Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Directory and Historyof the country. While approximately 6' 2 cents out of every dollar earned in 1913 wentfor taxes, it is estimated that in 1932, approximately 30 cents out of every dollar earnedI-. going for the support of government."The greater part of this money raised through taxation is going for the support oflocal government. Thus of the governmental expenditures of 13 billion dollars, over7 billions go for the support of local governments."The increase in governmental costs is due in part to the increase in the functionsor services performed by the government. These new governmental services may bedesirable, and in most cases they are, but we must face the fact that they cost money.\\ Ink a few activities, as municipally owned utilities, are self-supporting, this is not truein the case of the majority of functions."Another reason for the high cost of government is the unsatisfactory organizationof local areas. By simplification of local governmental areas it seems as if economies couldbe made. There are about 2 5 0,000 governmental units in the United States. Illinois hasover 15,000 governments, or one for every 473 people. Operating these 250,000 governmentsin the United States are 900,000 elected officials and over 2,500,000 full timeemployees."The result of this multiplication of governments is duplication of effort and unnecessaryexpense. This is especially true of the metropolitan area around Chicago."The county is no longer a satisfactory area of government. Cut to the pattern ofthe horse and buggy days it is too small to bring efficient results today. The propertyinvestment in public buildings, and the number of officers and employees is greater thanis necessary. A comparison of county taxes in large and small counties shows that theper capita taxes in the smaller counties are more than in the larger counties."The township is also unsatisfactory as an area of local administration. This unitis found, however, in 86 of the 102 counties of the state. A comparison of counties ofthe two classes of approximately the same population and wealth shows a substantialdifference in favor of the non-township counties."The one 100m school district is another unsatisfactory unit of governmental administrationin Illinois. There are about 12,000 elementary school districts in Illinois. Alarger unit would tend to reduce the expense ,.nd to increase the efficiency of the schoolsystem."Consolidation and reorganization of local governmental areas thus offers a fertilefield in considering the problem of reducing governmental expenditures."Irving L. Dilliird, editorial writer on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and a graduateof the university with the class of 1927 spoke on "Looking Over the Editorial Page." Hestressed the need for competent treatment of local situations and the dignity that a firstclass editorial page gives to a newspaper."Professional Ethics a c Applied to the Newspaper Business," occupied the attentionof the members during the balance of the morning session and the first part of the afternoonmeeting. The speakers on this subject were John M. Sheets, editor of the OblongOracle and past president of the association, and John L. Meyer, secretary of the InlandDaily Press association. Mr. Sheets said in part:"When I was apprised of my subject, 'Professional Ethics as Applied to the New spapeiBusiness,' I wondered what it was all about."Noah Webster says: 'Professional' means 'Opposed to Amateur.' 'Ethics,' the'Science of the Ideal Human Character.' If we are to be guided by the first definition,we must at once rise above, and take place with, the skilled, the learned, the experienced.If we are to be led by the second definition we must envision an ideal and make it a partof our character and daily life, with the human instinct for right living, wholesome fellowship,scientific advancement, divinely guided.