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Letter to Editor
February 4, 1921
Ladysmith News Budget
Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wisconsin
What is this article about?
Letter to the Farm Department editor defends publishing positive Rusk County info to attract settlers. Breaks down personal tax payments ($318.81 total) and blames high taxes on lawmakers creating excessive offices and commissions. Uses 'Button, button, who's got the button?' metaphor to urge reform and cooperation for better laws.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
BUTTON, BUTTON, WHO'S GOT THE BUTTON?
Editor Farm Department:
I see by your letter published in your department a few weeks ago that you were partly blamed by a taxpayer for high taxes by boosting Rusk county land in your department. It seems to me if the editor publishes the facts or news as given him by the settler, farmers or business men, he has done his duty. Let us all help the farm department by giving the information desired, if we have any to give. We want to give the information that will stand inspection, so if prospective settlers read the farm department and see what has been done, it may induce them to invest in Rusk county lands, if they see money can be made here.
Now let us see what the tax collected this year is spent for. Of the $318.81 tax I paid this year, $23.45 went for state tax; $128.98 county tax; $51.59 town; $70.35 school; $44.44 town highway. The percentage will vary in the towns and school districts. Forty-seven and one-half per cent of my tax was county and state tax. Let us find out who is to blame for the high taxes.
Some blame this and some that. When I hear some taxpayers discuss high taxes on the street, it reminds me of a game us kids used to play years ago called, "Button, button, who's got the button?" We generally found the button on somebody sitting in the chair.
And I think the swivel chair occupant is to blame for at least some of our high taxes. For the last fifteen years or more, our lawmakers have created offices after offices and commission after commission, regardless of the public. Some of the laws are absolutely a farce and others could be improved on. Now let us get busy and hunt the button and then get together and pass some laws for the good of the public in general.
Yours for co-operation,
J. A. SCHMIDT
Carpet and rug weaving. P. Finnegan, Thorp, Wis.
21-46*
Editor Farm Department:
I see by your letter published in your department a few weeks ago that you were partly blamed by a taxpayer for high taxes by boosting Rusk county land in your department. It seems to me if the editor publishes the facts or news as given him by the settler, farmers or business men, he has done his duty. Let us all help the farm department by giving the information desired, if we have any to give. We want to give the information that will stand inspection, so if prospective settlers read the farm department and see what has been done, it may induce them to invest in Rusk county lands, if they see money can be made here.
Now let us see what the tax collected this year is spent for. Of the $318.81 tax I paid this year, $23.45 went for state tax; $128.98 county tax; $51.59 town; $70.35 school; $44.44 town highway. The percentage will vary in the towns and school districts. Forty-seven and one-half per cent of my tax was county and state tax. Let us find out who is to blame for the high taxes.
Some blame this and some that. When I hear some taxpayers discuss high taxes on the street, it reminds me of a game us kids used to play years ago called, "Button, button, who's got the button?" We generally found the button on somebody sitting in the chair.
And I think the swivel chair occupant is to blame for at least some of our high taxes. For the last fifteen years or more, our lawmakers have created offices after offices and commission after commission, regardless of the public. Some of the laws are absolutely a farce and others could be improved on. Now let us get busy and hunt the button and then get together and pass some laws for the good of the public in general.
Yours for co-operation,
J. A. SCHMIDT
Carpet and rug weaving. P. Finnegan, Thorp, Wis.
21-46*
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Taxation
Politics
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
High Taxes
Rusk County
Tax Spending
Lawmakers
Government Offices
Tax Reform
Cooperation
What entities or persons were involved?
J. A. Schmidt
Editor Farm Department
Letter to Editor Details
Author
J. A. Schmidt
Recipient
Editor Farm Department
Main Argument
high taxes result from lawmakers creating excessive offices and commissions; taxpayers should identify blame and cooperate to pass better laws for the public good.
Notable Details
Breaks Down Tax Payment: $23.45 State, $128.98 County, $51.59 Town, $70.35 School, $44.44 Town Highway Out Of $318.81 Total.
Metaphor Of Childhood Game 'Button, Button, Who's Got The Button?' To Describe Shifting Blame For Taxes.
Criticizes Laws As 'A Farce' And Calls For Hunting The 'Button' (Blame) On 'Swivel Chair Occupant' (Lawmakers).