The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-01-12
Governor McConnelI's Message
Read Before Legislature.
AlERSE AND VIGOROUS PAPER
Brisiling with Faces aud Important Rec
mendatiens-The Message Read
by the Governor I'm Person,


vention to hear the message, reported
in favor of the plan and report was
adopted in both houses. The governor,
learning of some opposition, transmitted |
the message TO both houses Afterwards |
the committee waited upon him and |
unanimously requested that he read the
message. A committee of citizens |
had secured the Columbia theater Tor |
the occasion with the services of band
and the message was read there TINS
evening by the governor before JOINT
convention.
Gentlemen of the House of Represen-
tatives. State of Idaho: In conformity
with the constitution of our state, you
have assembled in biennial session to
perform the duties of legislators.
Few states in the union present more
varied interests and industries than
ours, hence the task before you is one
which will require wisdom and con-
cession that the mining industry the
farm industry, the stock industry and
all other industries may receive equally
that fostering care which each may
reasonably expect. 1t will be your duty
to examine the various departments OF
the state. and to inquire as to the wis
dom of the methods under which they
IRE administered, and to provide such
changes as you may deem wise and.
proper.
One of the first and most important
duties which should engage your atten-
ton is the task of reducing the ex-
pense of our state and county govern
ments.
The most rigid economy in the con-
duct of county affairs has become an
absolute necessity. In several counties
in the state, warrants that are issued
in payment Of current expenses have
so greatly deprecated, that the counties
in purchasing material, and supplies
for county purposes, are, in many in
stances. compelled to pay twice the
cash value of the articles purchased,
and in nearly every county in the state
the discount on the warrant is added
TO the purchase price. thus largely in
creasing the expense of county govern
ments. This is a clear violation of the
law, but existing conditions have made
it impossible to do otherwise than evade
or violate it.
Our supreme court has indicated that
the current revenues of year must be
applied to the current expenses of that
year 1t follows then, that if the eX
penses are kept within the revenues,
the requirement of the constitution will
be met, and the counties will al once
be placed, practically, upon a cash basis
in the future. but if this method is en-
ployed in meeting current expenses
then some means must be decided to
meet outstanding obligations. i'm the
shape of the warrant Indebtedness that
will be left unprovided for
The constitution provides that the
county commissioners shall be author
lied to levy a special tax, not exceeding
ten mills on the dollar, of taxable prop
erty. for the creation of a special fund
for the redemption of warrants that are
unpaid, and for the payment of which
there are no funds in the county treas
ury. 1t will io Your duty to authorize
the county commissioners to make this
levy.
Your attention is called to the neces-
sity of providing the method Of sub
hitting the question of bonding the in
debtedness of counties, to the people,
at special elections called for that pur-
pose A simple and inexpensive sys-
tenn should be provided.
1 hand you herewith the report of the
state auditor and hope you will give it
careful perusal. You will notice that
the state Indebtedness is small in COM
parison with what we have accom-
plised
Our entire bonded Indebtedness
amounts to S36S 000 $1,000 is the balance
due on asylum bonds; $1OS,OO0 was is
sued to refund the debt owed by the
territory when we were admitted as a
state $4,000 capitol building bonds, tC
nav which we have on hand in the
neighborhood of 100000, and as that
amount of these bonds may be retired
in June, it is your duty to instruct the
treasurer to do so. These bonds are
1O-2Os The 10 years will have expired
at that time on 100000, and a short time
afterwards on the other $4,000. Youl
resolution instructing the treasurer &c
take up these bonds should include The
whole issue, making it his duty to pay
this money out, instead of allowing Il
to remain in the treasury. $4,000 wa:
the wagon road issue of 1889, and the
other S135, 900 was the issue authorized
nv the last Legislature to build a series
of state wagon roads.
TAXATION.
recommend that the state levy b,
reduced from eighty-five to sity cents
on the hundred dollars. I further rec
ommend that a new fee bill be enacted
that will conform with the present con
ditions which surround us.
The expense of running our city ant
comfy governments notably that o
,,,. courts is entirely too great