The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-03-14
SOME BRAIN LEAKS !
A few IDEAS PeruIdte thragh the Brain
Of the Editor while in a S0mnamhu-
IiStk State.

III JI1e years I'd COME tiIiS ptIiou
will be recognized as an epoch OF the
greatest extravaganza. Eight years
ago congress adjourned with an APP
preparation OF over eight hundred
million dollars to its credit. 1t was
then called the ''billion dollar con-
gress" In ridicule. Four years ago
the appropriations were very mater
tally increased. IN this short ses-
sion billion dollar congress Is al
most an actually. Extravaganza In
all the appropriations has been the
rule. II congressman or senator
bad a graft which he wanted to put
through he was out to make trades,
and usually got what he wanted. II
the party In power were to be criti-
cised for this phenomenal extrava.
gance they would no doubt have the
same reply ready that they had eight
years ago, "This Is billion dollar
county," 1t Is true that. as the
country grows older, increases In
population and importance so does
the necessities increase. But 1t Is
hard for the mind to comprehend
what 1t means when we..speak OF a
hundred million to the tenth figure.
~
1t Is not only In national affairs
where the extravaganza has reached
a phenomenal figure, but it is true In
Idaho. Two years ago the appropri.
ationS OF the legislature were almost
double Of what they were Of the two
year session previous. This veal
the appropriations will almost reach
double the figure Of what 1t was two
years ago. The lowest assessment
for state purposes under Hunt was 8;
cents; the lowest under Morrison wa.
Al cents the lowest under Gooding's
first two years administration VAS &!
cents, with deficiency warrants left
over for the legislature to wrestli
with OF 1O7 thousand dollars. From
this 1t Is safe to assume that the las
year OF Gooding's first term shoult
have been greater than it was thu
first year-77 cents--in order to hav,
paid the running expenses OF the ad
ministration. The question now TO
the taxpayer to ask himself Is wha
must he pay into the state tax fun
In order to meet this appropriation
of nearly double what 1t was tw'
years ago. One million and hal
dollars looks like very large sum t.
pay the running expenses Of SINAI
state like Idaho.
~
AS the close of his term approache
1t appears more evident that the con
tenion OF congress that Presiden
Roosevelt is usurping the preroga
tives Of that body are not withou
foundation. When he began to Sc
that congress was going to take tn
forest reserve policy out OF his hand
by the Fulton Hepburn amendmen
he began a scheme to nullify this act
The agricultural department fur
nished the material so that Presi
dent Roosevelt was In position t
say to H with congress. TIL
amendment provided that no NOR
forest reserves be established with
out the sanction of congress. Tn
president played despicable trio
on congress by signing proclamation
creating or adding to thirty-two fol
est reserves, and then after he ha
done this signed the amendment
Well, the result of this trickery wa
to make the Western congressme
and senators exceedingly warm unde
the collar, and no doubt they wi
make use OF the first opportunity
get even with the weilder of the bi
stick.
Il ~.
1t would naturally be expected tina
the Western senators aud congress.
men would be the best able to judy
of what was for the best interests {
! the country. Our representatives
congress usually keep In touch wit
their constituency and try to carr
out their wishes. UnQuestionab
the entire West is In favor Of I'll
policy of forest reserves, or the oil
jects underlying the policy-to COL
! serve the timber at the source of OF
water supply. Senator Dubois hi
/ been warm supporter of the pres
, dent In this policy from the trs
but even he is becoming disguised {
Its abuses or at the extremes
/ which the policy Is being carried
! The president and Eastern senator
and congressman seem to think thu
the people Of the West are In sem
state Of barbarism, and hardly caps
} BILE OF judging OF what Is the best 4
them, and that we need the father
, care OF the representatives of IL
I 'feenanciers" of the East. TT
D people OF the West are beginning
) find out that they have been fools
. In the characteristics of our pres
: dent. They first concluded that /
| was a statesman. His every act h;