The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, August 24, 1916, Page 14

AT N R EA RN A . Public Expendlturee Increasmg at‘ en Alarrumg Ra‘te' Heavy State Deficit to Be Faced: First of Next Year \ By Frank E. Packard : SERIOUS condition confronts the people of North Dakota. In spite of the fact that there was levied in taxes' last year almost sixteen millions of dollars for all purposes, both local and state, there is at the present time a very large deficit in the state treasury. Just how large this deficit is, it is difficult to ascertain, but that on January 1st, 1917, it will be of very large proportions is unques- tioned. The same is true of the average local treasury. Public expenditures increase more rapidly than officials are willing to increase the tax burden, a policy resulting in a hand to mouth method of conducting public affairs which is prolific of treasury deficits. FAXES AT PRESENT GROWTH WOULD DOUBLE IN. EIGHT YEARS At the risk of becoming tiresome -to the readers of the Leader, I wish to.call attention again to the fact that the tax burden for 1915 for every man, woman and child in the state is but a few cents less than $25 dollars and that the increase of the 1916 levy has but a few cents less than $3 per capita. At this rate our taxes will double in eight years. We are fast drifting toward that con- dition of affairs which is to be found in the older settled communities. Select- ing two average cities, one in Canada and one in the United States, what con- dition do’ we find? --We find -that’ in Toronto, ' Canada, 'it- takes. an' average citizen with a family 41 days to earn money to pay his city taxes, let alone his county, province-and Doniinion taxes. In Pittsburg, - Pennsylvania,’ - the . average -city tax burden for each family of five is $1.-75 and it takes the average man, earning $17.50 a week,- ten ‘weeks$ to pay his share of’the ‘cost of the local city government,-apart from his share'of the costof the county, state and national government.~ The Pittsburger; eammg ~$2 ‘a.day had:to work 87 days, of more than- three -months; one-fourth of thé whole ‘year; to earn the $175] his average contribation to the political management of his local affairs. _ ® What is the situation in* North Dakota? At the usual ratio of one man engaged in productive work to four .in non-productive, the latter including the women, the children, the aged and incap- acitated, the lame, the halt and the blind and the idle, such as they are—the 1915 tax levy shows $125 as the exact average sum which the head of the family has to pay for his government. Whether he labors with his hands or his head makes no essential difference for the present purposes, as the $125 per How many weeks do you work to pay vour share of the public expenditures‘J Seven, if you are-an “average” pro- ducer, says chairman of state : tax comm1ss10n. year has to be_ prg’gluced and ylelded up to the tax gatherer._ That the workmen do Dot -in-all- cases -have- to ‘step up" in person ‘to. the county treasurer’s- office to settle the tax bill: does™ not' prevent the amount from' ‘being surely’ collected from them in the increased.cost ‘of their food and clothes and in"the prices: they have to: pay for whatever they. buy, whether. 'service or ‘material. This tax bill ‘of $125.for .the average family of North. Dakota is fourteen per cent:.of t‘he average annual wages for the average man a8 given by--the United States census.:So. the ultimate conclu- sion. is that. a. situation confronts the .people in North Dékota, where consider- ably. more than’ ofle—severlth of the total labor of the average man in the state .must be given up to the support-of state and local governments; that more than * Ballot the Safety Valve (Editorial in Fargo Search-nght) ‘When one remembers the bitter and disgraceful attacks on the Nonpéartisan League before the primaries, a farmers’ organization, and when one remémbers ‘the refusal by the last legislature to pass an act for a terminal elevator, notwith- standing the people had twice ordered it, one can readily see that the ballot is the safety valve in government. If the masses of men did not have the ballot the classes would soorr become so arrogant,‘dictatorial and defiant that the only resort of the people would be revolution. However, a manner has been provided for a peaceful settlement of all' controversies in th.ls state and this nation. The people of this state on June 28 took matters in hand through the ballot box and made “the changes that they deemed necessary and needful. If they had not had the-ballot-box to resort to, they would have been defied by those in power and the controlling classes would have become still more defiant, the news- papers that were opposing the- people would have become still tore oppressive, and eventually. the only resource, without the ballot, might have been revolution. The people have the ballgt .ang wilk keep it, as'they “should: " They- are begint ning to take .paiisctoipost: themselves: thoroughly:- upon.ali_pubhc imatters:. ’l‘hé farmers’ picnics and similars’ gabnenngs in the summer-tinme, and; gathenngs of the farmers+in different localities in" the . winter time are the real basic gatherings for people’s government, and should be continued and encouraged - everywhere. The benefits flowing from them are much greater and much more important than generally considered and understood. Soon the city and village people will go to the country much .mote, and ' to these gatherings, and in them the prin-- tiples of government will be: “diseussed and promoted There are rachcal - changes in the- makmg and- maintaining of government pending. -'SHOWED -UP STRONG If the’ present plans of the Nonpar- tisan League are carried out next fall— and there is little doubt that they will be, for the members have demonstrated that they will' stick—there will be numer- ous new faces in the next session of the state assembly. 