anaheim-gazette 1937-08-05

ANAHEIM GAZETTE Established 1870 Orange County's Oldest Newspaper HENRY KUCHEL Editor and Publisher 1887-1935 The Anaheim Gazette has been owned and edited by the same family since 1875. Published every Thursday at 250 East Center Street, Anaheim, Calif. MRS. HENRY KUCHEL THEODORE B. KUCHEL Editors and Publishers FROM RAGS TO RICHES From deficit to surplus; from rags to riches—that's California's new success story, as penned by State Controller Harry B. Riley. We're still a bit tattered, Controller Riley admits, but there's a rainbow on the river. With upswing in business, state revenues—from the sales tax, the income tax and other levies—are coming up in a gallop. And by 1939, he forecasts, the present $20,000,000 general fund deficit will be replaced by a $31,000,000 surplus. The state's vaults will be bulging with gold. That is refreshing news for many reasons. For one thing, it may foreshadow a reduction in state taxes two years hence. For another, it means that we can be done with registered warrants and wobbly state credit. Government can take off its patched pants and don a new suit. But we sincerey hope that our men of government, flushed with new-found riches, will remember the lessons of depression and not let down the bars to unbridled spending. Most California taxpayers still haven't accomplished the transition from rags to riches. And California taxpayers are responsible for the soon-to-be bulging treasury at Sacramento. Let's have a surplus, by all means. But let's keep it intact to provide against a future rainy day, or to pave the way for a much needed easement in tax burdens. LAY OF DIMISHING RETURNS The old fallacy of "soaking the rich" to finance government activities is nowhere more thoroughly exploded than Most California taxpayers still haven't accomplished the transition from rags to riches. And California taxpayers are responsible for the soon-to-be bulging treasury at Sacramento. Let's have a surplus, by all means. But let's keep it intact to provide against a future rainy day, or to pave the way for a much needed easement in tax burdens. LAY OF DIMISHING RETURNS The old fallacy of "soaking the rich" to finance government activities is nowhere more thoroughly exploded than in the record of the surtax on incomes for the years 1916 to 1920 inclusive, when surtax rates on incomes rose from 13 to 65 per cent. As rates rose, taxable incomes in the higher brackets steadily diminished, in spite of the fact that the total national net income registered rapid annual gains. For example, in 1916, total net income was $6,299,000,000, while individual net incomes over $300,000 amounted to $993,000,000, and the number of tax returns filed by individuals in the $300,000 bracket numbered 1,296. Contrast this with figures for 1920, when surtax rates had jumped to 65 per cent. Total net income for the nation in the latter year amounted to $23,-786,000,000, yet individual net incomes in excess of $300,000 amounted to only $246,000,000, and returns filed in the $300,000 bracket numbered only 395. Today the peak surtax rate is 75 per cent, and "surprise" is voiced by government officials at the "disappointing" results in income tax returns. Disregarded is the fact that excessive taxation drives capital into tax-exempt government bonds. Likewise disregarded is the fact that when government "confiscates" two-thirds to four-fifths of personal income above certain amounts, the incentive to save and earn money disappears. Someday public officials will realize that there is one "law" that cannot be repealed or legislated out of existence: The law of diminishing returns. WHEN 111,000 AMERICANS DIED A generation has passed since the sinking of the Titanic, yet that great disaster is still well remembered. Fifteen hundred persons died. The Johnston flood will never be forgotten—the world was aghast when the death total of 2,209 was tabulated. The World War was the mostanguinary conflict in history. In it, 50,000 Americans lost their lives, and they are still mourned. The recent Texas school explosion, which killed 294 children, brought universal sympathy and horror. Yet last year 111,000 Americans met accidental death—more than twice as many as were killed in the great war—and it caused hardly a ripple in the flow of news. We read of some of those accidents in our paper—"John Jones, aged 45, died in emergency hospital after being struck by an auto- BOARD MAY CHANGE The present moment is a watchful waiting and liaison on the part of those who their ears close to the point ground in Orange county. It is a prospect that the supervise picture may change quite rapidly within the near future. This possibility has not done with a proposed recall report reported in the First Second districts. That move had nothing behind it but the journalistic