The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-11-05
THE WEIsER SIGNAL.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER s, 1891.
Glory of Statehood

The real glory of statehood for
Idaho now begins to shine out fully.
The action of our State Board of
equalization in raising real estate
above the assessed value in Washing
ton Co., and lowering rail roads
ri, 600, per mile, for The support of
State government is one of its
effulgent rays. We now demand OF
the statehood schemers the reduction
Of $55, 900, per annum, below the
farmers cost of territorial government
which was SO clearly figured out for
us and published and promised. How
much school land has been sold? How
much is likely to be? The con-
stitutioners, SO to speak, were very
cute in providing this Board of
equalization. They will knew the
inevitable was to raise the taxes on
the people to meet this extra and
unnecessary expense. Again, why
this raise on real estate only? We
answer according TO our belief. The
raise would effect farmers only, the
effect on other real estate owners
being too small TO excite protest
since the farmers is not considered as
having sense enough to see or COM
bination sufficient to contend with
these unjust measures, but accepts
all with humble recognition of the
wisdom Of his superiors. The cost
of state government is very much
greater than the farmers Tcrritoial
system, and the schemers knew this
perfectly when they stated otherwise.
During the agitation we figured out
the additional cost as being $45, 600
per annum but it exceeds this. Now
we realize the balderdash INDUCED
in by these agitators, ''we are aliens
as our forefathers we're" eve would
have better times. eve would
realize $40 per acre for our school
land" when they knew nine tenths
of it would not bring one cent per
acre, No, the fools of farmers would
have to pay this. Farmers, what
has the Glory of statehood done for
for ms? Look minute 1t has
increased our taxes when we were
taxed all we could stand in the Judge
ment of assessors and commissioners,
and every county heavily in debt and
going deeper every year. And
when we were unable to pay our taxes
and private debts, and when an
average farm would not support u
family and pay the taxes however well
managed, and the mortgaged
indebtedness over one fourth of the
aggregate value of tie farmers in the
Southern part of the Territory.
Moreover, we know that the cost of
state and County government is all
of 30 per cent, greater than need be
i'll this state of limited resources.
Therefore the salary law and statehood
abomination are but cxtortionate
schemes for the creation of high
salarled offices which the concocters
must have expected for the most
part to manipulate. Look for
moment at the nature of these
schemes. They depreciate the
intelligence Of county officials, l. e.
commissioners and remove from
them the power of debating their own
county finances. Whereas, the
government no longer receives its just
right from the consent Of the governed
This superhuous State Board of
Is not made up of re-
representatives. from the counties which
foresight saw would not do-there fore
We have taxation without represent
alton such as caused the revolution of |
1875. "Oh liberty thou art an awful
thing" If state Board of equali-
zation as auxiliary to the state tax |
levy is necessary it should be COM
posed of the county assessors or
from the several
Boards Of commissioners. We are
not opposed to statehood when the
Territory becomes able to bear the
necessary expense of state government
but statehood for Idaho was ten years
too early as all persons acquainted |
With he resources and financial con
dition well knew. But is there any |
remedy for the evils done? No not |
absolutelo So We swallowed it in a
lamp when we ratified that sugar
coated constitution, and the only |
alternate is to digest it. How?
lst, By making known that we are
aware of the political intrigues
practice upon us.
End, That we pu late end protest
against all such schemes.
Bird, That the Farmers Alliance, |
elect a committee at some state
meeting whose duty it shall be to
examine into state affairs, political
and financial and report at stated |
times to the order, and to the public
through current literature the result |
Of such Investigations and point out |
the measures necessary to be
by legislation. Such action
is but the civic right of any citizen
and necessity demands that we
should possess ourselves OF it.
NUMBsKULL FARMER.
-.
The OLIVER Ciern M;ss;ss;o,,.