| Show Attempt to Reduce Local State Tax Branded as Futile Delegates to Regional Convention Of Governmental Units Hear Plea for Postwar Work Projects Attempts to reduce local and state taxes now are futile approximately 50 delegates to the conference of the Council of State Governments were told old at the opening Friday of a two- two day regional meeting at the Hotel otel Utah The men who ale aie responsible for running the local and state governments with the taxpayers' taxpayers money were urged to build buill up surpluses surpluses surpluses sur sur- pluses for financing public works programs in the postwar period They were warned that this is important because the future of local government will be determined determined determined deter deter- mined by efficiency and financial solvency after the war Most 1 Taxes Earmarked The great difficulty of or reducing reducing reducing ing taxes arises out of the fact the bulk of state taxes are earmarked earmarked earmarked ear ear- marked asserted David Eccles coordinator state war industries division for Oregon at Portland We sho should ld make every effort to put earmarked monies into the g general fund and use the total resources against the total needs Mr Eccles said political candidates candidates candidates candi candi- dates who are running on a ticket that promises the public they will curtail taxes and services in state and local governments are tare either guilty of ignorance or orare are wilfully misrepresenting the situation because because because be be- cause cutting taxes c cant can't nt be done He said nonfederal expenditures are too heavy and need reducing In an address on state and local fiscal policies relative to defense Dixwell Pierce secretary board of equalization for California and general conference chairman sai sail saU that when the defense emergency passes the federal government should reduce its military programs programs programs pro pro- grams at a rate that will not unduly unduly unduly un un- un- un duly shock the economic system and will avoid casting upon state and local agencies burdens greater than they can assume A prepared statement read by Mr 1 Pierce suggested that during the defense period state and local governments avoid o 0 n s which may compete with national war work for labor materials or equipment P Public works however should be postponed until after the war except pt where their construction is vital for the defense program he said Such postponements will help release labor and materials for war work now and will go far toward bu building up a reservoir of necessary and useful projects for construction in the post de period Opposes Transfers His statement also said functions functions functions and burdens assumed by the federal government should not be transferred to the states simply to relieve the federal budget nor should customary be withdrawn without opportunity given to make necessary sary financial al adjustments He said the burden of or federal expenditures should be reduced by elimination of ot employment creat ing activities undertaken during the depression and by curtailment of emergency projects that dont don't serve the war program Oliver P. P Wheeler director of research Federal Reserve bank of San Francisco pointed out that the real cost of this war is being being be being be- be ing borne by us who are In It now We we cant can't pass that cost along 10 to the next generation no matter how we may finance It Must l ray Pay Way Now For years now we have been pointing at the federal governments government's governments government's governments government's govern govern- ments ment's deficit financing saying it represents a tremendous burden being passed on to future genera genera- The same idea is commonly accepted as to that part of the cost of war which is not met by current taxes The curtailment of our living standards not to mention the killIng killing killing kill kill- ing and maiming desolation and nd despair that is yet to come will certainly make us realize that we share with others here and now the cost of this war The real costs of war cannot be shifted to the future David L. L Robinson Jr director public administration service expressed expressed ex ex- pressed the opinion that state and local government officials are not aware of the critical situation faced by the nation He also said he thought it would be a mistake to reduce local taxes He encouraged encouraged encouraged aged the building up of or surpluses for financing public works programs programs programs pro pro- grams after the war The final session will be held Saturday at 10 a a. a m. m |
