees not to give up the ship