The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-11-01
Taxpayers Read This!

/ pledge myself as follows if elected
County Commissioner:
The reduction Of our taxes to the
/ fullest possible extent ,compatabl with
a careful and economical administers
i ton Of our county's business. Elimi-
mating all unnecessary expenses and
Office employees. 10 follow the law in
advertising for bids for all extensive
road work, cnlyerts, BRIDGES and other
work, letting the same to the lowest
responsible bidder, and then seeing
| that they live up to their contracts
lin every way. For every dollar ex-
pended the people should get value
received.
OUR COUNTY POOR FARM.
wish to say that in my opinion,
| this should be changed. The name of
| ''poor farm and the calling of its in
mates"paupersn should not be allowed.
IT Is disgrace to us as American
| citizens. Rather let us name this the
"Old Folks Home" or the County
| III ospltal, but III thename of humanity
do not call it the poor farm" Let us
not heap disgrace upon these poor I'M
fortunate people that have met with
misfortune and adversely, perhaps
through no fault of theirs, by calling
them paupers. We are under duty
bound to provide a comfortable home
for them, where they can have at least
| some of the comforts of life in their
declining years. Our poor farm is
worth at least the sum of $4,000, and
it is not paying it's own way. Let us
sell II and buy, say, ten acres of land.
well located along our car lines and
build good sanitary buildings for these
people, in which they can be taken
good care of. This amount of land
will produce all the fruit and vege-
tables that will be needed for this in
stitution, aud no doubt some of the
patients will be able to take care of at
least part of this tract This could
be done at cost of from $500 to
| S26, 600, thus turning back into our
county treasury $25, 00G to $50, 900. The
interest on this amount would go a
long way in supporting the institution
| This is not the only saving that would
be made, however. The buildings there
now are practically worthless and will
have to be replaced with good sanitary
| buildings, and when this is taken into
account, the saving will amount to
that much more.
GOOD ROADS.
helieYe that before we expend large
sums OF money OH permanent roads, that
we should carefully ascertain what ma
terial and mode of construction is best
adapted to our wants, and that will give
us the best results for the money we ex-
| pend and full value for every dollar so
expended. We should at once properly
grade all our country roads, attending
to having them properly drained so as
to keep the water off OF them. This Is
the most important part of road con
struction. When you have dpne this,
you will have accomplished the most
necessary and important part OF con
in proper shape and use the king drag
made Of concrete and below the surface
of the road so as to leave the road level
on the surface. am in favor of build
ing good and permanent roads as rapidly
as we can, without placing tax upon
our people that will be burden on
them. We should have law enacted
by our Legislature that will permit the
working of the prisoners in our peniten.
tiary on our roads, thus reducing the
cost and giving them something to do.
This will be far better for them and
makethem better fitted to become honest
aud upright citizefs when their time ex.
ptrea, ~"
LIMITING THE RowRR aF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.
believe that law should be passed
limiting the power Of our county con-
missioners in making their levies, &c
that 1t will be impossible for them to
make excessive levies, that will be q
burden upon the people.
| believe in the commission form OF
government for counties.
| believe in state tax commission.
Sincerely yours,
GEO. E. ATWATER.