The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-02-04
ssThe Niger in the WoodptIe. y

The Wagon Road bill, that has
been under consideration in the
lower branch ofthe state legislature
for the past few days and which
body it passed, is one of the most
outrageous impositions that ever
passed legislative body. 1t auth
orizes the issue of $135 900 in state
bonds to be used in building a
wagon road that begins at Boise
City and ends at Boise City, with
little chaff scattered here and
there to catch the nnsuspecting
country goose who has an aspira-
ton to do something for his coun-
ty, but lacks the brains to see the
"nigger in the woodpile." The d.
vision craze and the public institu-
ton mania, that prevails this ses-
sion among the aspiring hayseed
statesmen, have favored the treasury
grabbers at Boise in their efforts to
build up and enrich themselves at
the expense of the taxpayers of
the state. These county-dividers
and Observation-Disclosures have not
the honesty nor courage to submit
their claims on the merits of them,
but they must trade around like a
lot of shystering politicians in a
political convention. They want
to make -a.e.ecord, and they are
1Oing it; one that will relegate
them to their proper obscurity.
The KEYSTONE is in. favor of pub
lie roads, but it is not in favor of
our young and already heavily debt
burdened state bankrupting itself,
for the benefit of Boise City or any
particular locality. Let those To-
calities which think that they are
benefited, bond themselves to death
if they desire, but don't impose an
unjust tax on Alturas, Logan, Bing-
ham, Bear Lake, Cassia, Oneida,
and other counties, to build roads
for the benefit of other communi-
ties. Miller, of Boise City, dis
closed the "nigger," in his speech
against the amendment proposed
by Mr.. Lewis that the road start at
Ketchum instead of Banner, Boise
which lessened the cost of
the road some $4,000. Mr.. Miller
said:
'sIf the road was connected with Ketch-
am the bullion from the mines of Sea-
foam, Sheep Mountain, and other mining
districts would flow through that place.
IF the road Is built to connect with Boise
Jity the bullion will be treated here and
Idaho will get the benefit of it. WANT
THE GOLD AND SILVER TO COME THIS
Way"
Mr.. Miller was evidently a little
lot when he 'let the cat out of the
rag" and forgot that Ketchum has
he largest smelter in Idaho, and
he only one in the state that is run
ling to-day. While Boise City has
lothing, nor will she have without
can be plundered from the tax
layer; or some of the pap-sucking
nossbacks die off and new men
With enterprise take their place.
If this highway robbery-for that
s all it can be termed, this taking
rom the pockets of the weak by |
orce-passes the senate, the Gov
rnor has but one duty in the mat
er, and that is to exercise his veto
,ower. This he will do if he is no:
lampered by further political aspir-
.tions. But that should avail lit
lie, for "he'll be damned if he does,
nd he'll be damned if he don't" so
lie might as well do the square
hing and die happy.
If the Statesman, or any other
rgan or individual, can advance
me argument why the taxpayers
# Alturas should help build a road
or Boise City's benefit, and to the
injury Of ourselves, let them do so,
md we will acquiesoe. But little of
UGH justice will do US.
We are pleased that the gentle
men who represent Alturas county
n the House-Messrs. Lewis and
3allantine-did their utmost to
lefeat the unjust measure, and
lope that Senator Ruick will do
he same in the Senate.