Show alse E Is it false economy or is ia it something something something some some- I thing else that prompted state representative representative rep rep- Thos H. H Burton Durton to inI in- in I traduce two bills into the state legislature legislature leg leg- legislature last week which if enacted I. I into law will keep the taxpayers in ill t r greater ignorance of what becomes of the hard earned money they pay into the public Pie lie has Introduced two bills one affecting the clerk of the school board and the other the county clerk In each case the bills provide provide provide pro pro- vide that these two officers shall be largely freed from the responsibility responsibility of publishing annually in Ju a at 1 t no a detailed sl statement o of the finances receipts and disbursements disburse disburse- disbursements I ments to whom and for what what what-of of I the he school board and the county offices as Is now required by law The law now reads roads I Section 1555 The count county a auditor auditor audi audi- tor shall prepare and publish during during during dur dur- ing the month of January of each year r In ill some newspaper having 1 a. i general circulation In ill the county a a. detail detailed d st statement o of the financial condition of the county and all re receipts and expenditures for the previous year jear ending December 31 showing 7 Each warrant d issued to whom and on what account provided provided provided pro pro- vided that If more moru than one warrant warrant war war- rant has been Issued to one Individual Individual individual ual on the same account during the year ear the aggregate amounts sh shall be shown in the statement as one 1 I warrant arrant and provided further that I various items paid out to Individuals individuals individuals that are charges on the county I shall not be published but the same I may maj be stated as a total and the itemized statement of the same shall be on file In the auditors auditor's of of- fice Mr Burtons Burton's bill would c cause use this same No 7 to read as follows u 7 Showing the aggregate expenditure expenditure expenditure ex ex- ex- ex from each fund budgeted and an itemized statement of said expenditures to be kept on file inthe in I Ithe the auditors office I It was a wise legislature that enacted the present law law It was s' s sIdone done Idone In the Interest of protecting public funds from tho the peculations peculations' i f and fraud of unscrupulous officers to guard against waste In public expenditures I ex-I ex- ex i and to give ghe to the man who foots the bill the bill tho taxpayer taxpayer- I j i jan an opportunity to study without being embarrassed and without without Continued on page 5 6 I False Fase Economy Continued from Page one ono i creating an undue amount of suspicion suspicion sus sus- because he hc has tho the temerIty temerity temer temor- ity to enquire into its finances the finances of the corporation in which ho he is 18 a stockholder What finer opportunity is afforded afford afford- ed the tho taxpayer to learn a n lesson in taxation and In civil government than to be bo able to sit ait down dO in the quiet of his home and study an intelligent in in- In financial statement of his and his county than is s afforded af at- forded now Taxation Is one of tho the paramount questions this legislature will bo be called to consider For weeks and months factions actions and Independents have been delving Into this great subject that so vitally affects U us usall usall all they have been and nr are presenting presenting presenting pre pre- their findings and their theories much to the confusion of oC the average r taxpayer We are asked to support this theory or that theory to give ghe more here and more there and we wonder sometimes It It Is all necessary The Tho average taxpayer does not want to be niggardly niggardly nig nig- gardly In his support of state and local institutions ns but by that same token neither does he want to bethe be betho tho the victim of unscrupulous interests Tell him the tho truth and you vou can depend depond depond de- de pond pend on him doing his f full share 1 I i The Tho author of tho the proposed bill does not believe evidently that It itis I Is any of our business to know at least to know all all what becomes of our tax money Instead of oC wanting wanting want want- want want-I ing us to know he wants to keep i ius us in greater darkness and if his bills are enacted into law lam we will I know less as to what becomes of our school money which is 50 percent per percent percent cent of our taxes and our county money Wo We may not be he ablo able to I understand all tho the departments of our state and their financing but we are learning more and more I about our schools and our county funds These two institutions are I Inot not being handicapped because weare we weare are learning more about them but I Ithe the they are getting better bettor support because because because be be- cause we tive better hetter understand their i I needs thanks to the published state statements statements ments monts made of their receipts and expenditures l' l If It it is economy Judge Burton Durton seeks then It is false economy Every cry taxpayer Is willing to pay a alair I fair lair price for Cor that which he lie receives receives re re- but likewise does he resent tho the su suggestion that he must pay and pay glad gladly without knowing the Hie inside facts in the case This Is not an age gge ge for the suppressing ot of Information about public affairs This Js Is an nn age when our citizens believe as Patrie Patric Henr Henry Kenry did when he declared In his immortal Appeal Appeal Ap peal to Arms For my nw part Whatever What That Whatever ever anguish of spirit it may cost I am willing to know the truth to know the worst and to provide for IL 1 t. t Not less publicity but more if it we Ve want to understand our public institutions Understanding is the mother of at confidence and confidence confidence dence 1 nce is the fore runner to support |