The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-12-31
THE ONE THING THEY NEVER MENTION.

We are being constantly told that North Carolina
collect taxes that the Legislature this year going to
put additional burdens on the people of the state
must expand state departents must provide additional
short must do more for everybody but the
payer and will probably do little something for him,
namely give him another kick in the seat of Government
For some weeks Governor Hodges and various
state officials have been holding conferences to condition
the people the inevitable, increase in taxes The
public be prepared to realize the need for and to
the taxes expected to be imposed Arguments both
exhaustive and intended to be convincing and refuabe
advanced to prove the necessity of additional tax bur-
dens to be thrown the people of the state.
every newspaper front page there sticks out the
recital from day to day of what going But through 1t
we see anyone advance the idea that it might be good
thing strive for efficiency in Government to cut
abolish wasefu bureaus to dismiss the many useless
incompetent employees which all of us know cutterng
many of state departments We are told that the
state carries on payros $1,000 employees supported
by taxpayers Roughly this about II employees for
inhabitants of the state average of
$50 state employees per county Of the average will
be found any county, but vast numbers
tered in Raleigh other centers of Government admins
traton North Carolina Reports have it, that North Caro-
lima supports the largest capita burden of
employees of any state in the Union not even excepting
We have vet to see where anyone in authority has sug
gested that might reduce needless and relieve
peope of the heavy burdens put upon them by the poll
tcians We will look for long time for this to happen for
there few people public office with the moral stamina
political bravey to suggest such thing To kick anyone
of job has far reaching effect for each employee
CARELESS of his worth is voter and he has relatives
friends, or creditors who also voters
lies the secret of the Increasing burdens
thrown upon the people of the state from to by
Legislators For while the state must continue to employ
the necessary personnel to operate it, and while the major
y this personnel consists of loyal efficient and patriotic
people, the cost of living from to for them
necessary to vote pay increases and additional de-
partment appropriations. But while give only slight
Increase to the loyal and faithful these increases must
likewise to the inefficient deadwood who clutter up the
Way We take of the useless who there
through favortism and pressure of politicians many of
whom relatives of politicians who couldn't wouldn't
otherwise living for themselves but might have to
supported by their political knsmen Most any wein
formed person in N c. will quietly tell that the depart
ents could operate just we'll and in better
if 25 per of the employees weeded out provided
only the deadwood dropped But this Is cent would
WELD an enormous the length and breadth of the
state and roll mighty tidal at election time suffi
brighten the politicians out of their pants and most
of them out of their jobs.
Yes taxes will be higher next year.