Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-10-31

Lewiston and Albion school appro-
priation (P. 1856, Sixth Session Laws)
s5O2s.54
Additional deficiencies for 1899 and
1900 Up. 302. Sixth Session Laws) s2s-
24765.
| Making a total of deficiencies for
which bonds or appropriations were
made during four years of Democratic
rule Of s170,941.3 without considering
some minor appropriations which it
were perhaps fair to allow
| Great stress has been laid upon the
assertion that no general fund war
rants have been discounted or out
standing during the term Governor
Hunt has been in office. This asser-
ton when investigated shows the fol-
lowing facts: Large amounts of money
have been received by the state be-
longing to other funds and which could
not be charged to the general fund nor
used for the redemption of general
fund warrants. The general fund dur
ing large part of the time is bankrupt
for the reason that the taxes which
are paid in by the counties are receiv-
ed only during the first six months
of the fiscal year. The money usually.
within a short time after it is received.
is paid out for the redemption of war
rants previously issued. To prevent
general fund warrants from falling be-
low par value the present admins
tration takes money from some other
available fund to cash the general
fund warrants when presented to the
state treasurer for payment or reg
istration. These warrants are then de-
posted in the fund which cashed
them, and are carried as cash in that
fund until there is money to redeem
them in the general fund, when they
are taken up, redeemed and the fund
in which. they have been carried is
charged with the amount of their re-
demption together with the accrued in
terest at the rate of per cent per
annum. By this ingenious device the
Democratic state administration Dor
rows money of itself at per cent per
annum for the purpose of paying its
own debts. The policy of robbing Pc
ter to pay Paul bears its own COM
ment.
Governor Hunts administration is
now carrying about s125, 100000 worth of
its own unredeemed warrants in this
manner and as the general fund must
go unreplenished for at least four
iioHtuS yet. not only tnlS amount Dut
all other general fund warrants must
be carried unredeemed and bearing in
terest for that time at least.
With levies in the aggregate amount
ing to s1.4S6. 10000 and with bonds and
in aid of the admins
tration and to pay up debts for whose
payment no provision had been made
when they were incurred of nearly
in fhn c1,n
six years, or, in ALL sum amounting
to s1e56, 100000 the Democratic gov
eminent of this state finds itself con-
fronted with an overdrawn general
fund account of s125, 100000 bearing in
terest as above stated, and its depart
ment appropriations so far exhausted
as to cause serious doubt of their be-
ing sufficient for the remainder of
the year.
The rate of taxation depends upon
two things, first, the amount which
must be raised. and second. the amount
of taxable property In the state on
which to place a tax which shall pro-
duce the total amount of the levy.
The assessment roll on which the levy
IS based must by law be that of the
year preceding. In 1896, under Repub-
lean rule of Governor Mcconnell. the
-oll on which the levy was, made for
1896 was s29, 1892. 210.38 and the legisla-
lure had placed the gross ad valorem
evy at 1921. 10000 which necessitated
| tax of 70 cents per 500 valuation.
The roll on which the levy was made
n 1902 under Governor Hunt was $751;
40. 1878 and his legislature gave him
245, 10000 to spend for that year, ne
'essitating tax of about 4S cents
IN the 500 valuation: the proportional
ate was substantially the same In
'ach case, for had the total valuation
'een the same under Governor Hunt
Is that under Governor Mcconnell. the
anne rate of 79 cents would have been
Necessary to raise the same amount
II 1921 10000 and had the legislature
made the gross levy 1921 10000 instead
II s245.000.00 on the total valuations of
81, 440. 1888. then ajax of less than
5 cents would have been necessary,
nut under the present Democratic ad-
of Governor Hunt the
eople are paying s14.OOO.oo per year
nore than under the last Republican
and are as a matter of
act required to pay a state tax of
bout cents more on the 800 than
hey did under Republican rule
Governor Hunt has been fortunate In
aving legislature subservient to his
Ill and DESTROYS of making the paths
asy through the financial wilderness
pon which he entered at the begin
ing of his term and in which he Is
III involved. for they paid I'm the
d deficiencies of the former Demo-
attic administrations by bonding the
ate and making appropriations for
81 10000 so that he should have MOTH
g to do except spend the $500. 100000
hich they allowed him for his term.
1T he is unfortunate in being unable
resist the impulses of extravaganza
hen he Is given s2S.0000O more than
e last Republican governor and fs
reed to Increase taxation cents up
500. has. four months before his
RIM expires, s125.00o of overdrawn
neral fund warrants bearing per
mt interest which he cannot redeem.
a also finds that in all probability
cannot carry on the public institu-
ms for the remainder of his term
tn what remains in the appropria-
n. The economy of the Democratic
vernment Is n minus nuoptifxr