The Idaho Republican., 1912-03-08
STILL DISCUSSING GOVERNORS

Editor Picotte of the Wood River
Times in discussing the gubernatorial
situation in Idaho, analyses State
Auditor s. D. Taylor in the following
languauge:
Through all the political gather.
ings and political discussions Mr.
Taylor has maintained magnificent
poise. He has neither sought the
limelight nor played to the galleries
but when occasion demanded he has
shown the force of his character, and
the courage of his convictions. When
he asked Governor Hawley and the
state board of equalization to re.
scind the resolutions providing for
the assessment of property at full
cash value without first making care
full preparation, he had to make the
fight single-handed and alone. Time
vindicated his stand, as an extra ses-
sion of the legislature had to be
called to straighten out the tangle.
When the board met to equalize tax
es, he made a gallant fight in behalf
of the farmers Of the state to the
end that the additional burden that
had been placed upon them by the
full cash value scheme of assessment
might be reduced. He was only par
TALLY successful in this, but succeed
ed in evening matters up for the
farmers to some extent by moving
that the main lines for railroads be
assessed at 100000 per mile, rate
that caused good many people to
gasp for breath, as the former rate
was only $16,50O.
Mr.. Taylor has attracted a great
deal OF attention by reason of his
original ideas in reference to manage
ment of state funds. He found the
state purchasing school bonds at the
rate of 100000 annually and bear
ing per cent interest while the
farmers of the state were borrowing
eastern money at per cent and hard
to get. Upon his motion the land
board has ceased to purchase school
bonds, except small issues which east
ern bond buyers could not handle,
and the money has been loaned in
stead on improved farms at z per
cent, earning 2 per cent more for the
state, and at the same time saving
the farmers per cent annually. I'm
der this policy, the state last year
loaned the farmers of this state
$646,745 benefiting not only the
farmer but the business interests of
the state. The state auditor advo-
Gates a constitutional amendment that
will permit the sale of more state
lands annually. He points out that
we have lands that have reached
the interest on which
would amount to more than the in
crease in valuation annually, and that
where such is the case sound busi-
ness methods dictates that the land
should be sold, thus increasing our
interest earnings, which earnings will
80 to the support of our public
schools and reduce the burden of di-
ect taxation.
State Auditor Taylor has other
'lans for the reduction of the bur-
lens of taxation. He believes that
more revenue should be raised by in
llrect taxation, and less by direct ,
axes on property. He has not pre- ,
ented theory, but has accomplished
esults. He called the attention of
he legislature, through his biennial I
eport, to the fact that insurance Y
ompanies ought to pay two per cent !
n gross earnings instead of two per s
ent on net earnings as the law then
cad. The legislatures enacted his I
into law with the result 7
hat our insurance department is i
arning $4,000 more annually than +
did. He also called attention to !,
ne fact that express companies and +
rivate car companies were escaping +
axation, and the legislature adopted G
lis suggestion also, and passed
NV taxing these companies. His q
ext move along this line is to be one v
vast possibilities-to start a cam
aign having for it's object the pay
lent to the state instead of to the
sderal government of the royalties p
ow required of power companies. n
1t Is understoo dthat Mr.. Taylor is =
candidate for the nomination on the 9
epublic ticket, though his formal b
announcement was not launched at q
ny particular time. !.
AXES SHORT WORK OF WHITE k
SLAVE CASE b