Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1900-03-30
THE VILLAGE ELECTION,
Some Common Sense Facts for Com.
mon Sense People to Consider.

Some Common Sense Facts for Con-
mon Sense People to Consider.
In spite of all the fuss and
feathers, campaign rot and invo-
cation Of race prejudice against
the nominees ON the Citizens
ticket, the fact remains that there
is absolutely no issue before the
people in the village election re-
lating either to the policy Of the
Village government or the person
ality Of the candidates. The
improvements originally outlined
are completed and paid for. In
the matter Of collecting revenue,
it is immaterial to the tax
payer whether he pays quarterly
license or an annual tax. It
amounts to the same in the end,
with this difference in favor Of tho
license system: That the laws
require the village government to
be conducted ON q cash basis, and
village warrants are naturally
worth more when paid quarterly
than If they are to be held for .
year until the annual tax is COL
lected, besides largely reducing the
interest charges ON outstanding
warrants. The only issue before
the people is as to whether any
individual can come into this
community and attempt to
blacken and defame the character
of old residents in whom the
community has every confidence.
Az to the personality ofthe candi-
dates on the independent ticket
we have nothing to say, except
that they, by their silence,
sanction and endorse the vile
falsifications which their organ has
made upon the character Of good
citizens, and to that extent they
have injured themselves in the
public estimation and must take
the consequences on election day.
Opponents Of the license system
of revenue for village purposes
should stop to think awhile on the
results Of its repeal. Under oul
state revenue laws . man car
come into Grangeville on the
second Monday in January and
be exempt from taxation for two
years. He would not be taxed
this year at all. There are people
doing business here now who
started up last spring and conse-
quently were not assessed last year
for state or county purposes.
They are assessed this year, ol
course, but as taxes are not de-
linquent until December 81, II
practically amounts to their being
enabled to do business here for two
years without contributing q plea
yune to the support Of state, coun-
ty, village or school revenues. II
seems to us that this is q pretty
soft snap, and is equivalent to a
bonus offered to new comers to
embark in business here. Under
the village license system they, in
common with older residents, pay
3 small quarterly village license for
the maintenance of the village
government. Consequently the
alleged discrimination il all in
favor of the new conner.
The claim that Grangeville is
the only municipality in the state
which maintains the license system
is erroneous. The system is in
general use, either for revenue or
protection, in all the incorporated
towns and cities in the state. The
0rangeville ordinance WAS taken
almost bodily from the ordinance
now in force in Lewiston. Here
are the figures showing the amount
Of licenses collected quarter by
quarter since the incorporation Of
the village in November 1897:
February 4, 1898 4233. 90
May l, !" ------ 397.94