The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-01-06
GOVERNOR OF IDAHO
Hr. Steuenberg Presents Bis First
Message to the legislature
HE OUTLINES HIS POLICY
II Is Fegardcd as a 6uslness-LIke
Statement and an Able RevIew
OF Condltlons-Fav avors TAX
at on of Mines.

Special pispItch To the standard
Boise, Jan. 5.-Governor Steuenberg.
Idaho's new chief executive. demo.
crat, presented his first message TO the
legislature. The message is regarded as
one Of the most busincssllke ever pre-
sentcd 10 Legislature IN idaho. The
message gives the total Indebtedness.
bonded and warrant. AZ $3.50. 63s.s2. with
deficiency warrant claims IN addition.
Ia the amount OF Ni.2S959. which. Ia
all proper cases. the governor says.
should be promptly paid, With defer
ente tothe deficiency warrants the gov
ernor makes this interesting statement
outlining his policy;
IT is practically Impossible for a
legislature to anticipate all the neccs-
stiles for the maintenance OF our stale
government and provide for their pay
ment In advance by appropriation and
levy. but IL does seem that where the
legislature has, after due considera-
ton, refused an appropriation for a
specific purpose such refusal, except in
case OF dire necessity, Ii final; and any
expense incurred In the face of such re-
fusal should not constitute n valid ac-
count against the state and payment
should be- withheld
Continuing the governor says:
Economy In public Affairs In Idaho Is
no longer catch phrase Ia beguile the
unwary or subterfuge To mislead
but Is an absolute necessity. Needed
reforms In the abstract are many. hut
We have n practical present condition
To meet the handling of which there is
no room for speculative theories. In
tus 0f.Nr
he based upon actual needs. all super
iluous clerkships abolished and salaries
carefully considered. In county affairs
a thorough and intelligent revision of
the fees of county officers. mileage OF
shcriifs and others should be- made tn
the end that expenditures for these
purposes harmonize with existing con-
ditluns and. To the nearest possible de-
gree. conform to the taxpayers ability
Ia pay. The trainers of our constitution
were liberal In regard Ia the compen-
sation of county officers and proceed
ing legislatures have adopted the same
policy, while In a majority OF the coun-
ties officers are much better paid for
their service than the average state
officials or the financial condition OF
the people Justifies The constitution
provides that county officials shall b.
paid by fees aud commissions or both:
the constitution as well as the most ex-
peditious method of economy In this
particular ls To revise the fee bill A
return To the direct salary system
would require a constitutional amend
ment
Under the head Of irrigation the gov
ornor. after speaking of the adoption
by this state of the Wright law. makes
the following suggestions; First,
there should l.. "a state board OF cons
troll. before whom all projected dis
tricts and systems ~ irrigation should
he reviewed and passed upon; second.
condemnation provisions whereby ex-
isting irrigation systems can be ac-
duired 10y tn" district, A clear pro-
vision of this kind IL absolutely neces-
sary to fair trial of the district sys-
TEN. and IL required where interests
~ the canal and land owners clash;
third. the state should be divided into
the proper number of subdivisions as
may be- necessary to conform To the
natural supply of water for irrignting
purposes; fourth. general provision
for the adjudication uf water rights.
Many uf our sources of supply 50 far as
the record is concerned have been To-
Gated To- several times their capacity.
and In a number u cases IL Is mat
ter of conjecture as To- whether a right
really amounts To- anything ar not. if
the district system " To obtain In Idaho
(or any proper stem, for that matter)
and new canals constructed II Is high
ly important 10 all parties concerned
that the water supply be- available. The
first session passed n hill embodying a
cheap, but effective method of adjudi-
cation that failed of executive ap-
prevail The attention Of those having
this important subject In charge Is
called to the same.
The governor favors taxation OF
mines: urges the legislature 10 prevent
county officers from holding back fees.
congratulates the advocates of equal
suffrage on their recent victory re-
commends that steps be taken looking
to the eradication of the Russian this
tie. and closes with n plea for bimetal-
lism. No business OF importance was
transacted outside OF the presentation
OF the message.