The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-01-01
GuHEEN SAYS EFFACE
THE LAND BOARD
Attorney General Declares Present
System Absolutely Vicious In Its
Weakness-A Travesty ON
Business Methods.

II covers the work OF the departme
OF justice for a period OF two yea
and continues recommendations t
changes in the plan of administrati,
OF the state government.
Among the suggestions are consI
tutional amendments or enactmen
providing for state land commi
sioner who shall have full charge
the state land business, a Carey a
board to govern in Carey act matter
state tax commission and q sta1
board OF equalization not compose
OF executive officers Of the state.
The report is OF great length an
OF interest throughout, as it dea]
with subjects of general concern rt
lating to the operation Of the stat
board OF equalization and the Ian
board. General Guheen, after re
commencing the creation of the offic
OF state land commissioner, says:
AS now constituted the state Ian,
board is composed OF the governor
the attorney general, the secretary o
state and the superintendent Of pub
TIC instruction. Each persons is :
member of from nine to thirteen
otner additional state boards, besides
having to attend to the duties for
which their offices were primarily
created. 1t takes three of the four
members to make quorum to trans
act business.
II the land board was composed
OF individuals who were not connect-
ed with the executive department and
could meet daily there would be no
particular difficulty; but on account
OF the great amount of land matters
10 be attended to by the board, and
their complexity, and the fact that
this board is composed of officers
some of whose primary executive
duties demand the greater part of
thelr attention, 1t makes the present
system absolutely vicious in its weak
ness.
There are now in this state IL
carey act projects" the general
says, lin full operation and IL in
Of getting to work. The to-
al amount OF land segregated and ap-
'lied for is approximately 1,77S.O00
lcres."
After review of The immense
mount OF work required of the mem
'ers OF the board In addition to the
luties of their office, he continues.
l would recommend that law be
assed empowering the governor to
ppoint commission of three men to
ave complete charge of this depart [
lent." !
referring to the state board of
qualization he states: mo greater {
Favesty upon business methods was {
yer created than the present manner I
attempting to equalize taxes. Ex-
cutive officers of the state are given g
Ho weeks In which to make asses (,
tents of all railroads telegraph and
'lephone lines, within the state and
equalize all other property as be-
veen classes and between counties. II
hey are prohibited from beginning A
null all the reports of abstracts are k
from the various counties and the G
'tual experience has always been O
lat on account of delays in return II
g abstracts, the board usually has +,
We or six days In which to complete I,
II believe the appointment of a 8
x commission to report to the gov
nor and legislature two years hence 1t
ould result In a great deal of good, P
ID would also result in securing bet g,
understanding throughout the fl
lole state as to taxation In general. a,
Il would recommend that an &C
lendment be submitted abolishing fr
at provision of the constitution la
lich makes five executive officers OF to
state the members of the state
ard of equalization, so that the m
liter can be left open to the legis- be
ure to act as they see fit in provid- Ia
for the state board of equaliza- Sc
p. ! would recommend the fol- fa
wing changes in the law regulating ca
duties of the state board of equal
tion, to-wit: T.,
The power of the state board OF MI
'perty should be extended SO as to to
lude the franchises and other at
perty Of express companies, Pull tic
n and other sleeping car com hil
lies and independent freight car sill
1panies operating In this state.
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earning to live is q problem which an