Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-01-08
A Clear, Succinct and Business
Like Document.
economy the WatchwOrd-NOt a Party
Cry, but IA stern Necessiry-fn Idaho
state Affairs All Appropriations
should be Based Upon Actual Needs.

the legislature today The message Is
regarded as one of the most business
like ever presented to a Legislature in
Idaho The message gives the total in
debtedness, bonded and warrants, at
$636,63S 81, with deficiency warrant
claims in addition to the amount of
$44, 2So.so, which in all proper cases,
the governor says, should be promptly
paid.
With reference to deficiency warrants,
the governor makes this interesting
statement, quilting his policy;
ait is practically impossible for leg
islature to anticipate all the necessities
for the maintenance of our state gov
eminent and provide for their payment
in advance by appropriation and levy
but it does not seem that where the
legislature has, after due consideration,
refused an appropriation for specific
purpose, that such refusal, except In
cases of dire necessity, is final; and any
expense incurred in the face of such re-
fusal should not constitute valid &C
account against the state and payment
should be withheld"
Continuing, the hovernor says: econ
omy in public affairs in Idaho is no
longer a catch phrase to beguile the I'M
wary oe a subterfuge to mislead, but 1t
is. ar. absolute necessity. Needed reforms
in the abstract are many, but we have a
practical present condition to meet, IN
the handling of which there is no room
for speculative theories In state af-
fairs all appropriations should be based
upon actual needs, all suPerhuous clerk
ships abolished and salaries carefully
considered. In county affairs, thor
ough and intelligent revision of the fees
of county officers, mileage of sheritfs
and others should be made to the end
that expenditures for these purposes
harmonic with existing conditions, and
to the nearest possible degree confnrm
to the taxpayers ability to pay. The
trainers of our constitution were very
liberal in regard to the compensation OF
county officers, and preceding legisla-
ures have adopted the same policy, till,
in majority of the county offices,
officers are much better paid for their
services than the average state official,
or the financial condition of the people
iustifies. The constitu ton provides that
county officials shall be paid by fees and
commissions. or both, the constitutional
as we'll as the most expeditions method
of economy in this particular is to re-
wise the fee bill. A return to the direct
salary system would require constitu-
tional amendment"
Under the head of "Irrigation," the
governor, after speaking of the adoP-
ton by this state of the Wright law,
makes the following suggestions;
"First their should be a state board
of control, before whom all projected
districts and systems of irrigation
should be reviewed and passed upon
S &c O nd-Condemnation provisions,
whereby existing irrigation systems
can be acquired by the district. A
clear provision of this kind is abso-
lutely necessary to a fair trial of the
district system and is required wherein
the interests of the canal and the 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 irrigation purposes. Fourth-A
General provision for the jurisdiction
of water rights. Many of our sources
of supply, so far as the record is con
cerned, have been located to several
times their capacity, and in a number
of cases it is a matter of conjecture as
to whether a fright" really amounts
to anything or not. If the district
system is to obtain in Idaho Tor any
other proper system, for that matter,)
and new canals constructed, it is high
ly important to all parties concerned
that the water supply be available.
1.-THE first session passed a bill EN-
bodying cheap but affective method
of adjudication that failed of executive
approval. The attention of those hav-
ing this i'm potsant subject in charge is
hereby called to the same"
The governor favors taxation of
mines; urges legislation to prevent
county officers from holding back fees;
congratulates the advocates of equal
commends steps to be taken looking to
eradication of Russian thistle and closes
with a plea for bimetailism.
No business of Importance was
transacted outside Of presentation of