The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-10-13
rHE PAyETTE PROPOSITION.

Probably there are many TRIBUNE
readers who have not seen the Payette
county seat proposition. 1t is no more
than right that every voter in the
county should know all about it, so
that intelligent and just conclusions
may be arrived at. Substantially, the
people of Payette propose to douate to
Canyon County court house, costing
not less than 800, 900. provided the coun-
ty seat be located in that town. Twenty
thousand dollars is quite sum OF
money, and any proposition involving
gift of that amount should be carefully
considered. Some people are inclined
to regard the Payette proposition as
highly immoral because it contains the
elements of a bride; that is, it is a d.
rect offer of substantial reward to voters
to cast their ballots for the town OF
Payette. Among other things, each
elector must swear that he is not guilty
of bartering or selling or offering to
barter or sell his vote, or purchasing or
offering to purchase the vote OF an
other. Then Sec. 5 of an act relating to
crimes against the franchise, says: mo
person shall attempt to influence the
vote of any elector by means OF prom
Use or favor. And Sec. 6 says: mo
person shall in any soay offer bride
to an elector to influence his vote"
Legally, the Payette proposition cuts
pretty close to the criminal line, but we
don't attach any particular Importance
to that phase of the subject. In our
opinion, Payette is prefectly right in
Offering all she can afford, or all tho
thing is worth. Morally, there is no
serious objection. There are l,5Oo
voters in the county at the present
time, 1000 of which would be more or
less inconvenienced by having the
county seat located at Payette. AS a
compensation for the disconnected
1000, twenty dollars each is offered
them. That is not really true. but it
may be put that way in order to make
the most favorable showing possible
for Payette. Taking it then for a
period of 20 years. which, perhaps, is a
fair estimate of the average remaining
life of electors, each voter would get 81
a year for extra trouble. The extra ex-
pense to taxpayers could not possibly
be less than 81 1000 per year, and, in
deed, it would be much greater. That
would wipe out the profit of the
thing at once and do away with any
thing in the nature of an inducement
which the Payette offer may seem to
contain. This view of the subject
would be correct and applicable II
there were no court house in the county
and a $4,000 court house had to be
built. But if it appear that a $4,000
court house is not necessity then the
taxpayers would be out of pocket that
$1,000 year, or such proportion OF it
as the cost of cheaper court house
would be less than $4,000. If as matter
of fact, the county already have court
house, suitable and sufficient for all re-
quirements, the $4,000 offer made by
Payette is not in any sense an in duce-
ment. It hardly rises to the dignity of
an attempted bride. Plainly, it is ask
ing two-thirds of the taxpayers of the
county to put themselves to the trouble
and expense of travelling the whole
length of the county, when wishing to
visit the county seat, and paying yearly
one thousand dollars additional taxes
for the privilege Figure it out.