Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-02-24
FROM THE CAPITAL.
a sysepsls of Legislative News
tFrom onr regular cofrcsponisnt.l


En. WoaLD:- Since 1,y last letter
TO you, legislative proceedings have
continued with the same monotonous
sameness - before. All kinds of
bills, with the possible exception Of
the best kind, have been up for
consideration BY the two houses and
their discussion pro and con has oc-
cupied the time Of the Legislature,
but whether advantageously to the
public or not | shall not here attempt
to decide. But the general appro-
priations bill as it passed the House
is . wrong on the taxpayers, and ]
think studied wrong. lmean to be
candid and think ! have been 50 in
all have written about the I.egisla-
ture. Whenever in my judgment
. member has deserved a credit
mark or prod and it came in my
way to do so, have given him what
! regarded as his deserts, regardless
of the party with which he CHANGED
to be affiliated. and J propose to do
SO now. As yoar readers are aware,
the bill proposes to appropriate
$427,709.1O. This bill contemplates
an increase of the Governors allow
ance of t2,110 over two years ago.
The State Treasurer is to have 81, ,450,
the Secretary $4,6l0, Superintendent
of Public Instruction $l,625, Attor-
ney General $4,000 aud the capitol
building 1888 more than was allowed
them two years ago The insane asy
lum is allowed $4,000 more than two
years ago, besides appropriating
$4,000 for conveying patients against
no appropriation for that purpose by
the last Legislature. Six thousand
dollars is also inserted for the sup
port of State militia, SO called, in the
bill. Heretofore it has been known
as the Idaho National Guard. Here
we have an increase in the allowance
of $l2,450 to the FIVE principal State
officers and the capitol building,
more than was allowed by the Legis-
lature of two years ago. And what
for? Two years ago the State gov
ernment was just getting on its feet,
and yet its officials managed to do
their duties after a fashion, and to
actually tide the State over to the
end of their official terms without
wreck or serious disaster, and with
but an insignificant deficit SO far as re-
ported. 1t is true a deficit of about
$4,000 exists to be provided for b,
the Legislature, but between $4,000
and $4,000 was expended to pay IN
terest on the public debt for which
no special appropriation had beer
made. This year an appropriation o
$42,134 is proposed to pay that in
terest. Two hundred dollars is ais,
} added to the State library allowance
Now the question is, why these in
creased allowances? If the expens
, of our State government is going t
increase at that rate would it no
| have been better for US to have re
, manned Territory? How long ca
our taxpayers afford to maintain
State government, if the expense c
conducting it is going to continue t
increase at the rate OF $1,000
month? Is it not suspicious Gil
cumstance that the Republican men
bers of the House all support th
; measure, and are making an effort
, enforce its passage by tacking it a
a rider onto the bill providing fe
the payment of Legislators and a
taches? 1t certainly looks that wa,
and the more so because havin
passed the salary bill, the House n
called it from the Senate to attac
9 this wholesale appropriation measul
i to it. 1t looks like an attempt
= plunder the State in order to raise q
l. electioneering fund; or is it legi
IS lative gift to officials? One or Il
= other it almost certainly is, becau
al there is no urgent demand for ar
ID greater allowances to State Office
II this year than two years ago, and
10 decent respect for the inability
1t our people to pay taxes would prom
or the Legislature to withhold all nee
less appropriations, and this one W
be withheld unless the Senate can
hulldozed into voting as the Hou
directs.
: The irrigation bill has been &C
- sidered and amended in so many d
:. ferent respects that am told
:, passage, which is considered douI
81 full, would be of very little benefit
irripators. | hope this is not so, /