The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-02-24
RECOMMENDATIONS OF GREAT
IMPORTANCE TO STATE Made
BY GOVERNOR. IN MESSAGE

of legislation upon which he deems
1t important that action be taken dur
ing the present session. The creation
of revenue law commission, con-
stitutional amendment providing for
further limiting the bonded indebted
ness OF the state, provision for giving
silver service to The. battleship Ida
no, and a change in the time for
holding the legislative session are the
subjects treated upon by the governor
In his message, which is as follows:
/ TO the senate and house Of repre-
sentatiyes.
There are several matters of par
tic lar Importance. in my estimation,
to the people of the state, and which
! deem it my duty to direct your at
tention, and ask you Q consider, al
though it is somewhat late In the ses-
sion and your time is greatly occu-
pied with other matters
I'm my message delivered to you
on January 8, 1911, | called your
particular attention to the financial
condition of the state and think 1t
my duty to further communicate with
you upon this important subject.
That our revenue laws need revision
cannot hardly be questioned. ! sug-
gested to you in the message mem
toned the advisability of authorize
izing the appointment Of a revenue
law commission and again call your
attention to the matter If you have
not already come to an tnfavOrable
conclusion upon the subject.
Undoubtedly the assessment roll
of the state will be greatly increased
in the near future. Under proper
system Of assessment the taxable
property within the state would
amount to at least $500, 100000
more. Our constitution, section /,
article 8, limits the bonding power
of the state to one and one-half per
cent of the assessed valuation. II
our assessments were made in COM
pliance with the law, bonded In.
|debtedness could be incurred by the
state, excluding the territorial indebt-
edness, and capital building bonds,
of $7,500,0O0. Future legislatures
may be urged to increase our bonded
debt to the full amount. This would
make the situation almost unbear-
able. Until our revenues are increas-
ed from other sources practically all
of the expenses of the state will come
from direct taxation and the ques-
ton of interest upon our bonded
debt will cut an important figure.
The bonded Indebtedness at the
commencement OF this year, accord
ing to the books of the state auditor,
is now s1,246,500. Our total assess
ment roll for 1910 was 1927 1885,
075.46. We could thus increase our
bonded indebtedness in the sum OF
$660,S41.13. Bills have already
been passed by the legislature at this
session, and placed in my hands for
approval, increasing this bonded in
debtedness to the extent of $79,500.
For necessary betterments OF va
rious state institutions, a consider
able amount of money must be had
that will necessarily be raised by new
bond issues. To bond the state to
the constitutional limit would be
unwise and detrimental in various
ways. In the future, as at present
and in the past, we must expect at
each session of the legislature, de-
mands for internal improvements and
for new state institutions limited on
ly by the amount that can be appro-
priated Experience has shown that
the extreme limit will always be
closely approached by each recurring
legislature. We will then either
have to continue violating the law in
regard to assessment of property al
| its full value and work a hardship
on the state by showing a small as
sessment roll and heavy tax rate
or soon become saddled with such
an enormous state debt, that its fu-
ture payment cannot be provided for
Our object and purpose should be tc
arrange our state indebtedness so as
to provide for its future extinction
In view of this, keeping in mind the
future welfare Of the state, would
renew tho suggestion In my former
message that the constitution should
be SO amended as to absolutely limit
the bonded Indebtedness of the state
outside of the capitol building bonds
and territorial Indebtedness, to 81,
100000, and providing further II
such amendment that at some giveI
time: say 10 or15 years, there should
be a decrease of 100000 a year ii