The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-01-14
PUT ON THE BRAKES
THEME OF GOVERNOR sTEUNEN-
BERG's FIRST MESSAGE.
Retiring Governor Mcconnell Also
Goes Into Finance md Makes
Pertinent Suggestions.

Boise, Idaho, Jan. 1.-THE interest in
the legislature today conferred entirely in
the reading of the message of Governor
Steunenberg. Nothing of Importance was
done in either house. The houses met in
joint session to hear the message at 2:30
p. IN. The message was well 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 n de-
creasing capital. 1t is shown that the
total bonded debt is $S9s, 600 and the war
rant debt s2i3. 63SS3 a total of $685.. GSS 49,
from which Is to be deducted taxes to
be collected to the amount of S2iS, 765 o.
There are outstanding s37, 2S9 of what are
called deficiency warrants, as follows:
Asylum, $67S745; Albion normal school,
s1721.4s; supreme court. $3.50; secretary Of
state. $3.50; governor, SS764: mine inspec-
tor, $3173.SS; military, s3sS0.20; legislature,
s900.05; attorney general s490.79; peniten-
tiary, s62a3.19; capitol building. s2320.9s;
rewards and notices. 1924; worlds fair.
$444S0; university. $1,000; sundries $33s.O3;
total, $37, 28s5s''
Urges Economy.
The message continues: "Of all matters
that will engage your attention as legls-
iators. 1t will hardly seem necessary for
me to urge that the 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 superfuous.
Economy in public affairs in Idaho is no
longer catch phrase to beguile the I'M
wary, or a subterfuge to mislead, but 1t
Is an absolute necessity"
The governor deals with the irrigation
question, advocating 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,
no 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-
try will be persistently run, and we are
at loss to sec wherein any OF our sister
states are suffering from a like interest
and we fail to notice any marked influx
of mining capital sioni those states 70
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
s., 600 900 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: Il think 1t 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 it's stead |
for direct management on business |
lines. AS the home Is located so near the |
capitol. a board of control composed of |
state officers could well take the place OF |
the expensive trustees. Give the board |
authority to appoint a 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 a
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 accented bv the state
The contract price for the Shoshone di- |
vision was $4,000, OF which amount $9ll0e7 |
was drawn out by the contractors and |
others. after which work was stopped and |
he contract abandoned, leaving an unex- |
pended balance in this fund of 1888. 49, !
would recommend that the state cancel |
his contract and turn the money into tie
general fund"