Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1913-01-07
State Grain Commission.

State Grain Commission.
/ advocate the careful examination BY
you Of the provisions or chapter 81,
title 8, revised codes OF Idaho as
amended. for the purpose OF deterinin-
ing whether or not the provisions Of
this chapter with reference to the
grain commission and the state hay
and grain Inspector are necessary. The
provisions OF this chapter governing
warehouses are. of course, necessary,
and should remain, but it is question
able in my mind whether or not any
duties now performed by the state
grain commission and the state hay
and grain inspector could not be en-
tirely dispensed with, or II not so dis
pensed with, added to the duties of
some other officer who could attend
to the same without additional cost to
the state. am clearly OF the opinion
that the office of state hay and grain
inspector should be abolished and the
salary of this office, together with at
tendant expenses, saved to the tax pay
ers of the state.
Water Commissioners.
Section 3269. revised codes, provides
for the appointment of one water COM
missioner for each Of the water divi-
sions of the state. and prescribes the
qualifications and terms of office OF
such commissioners.
Section 1870 prescribes the duties Of
such commissioners, and section 3271
as amended by the act of March IL.
1909, provides for the compensation and
travelling expenses Of water commits
sioners.
A careful study of the duties OF this
position, considered in connection with
the qualifications of many of the ap-
plicants for appointment thereto. has
convinced me that the present method
of appointment is wrong in practice
and incorrect In theory. In my opin-
ion, the present law should be 50
amended as to provide for the appoint
ment, by the state engineer. OF three
persons having the necessary techni-
cal knowledge and experience, for such
time during each irrigation season as
their services may be necessary. The
law should provide for their compen-
sation at prescribed rate for each
day necessarily employed by them in
the performance of their official du-
ties. Their work should be performed
under the direction and control of the
state engineer. who should be required
to audit and pass upon all vouchers
submitted for wages and travelling ex-
penses, before the same are transmit
ted to the state board of examiners.
Reduction Of Taxes Imperative.
AS a final word on this general sub
iect of lessening the expenses of gov
eminent / desire to emphasize That
the burdens of taxation In this state
must be materially reduced. and that
this reduction must show upon our tax
bills for this year. The point has been
reached in this state where in many
counties it is no longer profitable to
own property which is subject to tax
alton. In some of the cities of our state
the rate of taxation for the present
year is higher than 8 per cent Of the
assessed valuation. This is more, In
many cases, than the net income
which the property is capable of pro-
ducing. In the eastern states money
securely loaned at the rate of per
cent is thought of as bringing a high
rate of interest, but in Idaho owners OF
producing not more than s
per cent would probably hold such
property at an actual loss. If we are
to develop along right lines, and II our
property values are to become stable,
we find some positive means Of lower
ing our assessments to a point where
the income from property Will pay the
taxes and leave a fair margin of profit
TO the investor. TO accomplish this
object should be the aim of every loyal
citizen of the state, and all proper
measures having this end in view
should be adopted. II it Is found nee
essary to limit governmental activities
along certain lines, II II is found neces-
sarv to restrict certain kinds of de-
yelopment, If II is found necessary for
,;s to deny ourselves for the time being
certain governmental Injuries which
we have reached out for too rapidly
in the past, we should all cheerfully
and willingly make the necessary sac
rifices in order to accomplish the de-
sired end And not only should the