The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-18
PROCLAMATION BIZ THE GOVERNOR

Whereas, The people of Idaho
are now living under a form of Ter
ritorial government little better than
colonial system under foreign
rule, whereby they are debarred
from participating in any election
for President and Vice President of
the United States, have no vote in
either house of Congress and have
no voice in the selection of the most
important officers of the Territory,
executive or judicial; and
Whereas, The people of Idaho
are DESTROYS of exercising the rights
and privileges guaranteed to free
and loyal people under the consti-
tuition of the United States, and to
organize State government pre-
paratory to admission to the federal
union, believing that they have
sufficient population and wealth to
justify such an undertaking; and
Whereas, Gov. E. A. Stevenson
did on April 2, 1889, issue a calling
for an election of delegates to a con-
stitutional convention to be held in
Boise City, Idaho, on July 4, 1899,
to make constitution for the State
of Idaho, to be submitted to the
people for adoption or rejection;
Now therefore, Geo. l.. Shoup,
Governor of Idaho, fully recogniz-
ing the advantages that Statehood
possesses over our present system
of Territorial government, do issue
this, my proclamation, recommend,
ing that delegates te elected to said
constitutional convention on the
first Monday in June, as proclaim
ed in said call issued by Gov. Stew.
enson. If for any reason the citi.
zens of any county prefer to elect
their delegates by some other equit.
able method, l am satisfied that
the delegates so chosen will be re.
cognized and admitted to seats in
the convention. The manner OF
choosing delegates is of less import
ance than they should be represen
tative men, of character and ability
whose work will be satisfactory t.
congress and the people.
Objection to statehood has been
made by a few of our citizens or
the ground that the cost of govern
ment will be greatly increased
There is this much of truth IN the
objection, that State government
sufficient in all it's departments fol
the needs of a growing common
wealth, affording means for the
prompt administration of justice in
the courts, providing a teacher fol
every child of school age, and ar
asylum for every helpless, blind
dumb, or idiotic dependent, will
cost more money than a govern
ment which delays justice, turns
out the feeble to the charities of the
world, and rears the young in ig.
norance. But every good thing is
worth it's cost, and no people ever
bore just burdens with greater pa
tience than the people of Idaho.
A brief statement of the facts i,
connection with this question will
be useful for reference. The gen
eral government now pays for the
salaries of the Governor and Secre
tary and certain other contingent
expenses, including rent, So, 1000 pei
year; for salaries of Judges $4,000
and for biennial expenses of the
General Assembly, including print
ing the laws and journals, $26, 600
Reducing the latter item to an an
nual expense, we find the general
government paying for Idaho the
sum of $4,000 year. The other
Territorial expenses, met by oul
own taxpayers, average annually
the sum of $4,000.
The Territory now pays in full
the salaries of the following officers
to-wit:
Attorney General, Controller
Treasurer, Superintendent of Public
Instruction, Directors and Attaches
of Insane Asylum, Prison Commits.
sioners, Librarian, portion of the
attaches of the Legislative Assem-
bly,, incidental expenses attendant
on the same; and to each county
attorney, $500 per annum.
note these facts as it is sup
posed by many that some Of the
above-named officers are now paid
by the general government.
AS moderate as our tax rate now
is, it is gradually reducing our Ter
ritcHal Indebtedness. This is made
apparent by the fact that the bal.
ance in the Territorial treasury on
February 3, 1888. paid all outsta1d-
ing warrents up to October 10, 1887;
while the money in the treasury
February 9. 1889, paid all out,
standing warrants up to December
81, 1883. In other words, the col
lections for the year ending Febru-
airy 8, 1889, paid the expenses oil
one year, two months and twennty
days.
The insignificance Of the amount
contributed by the General Cover
ment becomes more apparent if we
include the amount paid by oul
for county expenses. The account
stands:
Annual County expenses. ....... $4so,ooe
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