sensationalism. The effective fact in the illness of Supervisor Fitz the Santa Ana district. He reported in much worse condition than has been known. He apparently had ferred a stroke of some sort may be compelled to resign. In such circumstances comes the duty of the governor appoint a man to fill out the Around this appointment hinge the possibility of a change in the supervisorial up. Except on the flood control sue the present board has a stick-togetherness. Little political leadership has been in evidence. There has been no unity group among the members. A change in the First D (Santa Ana) representation bring about a different and effective line-up. A conservative of them which has represented that trict in all past years would in a definitely conservative city on the board. Or the opposite might easily become The situation is full of positities. WHAT'S A TERM As a matter for speculation question of a supervisorial pointment gives rise to a tion. The broad statement made that the governor apa person to fill the vacant remainder of the term. Does it mean just that? The question came up or more ago in connection with the appointment of a county umer and a county recorder. The World War was the most sanguinary conflict in history. In it, 50,000 Americans lost their lives, and they are still mourned. The recent Texas school explosion, which killed 294 children, brought universal sympathy and horror. Yet last year 111,000 Americans met accidental death—more than twice as many as were killed in the great war—and it caused hardly a ripple in the flow of news. We read of some of those accidents in our paper—"John Jones, aged 45, died in emergency hospital after being struck by an automobile"—turned the page, and forgot them. This astounding callousness—this attitude of "Accidents always happen to the other fellow, not to me or mine"—is death's greatest ally. Among men, heart disease is the only thing which kills more men than accidents. Such plagues as cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia—plagues which are being fought by all the resources of science—are down the list. Recklessly driven automobiles, burns, falls, drownings, and so on—these are the great killers. Practically every accident is preventable—and this is especially true of the motor car, greatest of all the great killers. Care, competence, courtesy—these make up the accident prevention triumvirate. It's up to you—to all of us. France and Germany have signed up a trade accord. It's funny how these "traditional enemy" nations can get together in Europe when it's a matter of business. In spite of labor troubles, European war threats and everything else, the American people are burning up about ten per cent more gasoline this summer than ever before. If the CIO organizes the federal employes at Washington and they go on a strike, then will Harry Hopkins pay them their wages while they are sitting down? The capture of Bilbao in baseball terms was a double play—Hitler to Mussolini to Franco. JUST FANCY THAT I CAN'T SEEM TO FILL THIS BUCKET, U.S. TREASURY WHY DON'T YA FIX TH' HOLE IN YOUR PAIL? WAGES and salaries be upped to their boom-time level. Second District Mitchell didn't hesitate. He sent the letter back with a request that the business men submit a schedule of the salaries they pay employees in jobs comparable to the county jobs. It is well known that clerical workers are hot for the court-house jobs as against private employment, because the pay is better and the total of hours of work fewer — more holidays and less overtime. Santa Ana business pays its help lower wages than the county pays. To date the hot potato rests where Supervisor John tossed it. SALARY ORDINANCE Salaries and wages in the county service are fixed by county ordinance (with a few exceptions). The one now in effect was adopted in October, 1933. At that time some general reductions were made. The salary of each county official and all his permanent deputies are set up individually. Then to take care of additional help, each department is given a fixed total sum as the maximum. Within that sum the official or department head can pay what he chooses. Most of right up to the maximal present moveurized by Supervisor the Second district, it to standardize the rate for services which are no matter what the It is quite possible along this line may but the more the matter the more complicates. Whoever undraw up a new ordinance both fair and complying going to have a job or STRATOSPHERIC WEEK The board of superintendent its annual struggle with budget last week. Inary figures were publication Saturday not final of course; changes as are made change the net result. As predicted several fore in this column, significance dawns on ing public it will cause out of the eyes. The figures show increase of over $80 increase alone