The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-18
were provided as fellows:


mountain lands which would nat
urally fall to our share, there would
still remain three millien acres OF
timber, plain and meadow lands, to
the credit of Statehood. If it were
wise public policy 10 sell these
lands at once in open market at
their present value, we shonld enter
upon Statehood with the richest
treasury west of the Mississippi.
Look at this grand detail. When
these school lands shall have bees
sold in accordance with existing
laws, our school taxes will be re-
duced to an inconsiderable rate.
We have incorporated Territorial
University and levied a special tax
for its support; when the University
grant is placed upon the marketEt
is probable that this tax can be
entirely RENTED. Three other ex-
cellent educational institutions can
be based upon the grants for agri-
cultural, scientific and normal
schools. We are paying $4,000
annually for the support of an In
sane Asylum; ultimately the Con-
gressional grant may take this en-
tirely off our hands. We are con-
fronted with a debt on our Capital
building of $4,000; the Congress
sional grant ought to pay every dol
lar of it. We are paying $4,000
per year for support of Territorial
prisoners--a sum which not only
provides for our own prisoners, but
for those of the United States as
we'll; Congress proposes to spend
$4,000 more on this prison, give us
the property, and then pay US for
boarding Federal convicts
Out of a similar grant, the State
of Nevada has already realized ST.
100000, and yet has most of its
lands unsold. The annual receipts
now by the State of Nevada from
the current sales of these lands is
an amount equal to nearly double
the present cost of supporting our
entire Territorial government.
The lands included in the various
grants to the State of Idaho are
now worth not less than 80, $50, 600,
Only six per cent. annual interest
on this sum is 1926, OOO-three
times our. present Territorial in
come.
In addition to the foregoing
grants of lands, the State Of Idaho
will receive for school purposes,
five per cent. of net proceeds Of ak
public lands sold within the State
by the General Government, a mag
nificent sum of itself.
The assessment of real and per-
sonal property in the Territory has
increased since 1873 at the rate of
about 81 100000 per annum. The
increase of assesable property would
be much more rapid under State
government. I refer to this az an
evidence that taxation need not be
increased above the above the.
present levy to meet oil the require
ments of State government.
One of the most serious him
ORANGES to the progress of our Ter
ritory, is what is known as the
Alien Act of Congress, which is an
effectual prohibition of the invest
ment of foreign capital. An in
effectual attempt was made during
the last Congress to repeal or
modify this law, so that our people
might be in some measure benefited
by the large amount of money held
by this class of capitalists, who are
ready and anxious to invest large
sums in the purchase and develop
ment of our mines. If Idaho shall
become a State, this hindrance to
our prosperity, is at once removed,
as this law only applies to Terri
tories over which Congress has ex-
elusive control. +.
| Whether Statehood will bring
even temporary increase of taxa
ton, depends largely uponthe judi
cious action of the Constitutional
Convention. Into the details of
their great work / cannot enter. It
is for you to instruct your represen-
tatives in the principle of economy.
The convention will undoubtedly
fix its own per diem and mileage,
and that of its employees. Their
certificates of service and expendi-
lures will be filed with the Territor-
ial Secretary, and Congress will
doubtless follow it's own precedents
in providing for the payment there
of.
GEORGE L. SHoUP,
Governor.