The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-12-29

ance not only the law itself, but the
ordinary principles of good govern,
Ement upon which every law is based,
Ihas gradually grown up and the peo-
tple have so become accustomed to
violations of law that many become
discontented because of it's enforce
ment
THE enforcement of the revenue
llaw during the present year, while
not as complete as 1t should have
i been, has, however, called attention
in the most effective way to the cor
Irections necessary to be made. The
|people of the state are awakened to
the necessity of the changes being
made and the legislature has the op-
portunity of acting intelligently upon
a new system because the inefficiency
of the old method has been effective
|ly demonstrated by it's enforcement.
| There are many changes that
should be made in our laws. There
are many matters that | should like
to submit to the legislature for it's
action, but would not have felt JUS
titled in calling a special session ex-
loept upon the all-important subject
of thorough revision of our revenue
laws and the necessary changes in the
constitution and other laws pertaining
thereto.
The special session will be limited
NJ far as it's existence is concerned,
TO 20 days. realize that many other
matters could be presented demand
| ing attention, still l am satisfied that
TO do would distract the attention
of the members of the legislature
from the main subject at issue and
might result in failure to give us
a proper revision of our revenue sys-
TEN. So believing, | have, although
| 1t has been with great regret, in many
Instances, resolved to submit no ques-
lions to the special session except
those connected with the assessment
and collection of the revenue. There
will therefore, be no other matters
to which the attention of the legisla-
ture will be directed and upon whith
legislation can be had.
81 particularly regret that ! can
not, consistently with my duty, have
legislative action upon such matters
as an increase in the number of
jj9e' ees of our supreme, court, neces-
sary amendments to the charter of
Booise City; amendments to the law
regarding the extension of city boun-
daries so as to prevent city like
Boise from being so hedged in by
surrounding municipalities as to pre-
vent it's proper extension; to the pres
idential preference bill, which | be-
lieve is demanded by large majority
of our people; to the division of the
second judicial district and to num-
Der of other matters that are of great
Importance. These things will have
to rest until the next regular session
and in the meantime can be carefully
thought over by the people and by
those selected to legislate positions.
1T is true that some of these ,ques-
tions would occupy but little of the
time of the session, but to submit
them and to have variety Of sub
jects not connected with the revenue
system before the legislature would
give an opportunity to those who are
not anxious for change or who
would desire to play politics at the
coming session to distract the atten-
ton of the members to such other
subjects and keep such subjects in
allegiance during the session and per-
haps result in the defeat of any rev.
enue REFORM
1T is not because l am averse to |
changes being made in these other
matters or that am unaware that
such changes would be beneficial to
the people of the state, that 1 did
not enlarge the scope Of the special
session, but simply for the reason
that believe the paramount question
before the people of Idaho today is
the change in our revenue laws and
did not wish by any action of mine
to give an opportunity to the enemies
of the change to consume the time
of the session in the consideration,
or pretended consideration, of other
matters, no matter how important
such other matters might be.
Il believe that with bills prepared
by competent men presented to the
legislature, even If such bills do not
in their entirety meet the approval
of the law-making body, founda-
ton Will be afforded upon which
proper law can be successfully erect