American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-09-25
ADMINISTRATION
STRIKES BACK
HAINES ISSUES
STATEMENT IN DEFENSE OF
PRESENT STATE LEVY.
Taxes are Higher Because Legisfn-
ture Made Larger Appropriations
for Things Demanded by tho
People.

Governor Haines does not intend
to sit still and permit adverse
critics to charge his administration
with extravaganza; with being false
10 its professions OF economy and
retrenchment From the beginning
the governor has prided himself on
bringing the business of the state
to = better business standard; 10
the establishment OF system and bet
ter management in every depart
ment OF the state government
In an open Statement to the
People OF Idaho on the State Tax
Levy" issued on Friday. Governor
Haines submits facts and figures
that will be OF interests to every
taxpayer in the state. In this
signed statement he says:
Why Statement is Made
The announcement by the board
OF equalization OF the state levy and
the amount which will have to be
raised this year by direct taxation
from the various counties, has been
made the occasion by the opposition
newspapers for a declaration that
the present administration has failed
70 redeem its promises in the mat
ter OF giving the people an economi-
cal business administration of state
affairs.
1t is pointed out that the board
OF equalization is raising through
direct taxation s24.238.73 more this
year than was similarly raised in
1912 and an attempt is being made
to use this fact as proof OF extra
vaganee and breach of faith on the
part of the state officers.
People Should Have the Facts
1t is my belief that the people
should be fully informed on this
natter so that they may know the
exact status OF the question and
be able to decide for themselves
whether or not the state government
bas been economical and business
rike in It's operations. Il is true
hat direct taxes have been in
creased by the amount named. but
It is also true that those who have
attempted TO make capita% out OF
II fact have not been fair enough
to give the reasons for this Increase
OF the facts from which the reasons
n ght be deducted.
1T is a well known fact that the
last legislature considerably extend
ed the operations of the state gov
ernment and that the board OF
equalization was forced to provide
for meeting many expenses which
heretofore have not been a charge
against the state.
What Legislators Did.
For instance. the legislature. at
the peoples wish. it must be pre-
sumed, created a public utilities and
tax commission for whose expenses
curing the current year we were
forced 10 provide $4,000 not pre-
vinusly required IL also created
state board OF education, for
which we have had to provide $40.
0O0 for current expeness. II ap-
propriated $500 to pay for a sill
yer service for the battleship Idaho.
an obligation coming from the pre-
vious admin strattion. and $780,
600 for the expenses OF a state ex-
hibit at the Panama-Pacific exposE
ton. all of which under the terms
Of the law must be available with
In the next year.
Big Additional Burden.
Taking these items together. ft
will be seen that we were forced to
provide s157.5OO TO meet expenses
which were new and unusual, but
which were either demanded by the
people or incurred in such manner
as to relieve the present state ad-
ministration OF responsibility there
torr. II we had not been COM
PEELED to raise this large amount ot
new revenue. instead OF calling for
sa4.23S.7S more than last year we
should have been able to call for
s133, ,2612S less
Only Part OF the Story.
But even this does not tell all
,he story. The legislature. owing
o the growth of our institutions.
and the increased cost OF mainten-
auee. found il necessary to con-
siderably increase the appropria-
lions therefor. II is presumed that
these increased appropriations were