Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-04-07
INCORPORATING TOXINS.
Il Plain Statement of the Laic
and the Facts IN the Case.

ana the Facts tn the case.
After people have collected to-
gether in one locality in sufficient
numbers to form business and So
cial center, experience has shown
that closer form of government
than that provided by the general
statutory laws is required for their
peace and prosperity. Large COM
munities, to main tain order, are
compelled to exercise a stricter dis
cipline on their members than
small and scattering settlements
require. Vice and lawlessness nat
urally concentrate where humanity
is thickest. This seems paradox
cal, but it is nevertheless true. And
on account of the Capitalization of
business and necessarily increased
traffic many conveniences and safe
guards are demanded which are
neither necessary or expedient in
thinly populated districts. Hence
provisions have been made for the
government Of cities, towns and
villages, Independent of, but author
lied and to some extent restricted
by statutory laws.
Under the laws of Idaho, the
people of any city, town or village
in the state may become body
corporate, with certain powers and
privileges, among which are the
levying of taxes, granting franchi-
ses and imposition of penalties.
The powers of an Incorporated vii
lage are vested in a board of trus-
tees, originally appointed by the
county commissioners and subse-
quently elected by the members of
the incorporation. In addition to
the board of trustees, which may
be regarded as legislative council,
the following officers are usually
required: A police magistrate,
marshal, recorder, assessor and COL
lector, treasurer and attorney, sup
ported by such police force as may
be necessary to the enforcement of
law and protection of the people.
The taxing power of the trustees is
by law limited to ten mills on the
dollar; or, in other words, to one
dollar on the one hundred dollars
of assessed property valuation.
For example, with Grangeville in
corporated, if its property valua-
ton amounts to two hundred thou
sand dollars, a city tax of two
thousand dollars might be levied by
the trustees. The board of trus-
trees would also be empowered to
fix a license on every kind of bust
ness. And it is but candid to say
that a large part of a city's revenue
is generally derived from such IL
censes. Licenses are commonly
fixed with due regard to the char
acter of the business to be conduct
ed, and those establishments which
are most likely to contribute large
ly towards immortality and crime
are justly required to pay the heav-
lest license. The board of trustees
are also empowered to enact mu-
nicipal laws, usually known as or
dinances, and to prescribe fines and
penalties for their violation. o.
the fines and licenses collected
One-half is, by law, to be covered
into the public school fund for the
benefit of the districts within such
incorporation. The board of trus
tees may also incur municipal debts
limited by law, for the current ex.
penses of government and for Other
purposes. The trustees have pow,
or to erect public buildings, such as
town halls, .jails, etc, and to con,
struct sidewalks, water works anC
system of sewerage, for which they
may, in payment, pledge the credit
of the corporation. They may al.
so, by ordinance, protect the public
health as well as the public peace
they may regulate the opening and
closing of saloons and prohibit
bawdy houses or other immoral in
situations. In a word, the trustees
are the city fathers, duly authori-
zed to maintain order and tranquil.
lty, protect property and levy tax
es within their jurisdiction.
The advantages of local govern
ment are so apparent that it does
not seem needful to dwell on them
ut any length. The disadvantages
are all included in the item of ex-
pense. The people are the sole
judges of the situation. If they in
cline towards order, peace and
progress, they will favor incorpora-
ton. Ifthey care nothing for moral
conditions and are willing to trust
implicitly to the grace of provi-
dence for the protection of their
homes, property and lives against
every marauder, they will oppose