Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-12-26
REMir THAT PENALTY. NJ .POs
0l0kE

1IDLE
Hard times have come upon the
people, and these hard times are not
Of their making. They did not create
the conditions that have spread pow
erty and actual starvation throughout
the length and breadth Of the land.
These conditions were created by
legislation engineered by the money
bags of England and America for
their own especial gain and to make
slaves of the people. An extra bur-
den, therefore, ought not to be
placed ON their shoulders as . penalty
for inability to do that which, in many
instances, cannot be done because Of
the creation OF hard times by legisla-
ton both deliberate, cold -blooded
and damnable. To take away all op-
portunities for performing = certain
act and then providing . penalty for
its non-performance, is cn outrage of
the grossest kind. Tax payers who
have been unable to pay their taxes
at the appointed time have 10 per
cent. penalty added. 1t is true the
power that has created the present
distress is not the same that has added
this penalty. Congress has legisIated
the people into condition of power
ty, and our own Legislature, we'll
knowing that hard times were press
ing heavily upon the people, and with
full knowledge of the certainty that
the pressure would become still heavi-
er, enacted law placing 10 per
cent. penalty on all who, through the
outrageous results of a policy they
had no hand in shaping, were unable
to pay their taxes on certain date.
The people of Boise county, however,
have not felt the evil to such an ex-
tent as have other counties of the
State, but nevertheless the situation
in this county is serious enough. Re-
lief ought to be extended, if possible.
We think the County Commissioners
could, without any violation of law,
remit this outrageous 10 per cent.
penalty, which is nothing short of le-
gal robbery. So long as the State
loses nothing by this action We can
see no way by which the County
Commissioners coald be held respon-
sible by the State for such action,
or could be reached by the power of
the State. The only question is,
would they be sustained in such ac-
ton by the people of the county? 1t
is our opinion they would be, and
with a unanimity of sentiment that
would be both strong in praise of such
an act of justice, and be grari6ed over
the defeat of this penalty provision
of law. If the Commissioners have
the power to render that provision
imperative, they will, we believe,
exercise it, If satisfied that they will
be sustained by the people. There
was no claim that this 10 per cen,
penalty would be needed. Such q
claim would be infamous, with the
extra burden placed IN the shoul-
ders of those already the most heav-
lily oppressed financially, and If not
needed, then this 10 per cent. "pen.
atty" is highway robbery-and rob-
bery o: class that ought to be the
last to be robbed, il the State goe.
into that kind of business. To rob I
class already hesvily oppressed is a,
,nfamy too great to be portrayed ever
in the strongest words of the Englisl
language. If an extra tax were re
quired, justice would demand that i,
come from those most able to pay it
This principle would be exactly re
verse6 if tie law had been frame,
for reveue only. But it was not, an,
is justified on the ground that tn
penalty is necessary to compel tn