Grand Jury Points Out That Saving Money Is Not Purpose of Government, June 26, 1919

From the News and Observer as reprinted in the Watauga Democrat, Boone, N.C., June 26, 1919

Too Much County Economy

A grand jury report that has a lot to commend it was returned to Mecklenburg county last week in which was contained a statement that too much economy is followed in county affairs. That is radical as in old-time reconstruction days Republican, but containing a lot more sound sense. A theory seems to be prevalent that the saving of expenses is the first aim of the county or state or other government. 

The fact is that saving expense is no more a function of government than of any other that has to do with buying anything.

A county is an organization which has for its purpose a joint effort of doing something. The purpose is the main factor, not the cost. If a man builds a house he does not figure on how far he can carry economy in building it but on how much of a house he can get for his money. The county might build a court house for a thousand dollars and save a lot of money. It might build roads like we have had and save the expenditure of a lot of money. It might cut out court houses, roads, schools or anything else and thereby cut down taxes. But whoever imagines that government is for the purpose of saving money?

Dallas county, in Texas, has voted $6 million for good roads. That is going it pretty steep and the figure might have been lower. The county could have $5.5 million of that and still have a considerable sum to spend for roads. But what is it Dallas county wants? It is roads. The only way to get roads is to get them, and you can’t get things you want without paying for them. The county is formed as a means to get things. We could save money and go barefooted. Or save money and walk instead of traveling by rail. Or live in a cave instead of spending money to build houses. The only trouble with all that kind of nonsense is that people get money to spend because what they want are the things money will bring. The county that economizes too much is saving to buy coffins for a dead community, and nothing else. The live county gets every modern utility is can, for modern things are money-makers and comfort-makers.

--News and Observer