The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-03-18

ScVcu COuuIleS through WHICH IL
proposed to construct the road, an
providing for an issue of specis
bonds to the amount of $135, OO(
with interest at the rate of 5 pc
cent per annum, payable in twent
years, and imposing special ta
for that purpose upon the twenty
one counties of the state. The pur
poses of this Infamous scheme ar
so transparent as to be alread,
pretty we'll understood by the hon
est taxpayers of Idaho, and to sa,
the least are exceedingly unsavory
Even the chief executive, who's
conscience is elastic to a notable
degree, sent in a message abou
three yards long excusing himsel
for placing his approval upon tn
act. The selfishness, impractica
bility, inadequacy and uselessnes'
of the measure are patent.
THE MORMON BLIND.
Next in the order of Importance
to the people of Idaho, comes the
so-called enfranchisement of the
Mormons.
The chief of the nation, the gov.
ernor of the state and sentiment
of the people declared that these
people, having complied with every
requirement imposed upon them
by law and moral obligation, were
entitled to full restoration to citi-
zenship; that all political disabili-
ties should be speedily removed
from them; that they should forth
with be granted every right and
privilege of American citizenship.
The republican press teemed with
such utterances just previous to the
session, and the old parties seemed
to vie with each other at that time
as to who could extend to those
people the warm hand of friendship
and the most speedy and thorough
restoration of their political rights.
Did they do it? Does the skulking
subterfuge of the G. o. p. meet with
their unqualified appreciation? 1t
satisfies the proverbial sentiment
of that political party, but does it
satisfy the Mormons? These are
questions that will probably be an
swered at the polls two years hence.
Suffice it to say that the populists
alone left the legislature with an
honest, deep-rooted record on this
important question, and have re-
ceived numerous assurances from
the Mormons of their unqualified
appreciation of the faithful efforts
of that party.
THE IRRIGATION FYzZLE.
The great, all consuming ques-
ton of irrigation, which the g. o. p.
tackled early in the session, eager
to make record, finally went down
to an ignominious death. And
why? Because in every line was
an undercurrent of sympathy for
corporations, and when the press
ure of public sentiment forced the
friends of the measure to yield to
important amendments offered by
the populists in the House. looking
to the best interests of the farmers
of the state, the majority smothered
the bill. So much for irrigation
and so much for the populists.
APPROPRIATIONS AND POLITICS.
On the question of appropria-
tons, as in all other matters coming
before the legislature, the populists
we're in the middle Of the road.
They denounced the attempts Of
the old parties to deplete the treas
ury and to bond the state to the
constitutional limit, thereby to
feather the nest of the present adj
ministration and at the same time
to destroy every pecuniary means
that might otherwise remain for the
succeeding administration, which
in all probability will be populist
in complexion, and the people of
Idaho owe a debt of gratitude to
that party for it's able, persistent
and successful efforts to Illustrate
these unwholesome designs of the
administration, Thanks to the pop
nlist contingent, the general appro-
priation bill was cut down about
$50, 0OO-the price of two legisla-
tures-before permitted to 60 on
its final passage.
GOLD BUGS THRoTTLEp.
Last, but not least, of the impor-
tant questions we shall allude to
in this article, is the question most
vital to the best interests of this
state and nation--the silver ques-
ton, What about that? Well,
thank God for the populists again.
They have proven to be its truest
friend and its staunchest advocate.
They opposed bitterly the republi-
can Drnnnaitinn RI limit Ar;roro -