The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-10-07

xne dass printed on the wrapper Of each
pspsr denotes sAs Tins mp - which the
49, bssn paid.
Special aession Of the Legislature.
The State Capital papers are agi-
tating the question of the Governor
calling an extra session for the os-
tsnsible purpose OF extending the
time Of the delinquency Of taxes,
claiming that the present stringent
times makes it utterly impossible
for many to pay their taxes, and 1t
would be q hardship on the tax
payers to have their property 60
delinquent and the penalties added.
For the Governor to take such
step would be unwise, unpolitic
and unwarranted. To entail the
expense of an extra session of the
legislature on the taxpayers for
such a purpose would be false econ
omy, and it would take years for
many counties of the state to re-
cover from the disastrous effects.
While the Governor possesses the
authority to convene the Legislature
In special session for specific pur-
pose, he has no authority to cur
tail the length of the session or the
amount or character Of the legisla-
ton. After that body convenes it
becomes its own master, and We are
all aware what the result would be
from its past record. In all prob
ability an extra session would
cost the state anywhere from $685.
600 to $40, 900, as a direct expense.
But admitting, for the sake OF ar
gument, that the legislature would
meet, pass 3 bill giving the asked
for relief, and then adjourn with
but q nominal expense, the hard
ship that would be imposed by q
postponement of the date OF delin-
quency, would be ten times greater
than that of the penalties.
Most of the counties are so heav-
ily in debt that their warrants are
not at present anywhere near their
face value; in many counties war
rants are not worth to exceed rs
cents on the dollar. County ex-
penses will continue to accumulate
and warrants will have to be issued
in payment. The extension of the
time for the payment of taxes will
necessarily put off the time Of the
payment of warrants issued, and
consequently their cash value will
depreciate. Warrants also draw
Z per cent interest. The deprecia-
,ion Of warrants, the interest on the
old and new issue, and the increase
in the current expense of the coun-
ties that would naturally occur
from the depreciation of county
paper, will amount to many thou
sands of dollars, all of which will
eventually have to be met by the
taxpayer. Interest on bonded debts
will become delinquent and be com.
pounded, and the speculator will
have what might be termed pic
mic. In Alturas county the extern
sion ofthe time of payment for taxes
would depreciate warrants to so
cents on the dollar, and many
other counties will be in the same
position.
Then again, what guarantee have
we that times will be any easier in
another year than they are at pres
ent. If silver remains as it is at
present, and we have every reason
TO believe that it will, times will be
more stringent. The Idaho farmers
depend entirely on the mining in
dustry for stability Of values and
profits for their labor, and their
condition will not be improved.
A meeting Of the legislature fol
the purpose proposed would be q
grea. injury to the state. There is
no remedy that the legislature can
devise that will be a relief. The
only relief is in the hands of the
county commissioners, who have
the power to extend the date of the
delinquent sales, and also the power
to remit penalties in equitable. cases
With this power at home, the hard
ship to those who are not able to
pay their tax can be alleviated, and
those who ara able to pay will fur
n;st sufficient means to maintain
the credit of the counties.
Every citizen in the state should
render q vigorous protest against
the calling of the legislature in spe-
cial session. There ia no argument
that can be introduced that will
Justify the converting of the legisla-
ture for this or any other purpose,
and if the Governor is weak enough
70 obey the demands of few poll
ticians who desire little notoriety,
he will finish winding up his polit-
ics, ball of yarn.
TIE Statesman is now trying to
extract the Governor from the un.
savory position in which be has
placed himself regarding the state