is most total required the pay increase of 125 percent. CITY CLERK'S REPORT OF THE STATEMENT OF CITY CASH IN HAND OF TREASURER MAY 1, 1936 $188,017.34 $7,630.00 Cash on Hand 551.00 85.00 RECEIPTS May, 1936 22,035.24 181.00 June 37,787.16 152.00 HARD MAY CHANGE The present moment is a period of watchful waiting and listening to the part of those who keep their ears close to the political sound in Orange county. There is prospect that the supervisorial nature may change quite radical within the near future. This possibility has nothing to do with a proposed recall movement reported in the First and Second districts. That movement is nothing behind it but a journalistic sensationalism. The effective fact in the case is the illness of Supervisor Finley of Santa Ana district. He is relied on in much worse physical condition than has been generalized. He apparently has suffered a stroke of some sort and may be compelled to resign. In such circumstances it becomes the duty of the governor to point a man to fill out the term around this appointment would change the possibility of a radical change in the supervisorial setting except on the flood control issue at the present board has lacked rank-togetherness. Little person leadership has been in evidence. There has been no major group among the members. Change in the First District Santa Ana representation might bring about a different and more active line-up. Conservative of the type which has represented that district in all past years would result in definitely conservative majorities on the board. Or the direct opposite might easily become true, the situation is full of possibilities. HOT WAGE POTATO Supervisor Mitchell tossed back a hot potato to the Santa Ana Business Men's association, on this salary proposition. The county seat merchants of course want to see as much county money spent in their stores as possible. So they addressed a letter to the supervisors, asking that county CASH IN HAND OF TREASURER MAY 1, 1936 $188,017.34 $7,630.00 Cash on Hand 551.00 85.00 RECEIPTS May, 1936 22,035.24 181.00 June 37,787.16 153.00 July 32,333.11 437.00 August 30,569.64 561.00 September 29,885.82 192.00 October 26,701.67 110.00 November 28,994.59 5,821.00 December 30,168.72 4,174.00 January, 1937 29,486.18 243.00 February 24,911.78 224.00 March 13,860.50 515.00 April 16,887.37 4,074.00 TOTAL RECEIPTS $323,621.78 $16,690.00 TOTAL CASH $462,190.12 $24,406.00 DISBURSEMENTS May, 1936 27,419.18 1,298.00 June 28,066.19 1,158.00 July 33,308.96 1,163.00 August 25,607.27 1,396.00 September 22,028.18 1,445.00 October 35,018.08 1,678.00 November 19,935.05 1,553.00 December 26,961.98 1,452.00 January, 1937 31,917.93 1,300.00 February 19,917.71 1,380.00 March 25,019.77 1,597.00 April 41,690.18 1,689.00 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS $336,890.48 $17,113.00 Balance in Hands of Treasurer April 30, 1937 124,748.64 7,198.00 Cash on Hand 551.00 94.00 BALANCE APRIL 30, 1937 $125,299.64 $7,293.00 NOT ONLY the most economical transportation, but Santa Fe Trailways is the most scenic line. Through the heart of the Great Indian Southwest, over the historic Santa Fe Trail—it is like a transcontinental sightseeing tour. Roomy, lavatory equipped buses; Three Fred Harvey meals only $1.00 per day; Coordination with the Santa Fe Railway. Grand Canyon Route Santa Fe Station Phone Pacific 3107, ANAHEIM or Any Santa Fe Railway Agent. (SEAL) Filed July 27, 1937 chooses. Most of them spend right up to the maximum. The present movement, inaugurated by Supervisor Mitchell of the Second district, is an attempt to standardize the rate of pay for services which are the same, no matter what the department. It is quite possible something along this line may be developed, but the more the matter is studied the more complicated it becomes. Whoever undertakes to draw up a new ordinance that is both fair and comprehensive is going to have a job on his hands. STRATOSPHERIC WELFARE The board of supervisors began its annual struggle with the county budget last week. The preliminary figures were released for publication Saturday. These are not final of course, but such changes as are made will not change the net result materially. As predicted several times before in this column, when the full significance dawns on the taxpaying public it will cause a bulging out of the eyes. The figures show a requested increase of over $800,000! This increase alone is more than the total required the past year. An increase of 125 percent! The total budget is a little over $4,000,000. The welfare demand is nearly a million and a half! Thirty-six percent of the whole budget to go for charity and perks! Prof. Picard and those who climb into the upper atmosphere ain't never been nowhere. NO TIDELAND DRILLING There is not going to be any off-shore drilling for oil in