The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-12-26
EPIDEMIC OF TESTS.
revenge.

intention to put the sugar bounty
law to The constitutional test seems
to have started an epidemic. Elk.
Chief Justice Quaries has attacked
the constitutionality of half dozen
acts; Attorney Frazer is after the
sheepmen's scalp act, and only one
county heard from.
From what we can learn, we take
it that Judge Quarles bases his con-
tention upon two points, first, that
the debt creating propensities of the
last legislature tempted it to trans
gress constitutional limitations, and,
second, its generosity led it to ap-
propriate public money to private
uses. The constitution prohibits
the legislature from creating any
debt, exclusive of the old territorial
debt, in excess Of one and a half
per cent of the assessed value of the
State, without first being authorized
by vote of the people. 1t is held
that this prohibition was disregard
ed, as also was the constitutional
provision that no expenditure au-
thorized whereby the expenditure
of the State during any fiscal year
shall exceed the total tax then pro-
vided for by law" ETC., Art. VII,
Sec. II. Upon one or another OF
these grounds, the legality of var
ious bond issues authorized by the
last legislature is attacked.
Should Judge Quarles's conten-
ton be sustained by the State ST.
preme court, the following author"
lied bond issues will be affected:
Reform School $50, 900; University,
$4,000; Penitentiary, 100000;
Lewiston Supreme Court Building,
$4,000; Academy of Idaho, $50,
600; Albion Normal School, $12,'
900; Weiser Bridge, $4,000; St.
Louis Exposition, $4,000; Thun'
der Mountain Road, $40, 900; print
ing Supreme Court reports, $780,
Sugar Bounty, $40. 900; 1901 Def
cheney, SIS, 900; 1902 Deficiencies,
$50, 500, making a total authorize
ton of 1888, 900 of which $3.50, ooc
has been actually issued. 1t is
quite proper to remark that in at
lacking measures of such conse'
quence, Judge Quarles shows {
largeness of spirit in keeping with
the dignity of the high place he ha'
occupied in the public life of thu
State.
Some of the sheepmen are tiret
of the scalp bounty; they say it il
more fatal to valuable dogs than t.
predatory coyotes. They want tn
law unconstitutionalized. Private
ly, we hope they may succeed. W.
have always entertained for tn
coyote mingled feelings of admira
ton and sympathy. He is the pa
riah of the animal kingdom; he ha
no social standing anywhere. TIL
struggle for existence has wrough
terribly on him, and given him al
onery exterior, full of worms ant
scabs. He is secretly ashamed Q
himself and inwardly rebels agains
the life he is forced to lead, but il
public he always maintains calm
inquiriug, dignity of bearing tina
distinguishes him from all othe
animals. A coyote never show
unseemly haste or ill-mannered agi
. tation. Meet him where you will
and he greets you with respectful
curiosity, as if to inquire the natur
of your calling and whether b
might be of service. Having salts
: fed himself on these points, he leis
urely departs, occasionally stoppin
and looking back to indicate tha
} he takes a sociable interest in you
movements. He is an outlaw, an
he knows it; he is ugly, and sees il
| It is the genuine humility CROWN
: out of this knowledge that make
, him sneak away into lonely place.
: The sense Of his own ignominy OF
. presses him and he mourns throug
: the night. He doesn't show off
: society very well, but he's got moi
I brains than ali the resr nf fhe haas,