The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-01-09
PUT ON THE BRAKES
THEME OF GOVERNOR sTEUNEN-
BERG'S FIRST MESSAGE.
Retiring Governor Mcconnell Also
Goes Into Finance and Makes
Pertinent suggestions.

Boise. Idaho, Jan. 5.-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 2:3O
D. m. 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 de-
creasing capital. 1t is shown that the
total bonded debt is $685., OOO and the war
rant debt $243 6SS.S3, a total of $685., OBS 49,
from which IS to be deducted taxes to
be collected to the amount of S24S, 765 O3
There are outstanding s37,2S9 of what are
called deficiency warrants, as follows:
Asylum, $67SI45; Albion normal school,
HI2l49; supreme court, $3.50; secretary Of
state, $3.50; governor, $S764 mine inspec-
tor, $3l73.33; military $3SS020; legislature
S9OO.O5 attorney general. $49O.79; peniten-
tiary, $6233.19 capitol building, $2320. 3d.
rewards and notices, 1924; worlds fair
s444.SO; university, $4,000; sundries $685. S
total $37, 2S9.59."
Urges Economy.
The message continues "Of all matters
that will engage your attention as legis-
lators, it will hardly seem necessary for
me to urge that the strictest economy
consistent with good business methods
be observed. The demand for retrench-
nd In,
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 superfluous
Economy in public affairs in Idaho is no
longer catch phrase to beguile the un-
wary, or a subterfuge to mislead, but it
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. Il 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-
try will be persistently run, and we are
at loss to see wherein any of our sister
states are suffering from like interest
and we fail to notice any marked influx
of mining capital from 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
$50OO,0O0 to our valuation. 1 can not urge
too strongly the necessity for such in
n Of ha or
the matter"
The governor says of the soldiers
home: Il 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 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 accepted by the state
The contract price for the 'Shoshone di-
vision was $4,000, of which amount S9iIOs7
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 1888. 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 bimetallisIn
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-
cember TO- 1890, Governor Shoup said: L
recommend the passage of a memorial
praying congress to pass a bill for the free
coinage of silver.
ION February s. 1898. Governor McCon-
NELL through his long years of public SER
vice. as wen as natural wisdom and sa-
gacity. was enabled 10 see clearly the dire
full effects Of this adverse legislation. and
in a special message to the legislature OF
that date said: For nearly 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 antagonisuc TO silver is being
felt more keenly as the industries Of our