The Idaho Republican., 1912-01-05
is FRONTING THE REAR.
(Statesman)

by Governor HaWley on May D.
1911:
l can conceive of no contin-
gency at this time that would
make it necessary for me to call
a special session of the legisla-
ture | have had no idea at any
time of calling special session
in connection with the tax mat
ter. ~
This does not sound very much like
the remarks of his eXcellency when
he uttered his proclamation calling
the legislature into extra session on
January Is, 1912, for the sole pur-
pose of considering the matter of rev.
enue and taxation. What has brought
about this change of heart? What has
happened between May and December
which has compelled Governor Haw-
ley to recognize this contingency?
The governor can hardly be expected
to answer this question, and the
Statesman suggests that the reason
for the governors latter thought and
present action rests upon his own
mistaken action in compelling unjust
administration of the existing tar
law, resulting in the overtaxing Of
many of our citizens, almost to the
point of confiscation of their equi-
ties. This he has discovered to be
a tactical political error, impossible
to explain or cure, and his purpose
in now calling the legislature togeth-
er is to shift responsibility for the
frightful error committed to the
shoulders of the Republican majority
in the legislature, and If possible OBJ
tain the passage of revenue law
which from it's promise of better
things may renew the confidence in
him which the people of the state
have lost.
Governor Hawley has been a citi-
zen of Idaho since the beginning. He
was during many years a public Of
ficer, and undoubtedly all of the
time taxpayer. He has always had
a very thorough knowledge of the
revenue laws of the state, and dur
ing the regular session of the legis-
lature was undoubtedly in possession
of all the information in regard to
the weak points in the law to which
he now calls attention. The neces-
sity for revision that exists now ex
listed then in the same degree, and
he must then have recognized the i'm
perative duty of calling the attention
of the legislature to the revenue law s
shortcomings, SO that action might
be taken If this had been done and
the legislature had then refused to
act, his duty in calling the legisla-
ture into extra session, would have
been recognized by everyone.
There is no way within the law to
help those who are now laboring un-
der the injustice caused by the gov
ernOr's demand for full cash valu.
alton of all property in the state.
This demand, with its threat of en-
forcement through the power invested
in him, has resulted in the grossest
injustices in many instances, both
through relative over and under
taxation. Any laws that may be
passed at the extra session cannot
change the happenings of 1911, al
though temporary relief might be
given the taxpayer for the year 1912,
after which legislature elected af-
ter full discussion of the whole SUBJ
ject should be able to enact a law
that would do justice between all the
people and all classes of property in
the state.
The governor must not expect the
people to forget so soon that what he
now advocates, if a good thing,
should have been advocated by him a
year ago-that what has happened
of evil to them through the admin
istration of the revenue laws can be
laid directly at his door. He is a lit
tie late in facing to the rear"