Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-02-07
DEFENDS GOV. MCCONNELL.
BolsR CRY Fab 3 1909


BoIsE CRY, Feb. 2, 1893.
EoiroR WoRLD:-In your issue
OF the 26th / notice an article from
your Capital correspondent that seem,
70 cast rather uncalled for reflector
upon our new Governor. He say,
Gov. Mcdonnell has begun the work
OF retrenchment and reform in dead
earnest. He has cut the wages Of
few poor devils at the pen from
800 to $50 month. How easy it !,
to retrench BY reducing the miserable
pittance Of few day. laborers whose
earnings barely sustain life, and with
what alacrity that method is adopted
BY quacks in Craftsmanship, 60.
Now, ! am not talking for the
Governor, for am not personally 40.
quainted with him; but | do think he
is trying to do his duty, and is the
equal, if not the superior, Of any Gov.
ernor we have had for twenty-five
years. Was not acquainted with
Gov. Ballard, nor did know Caleb
Lyon, of Lyonsdale, but their reputa-
tions as Governors we're very thin; /;
Tom Bennett was brick; Brayman,
the Governor Of all Idaho, was like
John Charles Fremont banch of
fuss and feathers; Governor Neil
was q feather-weight; Gov. Irwin
was like light sklft of snow, didn't
come to stay; and Idaho was not big
enough to hold man of Dave Thomp-
sons calibre; (knew him when he was
q kid in Oregon City-ls now wealthy
and in Portland). Gov. Bum was
rather too many for us; Stevenson
made good Govsrnor-liked him all
we'll enough except his stiff neck
Democratic proclities; Gov. Shoup
was all lO.K.-straight goods, wealthy
and could make things go to suit him;
Wiley, too, made US a good Cover
nor.
Now about the guards at the pen
and their miserable pittance. These
guards receive $50 per month and
board. Board and room in this city
is worth not less than 81 per day,
$50, that equals $50 per month.
There are hundreds of men in this
town, and good workers, too, that
can't get work enough to pay for
their board. They would only be too
glad to get on to as soft racket as
toating a gun eight or ten hours per
day. Good mechanics here don't av-
erage their $50 per month clear; in
fact, some contract tors that figure on
e6 per day sometimes don't get out
with more than $1.5O. For instance,
an acquaintance went to work for
Mack up at tn. pen early last spring
1t $75 per month. He threw up
the job-said he could make more
in town. He succeeded
we'll. In December, with long win
ter staring his family in the face, he
lacked $3.50 of having paid expenses;
and so it goes. You see there are
worse jobs than being at the pen.
But retrenchment is necessary for
this young State, and think it should
begin with the officers, from Sheriff
up. Every Office in the gift OF the
people that will warrant the Office
seeker in spending from $1,000 and
upwards to obtain it is entirely too
high; but most of these salaries are
estab ablished by law, and what are you
going to do about it. Our present
is getting along very
slow. The Governor recommended
sessions, the same as in Or
egon, but they won't do it. The
Governor now, after trip to Black
foot, recommends that a person be
sent from there to gather in those
pronounced insane. That will be q
great saving, and is as it should be.
The wagon road and worlds fair
bills will pass if Ballantine will allow
hem to. The people in general de-
mand them. OLD COASTER.
SENATOR WATTS bill for the pro-
lection of game and fish has passed
A.. t. v>vDys1oc that M car.