the Huntington Beach tideland pool. There is something more than a suspicion that it never was intended there should be. The hullabaloo in the legislature over tideland drilling generally, and the opposing acts allowing it (with heavy royalty to the state) were a lot of smoke screen. The picture of a legislature passing two mutually nullifying laws, and the governor signing both of them, was a comic cartoon of the most subtly humorous type to those who were on the inside. Most of the legislators had no understanding of what it was all about, but the real bosses behind the scenes in the lobby comprehended it perfectly. As usual, the real winner in the little game of checkers was old man Standard Oil. If somebody who knows all SAVE AT PIONEER REPORT OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM AS OF APRIL 30, 1937 Statement of Cash Receipts and Disbursements May 1, 1936—April 30, 1937 General Fund $188,017.34 Library Fund $7,630.94 Bond Funds $22,538.90 Acquisition & Improvement Fund $9,201.97 Meter Deposit Funds $6,825.52 Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund $4,594.17 Pay Roll Account $$ P.W.A.Docket No. 1650 Total $188,808.84 636.73 22,035.24 181.47 300.00 877.58 23,394.29 37,787.16 152.09 May 1, 1936—April 30, 1937 CITY TREASURERS CASH DISTRIBUTED BY FUNDS APRIL 30, 1937 GENERAL FUND $124,748.64 BARY FUND 7,198.69 DER DEPOSIT FUND 7,048.31 ROLL ACCOUNT 500.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 4 $ 1,500.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 6 74.34 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 7 787.50 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 8 89.25 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 9 1,800.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 10 3,625.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 11 2,600.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 12 1,450.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 14 3,300.00 Total $188,808.84 636.73 22,035.24 23,394.29 37,787.16 38,255.60 32,333.11 33,983.87 30,569.64 33,827.40 29,885.82 30,323.37 26,701.67 27,151.88 28,994.59 58,220.71 30,168.72 50,813.18 29,486.18 30,636.02 24,911.78 26,095.99 13,860.50 36,854.83 16,887.37 48,762.81 $138,017.34 $ 7,630.94 $ 22,538.90 $ 9,201.97 $ 6,825.52 $ 4,594.17 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 551.00 636.73 515.00 181.47 23,394.29 153.09 38,255.60 437.26 32,333.11 561.16 33,983.87 192.55 33,827.40 192.55 33,827.40 26,701.67 27,151.88 26,701.67 27,151.88 5,821.78 58,220.71 4,174.19 50,813.18 243.59 30,636.02 224.00 26,095.99 515.78 36,854.83 4,074.97 48,762.81 $16,690.05 $16,690.05 $51,557.49 $13,792.62 $3,140.05 $10,266.08 $500.00 $20,751.88 $440,319.95 $24,406.72 $24,406.72 $74,096.39 $22,994.59 $9,965.57 $14,860.25 $500.00 $20,751.88 $629,765.52 1,298.62 32,298.48 1,158.35 40,427.70 1,163.49 38,982.45 1,396.77 27,260.01 1,445.66 24,732.39 1,678.54 47,522.66 1,553.21 23,563.79 1,553.21 23,563.79 1,452.04 35,496.46 1,452.04 35,496.46 1,300.20 44,942.76 1,300.20 44,942.76 1,380.08 25,108.50 1,597.41 33,956.91 1,689.05 59,486.52 $17,113.42 $52,220.39 $14,660.22 $2,917.26 $7,976.95 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... $52,220.39 $52,220.39 $14,660.22 $2,917.26 $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( )... $( ) $7,293.30 $21,876.09 $$ 8,334.37 $$ 7,048.31 $$ 6,883.30 $$ 500.00 $$ 20,751.88 $$ 197,926.89 MARY FUND 7,198.69 PER DEPOSIT FUND 7,048.31 ROLL ACCOUNT 500.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 4 $ 1,500.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 6 74.34 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 7 787.50 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 8 89.25 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 9 1,800.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 10 3,625.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 11 2,600.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 12 1,450.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 14 3,300.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 15 1,625.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 16 650.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 18 • 2,600.00 D & REDEMPTION FUND NO. 19 / 1,775.00 21,876.09 QUISITION & IMPROVEMENT DIST. FUND NO. 1 1,233.37 FUND NO. 2 5,005.76 FUND NO. 3 2,095.24 8,334.37 FINAL GAS TAX ST. IMPROVEMENT FUND 6,883.30 R.A.FUND DOCKET 1650 20,751.88 $197,341.28 POSITED AS FOLLOWS: SOUTHERN COUNTY BANK—TERM ACCT. 23,000.00 BANK OF AMERICA TERM ACCOUNT 40,000.00 CHECKING ACCOUNT 106,206.10 PAY ROLL ACCOUNT 500.00 SPECIAL GAS TAX STREET IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT 6,883.30 P.W.A.FUND 20,751.86 $197,341.28 Respectfully submitted CHARLES E. GRIFFITH, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim.