The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-11-04
TAX LEVY UPHELD.

The confidence of the people in the
judicial ability Of Idaho's supreme
court has had several severe shocks
during the past few years, but none
of its peculiar decisions have affected
them so directly as the one just rem
dered in the tax levy cases. The
broad meaning Of the decision is that
tax levy for state purposes, -
under our constitution, means only
for the current running expenses. .
The state board of equalization may
levy taxes amounting to two, three
or twenty per cent Of the assessed
valuation Of the state for interest on
bonds or any other purpose, 30 long
as 1t Is made under the Ruiss of
special taxes" The bars are down,
under this decision, for the plumber
ing of the people by any set Of state
officials who may deem it their privi-
lege to squander the public funds.
The decision Is so far reaching in
Its effect upon taxation, and gives
the state board Of equalization such
unlimited power, in assessing taxes,
that It creates a condition most dan
gerous to the future welfare OF the
state. 1t puts no limit on the bur
den Of taxation that may be imposed
and the history Of Idaho bears out
the truth Of the statement that taxes
will De high enough in the futrue. II
places a premium on dishonesty by
opening the way to such high taxes
that many people will seek to hide
their property to escape the burden.
The only remedy for the coudi-
tions brought about by the decision
Is TO elect a legislature pledged TO
submit a constitutional amendment
to the people fixing a limit to the
total amount Of taxes a state board
OF equalization may levy for all pur-
poses. The people must do this or
they will be pluudered by any legis.
lature or administration that happens
to have no regard for expenditures.
Any number of special" debts NAV
be created by legislative enactment
and administrative wastefulness and
the state board Of equalization has
the absolute power 10 levy special
taTes to cover the amount. 1t does
not matter TO the people whether
these conditions are brought about,
or exist under a republican OF demo.
cratic administration. the opening
made by the decision is such as TO
demand a constitutional amendment
In such plain language that even
supreme court cannot coustrue its
meaning to the injury Of the public.
1t Is the safeguard Of an absolute limit (
the trainers Of the con .
stitutl9n Intended TO the amount
of taxes that can be raised for all
purpose, which the people Uaut. aud
IT Il sad commentary GU orr ~
preme court that the people have not
the confidence IN IT. opinions which
ought to exist, aud this case will not
increase it. The decision may be
technically justified by the wording
OF the constitution, but If 20, It il
strange that it was overlooked by the
convention which framed the section.
and which numb among its mem.
bers many Of the brightest aud most
learned lawyers In the state. The
decision, which must be- acquiesc
ed in by the people auI their rerre
will be looked mon a.
The mere opinion OF men. rather than
b diRutfied judicial opinion 1t
will cost the people Of Idaho good
many hundred thousand dollars in
money before they are able 20 provide
3 remedy.