The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1912-01-25

amounting to three hundred million dollars, and in annual income Of 81
million dollars. besides having the power of financial and almost corporea
life or death over fifty thousand Carey Act settlers, would pay for the in
teIngent administration of this work? copcedng that it was imperative
handle these matters so a to show a fair return for the money, what woul
tie real economy?
Here is what they would do: They would put these administrative power
into strong, unhampered hands, mn who did nothing else. men who kne,
and could and would act without political restraint or outside interruption
and they would esteem it a very great privilege to get this expert service 70
ten times what the state pays for its share Of the multfarious duties of thes
two boards.
This Is quite a long Introduction 70 the central idea that it is lot neces
sarly extravaganza OF lack Of business prudence to spend money to ge
good service for the state To put it in form IS a concrete example:
During the few years that the greatest Carey Act development has take1
place in Idaho when the aggregate land and Improvement investment was il
excess of a hundred million dollars, there we're but four members If the
state land board; their total salaries were 81, 400 a year; and they could give
perhaps one-fourh Of their time costing $4,000 a year, to this monumental
work and to interpret and develop a new, strange law n a gigantic scale
They depended upon a state engineer who drew $4,000 a ear. This unframed
inexpert, harassed. underpad, tmedivded board, and its n-paid engineer
Ing advisor, was expected 10 cope with corporation agents and engineers
drawing and earning almost as much per man as the total salaries of the
board for their full time It was 10 bargain for the people of Idaho to force
these officers to attempt this work for $500 a year. including the boards
partial IN mo he engineers full time Instead it "a the most ruinous
extravaganza the state " knew; it has cost the settlers millions. 1t has
cost the state many more millions of investments that would have been made
had there been a better state policy of expert supervision; and Idaho is today
gaspng for relief from the evils If cheap" management that is so costly.
The makers of the Constitution perhaps never dreamed what a state this
was destined to be; certainly they did not, or they would not have hung such
a colossal monstrosty around the neck of the infant commonwealth. 1t is
10 a criticism Of o a reflection upon an state officer who yer served, or
who serves upon this or any other state board; flesh and Blood could
do 10 more than divide ones time among so many interests required of these
officers. The system is consttuionaly. fundamentally weak; like a child
born blind, hystercal, and with a predisposilon to drink or frenzy. 1t could
not cal not be doctored into health
The state land board, while conshtuHonauy prohibited from delegating
its pow-rs, has recognized its W time and legal limitations. and has partially
sg,ed the question Of a undivided, expert supervision of at least a part
of its business. Last spring B P shawhan vas appointed as supervisor of the
Carey Act department Legally, the office has n standing; it has 10 dscre-
ionary or executive powers. n tenure of Office. nothing but the permission
to suggest plans or to carry out the orders Of the board. The supervisor
might suggest until he black in the fact. and it wouldn't affect any
action the board chose to take. But it was the greatest thing any state board
ever did to appoint a capable IA a student, an advisor. to devote his time
study these intricate matters. Without legal power, but with the confidence
of the legally qualified board, he has been able to do some really great
things for the state The marvel Q the shame, of it all is that it wa not
done years. ago. One expert, even a mere advisor, who devoted all his time to
the matter, could have saved the Carey Act settlers millions of dollars; the
only a little less; and the state its reputation, had he been put on
he job eight years ago The state low pays Mr. Shawhan $1,000 a year; such
would have been a very great bargain at twenty times that, in set
ling the vital points that have been raised in Carey Act matters One might
mention merely the King Hill and the Big Lost River projects al examples
u "here sol expert knowledge would have been invaluable, in saving money
the companies and for the settlers, and prestige for the state. 1t would
pee a kindness. and a business bargain, to settle these troubles before
hey arose. 1t could have been done; end on every project helpful reforms
My a little less needed could have been inaugurated.
It would have been a wise economy o pay by direct tai to have some
me 81 closely in touch with the Carey Act situation as to be able to refuse
o allow settlers to move o tot their lands until the water "a ready; wise
n the companies, wiser for the settlers, w1sest for the credit of the state
law. The Carey Act fees go o pay the necessary expenses Of admin
tering the law; any and all surplus is returlable o tn United States gov
rnment There is a large surplus o n hand. TO be Sc used or returned; all
objected from the settlers in Idaho. 1t is almost unbelievable that it should
ave been allowed to accumulate when it cou Id have beer used Sc wisely.
IT thu peoples benefit as this small part is now being used.
The real remedy, however, is in a strong slfcontained. expert, non
artisan land board, Independent of all obigs lions "a that of service to
lie puonc. 1t would be wisdom to carve the oil d constitution into shreds and
for such a board, not only Tor lane aft airs, but for other matters of
Importance.
And incidentally, the remedy for high taxes is not in cutting salaries. or
lie number OF officers, or in curtaning powers; but in securing expert, sole
at any price to look after the collection and administration Of the
funds To take two n three of these heaviest board duties from the
elective state officers, and put theDl into the hands of specialists,
lille giving the ow overworked officers a fair chance to do the work
which they are elected, would be real economy.
For Moths In Carpets. |
Moths in carpets can hi kiled " The transformers. Il