The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-01-09
MUST GO SLOW ABOUT TAXATION.
Reduction Il Necessary in Expense.
and Debts.

Upon you will devolve the importan.
duty OF reducing state and county taxa
ton II will be impossible to reduce state
taxation without repudiating our oblIga-
lions. but a great reduction may be made
In the expense Of running our county gov
.ernments, and It will devolye upon you to
enact such legislation as will accom-
plish this object.
The provision of our constitution which
prohibits taxation in ordinary times ex-
ceedins IL per centum per annum has
been. In my Judgment, persistently vio-
lated, although It has been held by our
attorney general that state warrants do
not fall within the meaning Of a Iiabtl-
lty. With due respect to his legal at
tainments, and those who agree with
him, Insist upon my construction being
right. and I desire to warn you against
further agressions as the time will come
when some one will cal! upon the su-
preme court to pass upon this subject In
which case those who deal in our securi-
ties are liable to meet with a disagree
able surprise. The trainers Of the con-
stitutlon anticipated a contingency other
than insurrection or war which might ne
cessitate the creation OF a larger debt
than III per cent on the taxable property
Of the state. but wisely provided that in
such case the people at the polls should
have an opportunity OF being heard.
1t Is commended that where the legisla-
ture has made an appropriation for the
purpose of paying state warrants. and
those warrants are issued against that
appropriation. they are not a liability
We have instances In the history Of our
state wherein we have absolutely failed
n he TO-
notably. the moneys which were retain
ed by the treasurer OF Latah county.
Those taxes were collected as provided
under the levy Does II then follow that
we do not owe the warrants against
which they were drawn? Such a con-
struction Of the constitution Is. in my
opinion. untenabIe. and I believe II would
be well for you to arrange for bringing n
test case before the supreme court, that
this matter may be definitely adjusted.
so that II wrong has been committed.
such a thing may not occur again in the
future.
The constitution Is the bulwark Of the
people, and its protective provisions must
not be ignored. a law should be enact
ed providing for the investment in state
warrants Of all moneys which may here
after accumulate In sinking funds for the
redemption Of bonds. by this mode of
procedure our warrants may be held at
par II legally issued. and the state may
receive the benefit OF the interest. instead
Of allowing the money 10 accumulate In
the state treasury for the benefit Of the
banks.
Although in some Of the counties Of
the state the tax levy has run I'D to
several cents on the dollar. It must be
borne in mind that the levy for state
taxes has never exceeded s. cents on each
800. and that the excessive taxation
which the people have been called upon
to bear has been brought about by ex-
travagance In the administration Of coun-
~ and municipal affairs. and the excess
sive fees paid in some Instances to coun-
~ officers
The recent decision Of the supreme
court concerning the fees Of sheriff..
while no doubt a proper Interpretation OF
the law. shows clearly the necessity Of
revision Of the statute relating to the
fees and salaries Of county officials.