Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-01-18
Governor McConnels Message
Read Before Legislature.
A I ERSE AND VIGOROUS PAPER
Bristling with Faces and Important ktc-
mmendatiens-1he Message Read
by the Governor In PEI

learning of some opposition, transmitted
the message to both houses. Afterwards
the committee waited upon him and
requested that he read the
message committee s.of citizens
had secured the Columbia theater for
the occasion with the services OF pa no
and the message was read there this
evening by the governor before JOINT
convention.
Gentlemen of the House of Represe EN-
tatives, State of Idaho: In conform ty
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 imam
ours, hence the task before you Is pne
which will require wisdom and CON
cession that the mining industry, the
farm industry, the stock industry ana
all other industries, may receive equally
that fostering care which each may
reasonably expect. 1t VIII he your q uty
to examine the various departments OF
the state, and to inquire as to the WIS
lom of the methods under which they
are administered, and to provide such
changes as you may deem wise ana
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
nj that issued
in payment of current expenses. have
so greatly deprecated, that the couH ties
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 4 tate
| 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 th'
law, but existing conditions have made
it impossible to do otherwise than eYad'
or violate it.
Our supreme court has indicated tina
the current revenues of year must b.
applied to the current expenses of tina
year. 1t follows then. that if the ex
| DenSeS are kept within t'N 49,"
the requirement of the constitution vii
be met, and the counties will at one
be placed, practically upon cash basl
In the future, but if this method IS EN-
ployed in meeting current expense:
then some means must be decided
meet outstanding obligations, IN tn
shape of the warrant Indebtedness tha
will be left unprovided for
The constitution provides that tn
county commissioners shall be author
lied to levy special tax, not eXceedin
ten mills ON the dollar, of taxable pro-
erty for the creation of special run
for the redemption of warrants that al
unpaid. and for the payment of Whnc
there are no funds in the county trea
ury. 1t will be your duty to authori
: the county commissioners to make tn
levy.
Your attention is called to the Hece
sity of providing the method of SUI
mitting the question of bonding the Il
debtedness of counties, to the peepl
at special elections called for that pu
pose. A simple and inexpensive sy
tenn should be provided
: hand YOU herewith the report of Il
state auditor and hope you Will give
d careful perusal. You will notice tn
the state indebtedness is small in cor
parison with what we have afcof
plised.
Our entire bonded indebtedne
" amounts to $36S. 600 So 900 is the balan
due on asylum bonds; $i0S,oo0 W as
sued to refund the debt owed by I
| a
- state: $50. 900 capitol building bonds,
pay which we have on hand ih |
neiehborhood of 100000, and as tn
amount of these bonds may be 7 eur
in June. 1t is your duty to instruct
treasurer to do so. These bonds 6
= 1O-oos The 10 years will have eKpii
at that time on 100000, and short I'll
afterwards on the other $l5,ooo. &c
resolution instructing the treasu rer
take up these bonds should include
Nv whole issue, making 1t his duty 70 7
this money out, instead of allowing
TO remain In the treasury. $50,op0 v
II the wagon road issue of 1889, and
other $135. 900 was the issue authors
:, by the last Legislature to bulid a SCI
VI" of state wagon roads.
TAXATION.
recommend that the state levy
l.. reduced from eighty-five to sity ee
me on the hundred dollars. / further /
ommend that a new fee bill be enac
. that will conform with the present C
ditions which surround us,
The expense of running our Ct ty
county governments, notably mat
our courts, is entirely too great
=" [ recommend that as soon as pl
N Iva fi0n