Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-01-15
PUT ON THE BRAKES
THEME OF GOVERNOR sTEUNEN-
BERG's FIRST MESSAGE.
Goes Into Finance and Makes
Pertinent suggestions.

Boise, Idaho, Jan. 6.-The interest In
the legislature today centered entirely In
the reading of the message of Governor
6teunenberg Nothing of Importance was
done In either house. The houses met in
Joint session to hear the message at 2:3O
p. m. The message was we'll received
and is highly praised on all sides.
The message. in opening. reviews brief
ly the financial STATUS OF the state, and
says:
Our bonded interest bearing debt has
almost doubled, while the assessed valua-
ton Of our property Is decreasing. We
are thus confronted by the difficulty Of
doing an increasing business on a de-
creasing capital. 1t Is shown that the
total bonded debt is $685., OOO and the war
rant debt 24363S.Ss, total Of 1886. 63sS 3.
from which Is to be deducted taxes to
be collected to the amount Of $24S. 765.03.
There are outstanding $37, 2S9 Of what are
called deficiency warrants. as follows:
Asylum, $67s7.45; Albion normal school.
$1721.49 supreme court, $3.50; secretary OF
state. $3.50; governor, 1874: mine inspec-
tor. $s173.33; military. $3.50. 20; legislature.
t9O006; attorney general. $490.79; peniten-
tiary. $623319; capitol building. $500 90;
rewards and notices. $7A; worlds fair.
s444.so; university. $4,000; sundries. ssssos;
total, 81. 289.69'
Urges ECONOMY.
The message continues: "Of all matters
that will engage your attention as legis-
lators. 1t will hardly seem necessary for
me to urge that tho strictest economy
consistent with good business methods
be observed. The demand for retrench-
ment and reform in all matters Of legis-
lAtion and administration is so universal
and the justice of the demand so patent
that any extended discussion In this pa
per on this subject would be superfiuous.
Economy in public affairs in Idaho is no
longer a catch phrase to beguile the UNI
wary. or a subterfuge to mislead. but II
is an absolute necessity"
The governor deals with the irrigation
question, advocating a number of amend
ments Of the laws Of the last session.
He asks for taxation of mines on the Col
orado plan. which takes a percentage of
the gross output in excess Of $1,000 as val
uation of the mine. II can see," he says
mo reason why the system prevailing
In Colorado should not obtain in Idaho.
All the changes on the specious argument
that 1t will drive capital out Of the coun-
Wy Will 10 pci piotOhtiy iuH, dhO Wo III c
at a loss to see wherein any OF our sister
states are suffering from a like interest
and we fail to notice any marked influx
Of mining capital from those states to
ours on account Of our present exemption.
A tax on possession right and on the val
uation of one-half of the gross output in
excess of $1,000 would add something like
y, 000,000 to our valuation. l can not urge
too strongly the necessity for such In
crease. to say nothing of the justice of
the matter"
The governor says of the soldiers
home: II think It advisable to remodel
the government features of the home.
Abolish all the military clap-trap and
shoulder strap nonsense that pervades
the present law, and provide In its stead
for a direct management on business
lines. As the home Is located so near the
capitol, board Of control composed Of
state officers could we'll take the place OF
the expensive trustees. Give the board
authority to appoint superintendent
who shall have complete charge Of the
home. with power to appoint an assistant
with the consent Of the board
The message reviews the condition OF
various state institutions. and makes
number OF important suggestions.
Continuing, the governor says: with
the exception Of what Is known as the
'Shoshone DIVISION most Of the contracts
for the state wagon road have been COM
pleted and the road accepted by the state.
The contract price for the 'Shoshone d.
vision was ST. 600, Of which amount $9140.o7
was drawn out by the contractors and
others. after which work was stopped and
the contract abandoned, leaving an unex
pended balance in this fund of $7953. 70.
would recommend that the state cancel
this contract and turn the money into the
general fund"
silver Governor.
Governor Steunenberg urges the legisla-
ture to take action to show the people of
the country that Idaho Is answering In
allegiance to the cause of bimetallism,
and INDUCES in the following bit Of irony:
Il can not close this topic without re-
ferring to a few graphic passages In pre-
vious messages In his message Of De-
oember 10. $780, Governor Shoup said: I
recommend the passage of a memorial
praying congress to pass a bill for the FREQ
coinage Of silver
ION February s, 1898. Governor McCon-
nell, through his long years Of public ser
Woe, as we'll as natural wisdom and sa-
gacity. was enabled to see clearly the dire
full effects Of this adverse legislation, and
IN a special message to the Legislature of
that date said: For nearly a quarter Of a
century congress seems to have been hyp-
Noticed by the magic wand Of gold. Both
Legislative and executive departments
have bowed down and kissed the golden
rod Of the despots of Europe and Wall
street. Year after year the influence of
legislation antagonistic to silver is being
felt more keenly as the Industries Of our
country and our people are approaching
the conditions of serfs. poems and ryots of
the gold standard countries of Europe T."
RETIRING GOVERNORS MESSAGE.