Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-03-15


Accompanying the recommendation
military and tide lands deficiencies.
Regarding the military deficiency the
committee said:
1--WE find the deficiency in the military
department over the appropriations
made in 1898 to be about SAB 900. This
is in great part represented by claims
against the state as yet unaudited.
These claims are as rule just claims
held by individuals in all parts of the
state, and upon being audited by the
military board, which consists OF the
governor, state auditor and adjutant-
general, should be paid from the military
fund. However much we may question
the expediency, advisability or necessity
OF maintaining this large outlay, the
fact remains that the parties holding
these claims dealt with the state in good
faith, expecting to be paid, and we
therefore recommend that the above APP
preparation be made, to be used in taxi
ing up such claims only as are approved
by the above named military auditing
board.
..In an examination into the financial
management of the military department
the appropriation committee has been
overwhelmed by an APPALLING exhibition
ofrecklessness, extravaganza and inca
pacitg,on the part of the adjutant-gen-
eral. He is practically the business
head OF the military organization. He
Is membefof the military board, which
makes the expenditures, and also q
member of the military auditing board,
which passes upon these expenditures,
SO that he can justly be considered the
responsible head in the management Of
our military finances. An examination
OF the records for the past four years has
shown to the committee an utter lack oil
the ordinary sense, sagacity and COM
mon prudence which govern in the fin
ancial transactions OF to-day, and the
unrestrained prodigality and profuse-
ness OF expenditure on the part OF the
head of the military department war
rant the belief that few more years o.
the present management will put the
denartment SO lar in arrears that dec.
ade will be required to place it again on
an even footing. The committee find
that, owing to disorders occurring in
territorial days, the legislature saw fl
to establish one-fifth of mill tax on
the assessed valuation of property in the
state, to go into what is termed the mill
itary fund. The entire receipts from THU
tax we're formerly expended under ne
restrictions, but upon obtaining state
hood it became necessary, because o
constitutional provisions, to make 9
specific appropriation from this fund to-
the maintenance of the military organi
cation. The limits set by previous leg
islatures as to the amount of money t,
be expended seems to have been utterl!
ignored, and the past two legislature
have found it necessary to meet def
clencies caused by the failure of the ad
jutant-general to keep within tn
bounds set by them. The last legisla
ture appropriated $4,000 for the main
tenance OF the militia for two years
10000 for each fiscal year. This wa
believed to be sufficient to keep tn
National Guard at high standard Q
excellence, provided ordinary care, fru
gaIity and common business prudenc
were exercised by the chief militar
staff officer in whose hands the affairs Q
the militia are practically intrusted. w
find, however an absolute lack and ab
sence OF economy, and no inclination
whatever to keep the expenses within
the appropriation.