Browning chief., 1951-01-12
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E3!l
Home Spending


pay to the federal government
are our greatest tax expense, but in
many states, the state, county,
school district and municipality :
run the federal government a close
second In California, for example,
the average amount paid in taxes.
for each resident of the state, men.
women and children, is S423.00 per
year. That was the figure for l949.
In California, it has reached point
where owning home is considered
a liability, and it has seriously af-
fected real estate sales.
In Los Angeles home build
ing concern is offering two-bed-
room homes in new subdivi-
sion on a monthly payment plan.
with for VeteranS-nO down
payment. The homes are new,
each are equipped with all late
conveniences. Handicapped, all
water, gas, electricity and sew
er connections, streets all paved,
sidewalks laid. Such homes sell
for as low as $40 per month,
plus only the item of taxes. De-
spite it all sales are not easy.
That item of taxes is the sticking
point. Each year they increase, and
no one can say where they will
stop. Despite the need for housing,
people are afraid to buy. Ten years
ago the taxes paid for each in
dividual-each man, woman and
i W, ii
ifornia.
In many counties of the state
the boards of supervisors and
the city councils are doing pro-
portionately as much, or even
more. wild and reckless spend
!. ing than congress. They spend
for anything that is desired.
with no thought given as to
what is needed, or what could
be done without in these eX-
ceptiOnaI times. And the peO-
pie go right along electing and
re-electing the same group of
spenders. those who are spend
ing the peoples money and
making necessary the raising
OF the peoples taxes.
Some day the public may awaken,
call for a reckoning. and install
some new faces. who. at least,
could not do a worse job. A house
cleaning time in our local govern
ment is in order. quite as much as
in congress We are in need of
savers. not spenders.
The enactment into law OF the re-
manning recommendations of the
Hoover commission for the reor-
ganiZation of the executive depart
ments of the federal government
will produce far-more simplified
form of government. much easier
for citizens to deal with, at a saw
ing in cost running into many mil
lions of dollars. without loss of
efficiency The 8Oth and the 8lst
sessions of congress enacted the
needed legislation covering some
so Der cent o. the recommendations,
and the other so per cent is a job
for the 82nd congress.
1t is subject that needs lead
ership. leadership the Repub-
licans can well afford to pro-
vide. and for which they would
receive SuDDort from both the
southern faction of the Demo-
Gratis and those of the New
Deal and Fair Deal faction. The
enactment of the needed legis-
lation is in no way considered
partisan issue. but the Dartv
that can claim credit for its
accomplishment will be paid
off bv the voters in the 1852
elections. Such legislation will
be almost universally popular
with the voters of the nation. ..
1t provides a painless method to
snrlc considerable extent of reduc-
ing government spending without
any loss in efficiency. The best
evidence that it will receive nfesi-
dental approval, regardless Of who
promotes the legislation. is that
President Truman asked for such
Legislation of both the 80th and 8lst
sessions of congress. The way each
citizen can help in securing that
remaining so per cent of the Hoover
commission recommendations is
for each one to tell his senators
and his representative that he wants
and expects their votes for it. It
is thing for which each voter can
make demand without. in. any
way, becoming involved in a parti-
san squabblc. And right noW-to-
day-is the time to do that.
The farmers, the. workers, the
small retail merchants, not the cock
tail party giving residents Of the
expensive apartments and the man.
sions of the big cities. are the rep.
resentative Americans, and Secre-
tary of State Dean Acheson with his
carefully tailored clothes isn't.
The later years of a long and busy
lifetime are the shortest. They speed
by like a Diesel powered stream
liner, too fast to count the tele-