7 The result of the primary election showed that of the 98 candidates for the house, indorsed by the League in the 44 districts of- the 49 in the state, the’ League nominated 87. Of the 22 candidates for the senate, indorsed. by -the 'League in the :44 dis- tricts of the 947in the state, the League nominated ‘17. % “Scores of battlessearred pohtlcal war Horses -who regularly line.up-at the pie counter have : been dec1s1vely defeated and relegated to privatedife, -+ = The farmers of the' state got txred' “being: played ‘horse . with” ‘and revolted and for the first time in the granger his- tory of North Dakota they will have a ticket of their own making to vote on at the November election. They -can vote for. their own men and select a legisla- ture to serve the best interests-of the farmers of Narth Dakota and the state, The farmers refusé longer to be farmed -and -exploited except for their own . best interests—COURTENAY GAZETTE. 5 MAN OF THE HOUR ' The first appearance of Lynn J. Frazier, Republican candidate for gov- - * ernor, at Mott last Thursday brought a larse number of farmers, : their wives and ‘famjlies to.'town all éager to listen to ‘the'Man of the Hour ‘who made such a phenomenal race, backed by the. Nonpar- . txsan League.—-MOTT SPOTLIGH ' . PAGE FOURTEEN the first’ hour and one-half of each day S toil must go to the payment of taxes. EIGHT WEEKS OF LABOY , TO MEET TAX EXPENSE : Or again, the head of a family earning $15 a week must work eight and one- third weeks to meet his tax bill; one earning $17.50 a week must work seven weeks and one day to meet his tax bill; one earning $20 a week must work six and one-quarter weeks'to meet his tax 'mll, and one earning $25 a week must work five weeks to meet his tax bill. The ‘increase “in thetax burden of $3 per capita ‘means that another week has been added to the length of time which the head of the family earning $15 a - week must labor to meet his tax bill It means that the increase in the tax burden during the twelve months is nearly $2 000,000; it means that if this ratie of increase is mmntamed that by 1924 the tax burden in North Dakota per capita will be $50 instead of $25, and that the amount of labof which the head of every family must devote to the pay- ment of tax: wr!l be approxnmately. deubled. This condition demands senous atten- tion. The incoming state adnnmstrgtxon will find a YVery large deficit in its state treasury. GOOD PAY The Union Commercial College, Grand Forks, N. D., recently placed Arthur Fedji with the Bank of York and Miss Thea Jermeland with ~the. Larimore ° Merc. Co. Several fine positions now open. One bays $75 a month to start with. Seeure your ™ business education at the U. C. C. and get in line for a-good position. free-cataleg. 49-2¢ .0.0‘...,..‘... _How to meet the deficit v_vith-_ . Board only $2.50. Send for - out adding the increased burden on to acre property, or the property generally. of the average man,_rs the problem con= frontmg the ' incoming adm.lmstratlon. If the Leader can spare the space, ‘I ~“would like to discuss these problems in a’series of,articles. IF YOU LOVE YOUR WIFE don’t forget to get a Niles adjustable clothes line for her. It lets down to save reaching and raises up for dry- ing purposes. PS Manufactured by Niles Supporting Hook Co. 810 Front St. : I:‘ARGO, N.D. Dakota Conservatory of } Music (Inc.) 18-24 Broadway Fargo, N. D. Excellent instruction - in . all - branehes. ‘of M;ilsic by competent teachers at resson:bk prices. Send us $3.50 for a keg of *° freshly Superior . Herring (net weight 100 lbs) 50 1b. keg, $2.00. We have also Lake Superior Trout, Bluefin Whitefish: and Menominee ' Whitefish. Send for price -list. - We have been selling fish dl?ct the consumer since 1807 and any bank ix Duluth will tell you . we are responsible. S. MOR’I‘ERUD FISH w. 1929 W. Superior S lh. ‘Hlnn. W. C. RATHBUN Plumbing, Steam and Hot - ¥ Water Heating - | New Rockford, N. D. - V. E. BEAUDRY - 'Bteam and Hot Water Heating, Plumbing and Electrical Work. We make ity of el lightl: s a lpeehl r of electric lighting New/Rockford - North Dakots Kodak Films Developed and' Printed. All Work: Guaranteed - . Camera_Supplies L. P. WELLER New. Rockford, N. D. SACRED HEART COLLEGE AND ACADEMY: . s Under the care of the Presentation Nums, = ./ An ideal location:” The courses of Instruction comprise’ every branc’h sultable education - of Young Ladies. th “St. Aloysius Hall” for boyl in. connection with the Amem;l 2 For complete information and catalogue, address Superioress—Sacred Heart Academy, Upper Bmldw. Flrlv, N. D.. -~ » Christian -Churches east and west. ercial ‘work, if desired. For catnlog ‘and information, address Vi .Tohn w. Bansel, Prel. a Musical Education Taught. Stone Building P Fargo College belonga to the splendid galyx.of educntlonal institutions founded by the ;- It -aims tq place within th women of the northwest a thorough education. Regu!ar college courses with electives, leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Arta FARGO COLLEGE Fargo, N. Dakota. FARGO COLLEGE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC . The Sta.ndard Mnsu'él Institution of the Northwest. All Branches o! Fér Catalog and Information Address = - - S e S ALBERT J, smmmns, mmtor. : e reach’of young men and - Pnparntory deputment withmaf:fi R. P. Rohlnson, Dun. salted ~ Lake g