Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-12-05
GOVERNOR HAINES WANTS
INFORMATION ABOUT TAXES
Asks State Tax Commission to Ascertain What
Becomes of Peoples Money Wants the Tax
Question Probed to the Bottom.

those sources of expenditure which
are nearest to them and which are
most nearly under their immediate
control, When attention has been
given to these matters it will be
realized that the state government
has been given no control whatever
over the local agencies of govern
ment whose operations are now
costing us so heavily. And no fault
whatever can be found with this ar
arrangement. 1t is the correct prin-
cipal of government.
For the purpose, therefore of Sc
curing public discussion of this i'm
portant matter, for the purpose of
securing the interest and co-opera-
tion of the taxpayers themselves,
for the purpose of enabling us to
strike at the root of our difficulties
desire to ask the commission of
which you are the chairman to pre-
pare and formulate, or cause to be
prepared and formulated, a report
which may be submitted to me by
January is, or as soon thereafter as
possible, and which will contain the
following information with reference
to each county in the state:
/. The total amount of bonded
county indebtedness.
2. The tolal amount of bonded
municipal Indebtedness of all kinds.
8. The total amount of bonded
school district Indebtedness"
4. The total amount of bonded
road district Indebtedness.
5. The total amount raised in
taxes during the present year.
6. The total amount raised dur
ing the present year thru collection
of fees by county officials.
Z. The total amount expended
for the maintenance of each county
office.
8. The total amount expended
for the maintenance of municipal
government.
4 9. The total amount expended
on roads.
10. The total amount expended
on schools.
With reference to the state gov
ernment, | wish you would include
and tabulate the following for the
present year:
1. The total amount of out
standing bonded indebtedness.
2. The total amount raised by
the state in taxes.
8. The total amount collected in
fees by state officials.
\ a. The total amount expended
by the state in the maintenance of
state schools.
5. The total amount expended
J by the state in the maintenance of
its penal and charitabls institutions.
6. The total amount expended
by the state in the maintenance of
. courts.
: 7. The total amount expended
: by the state in the maintenance OF
all other state departments.
} Il should like you also to follow
up this report with information t.
be compiled and published from
time to time showing the compar
: ative expenses of maintaining tn,
4 various offices in the several coun
E ties, the comparative cost of main
tanning schools, roads, ETC., and al
: such other information as in YOU
opinionwill be of material help il
enabling the citizens of Idaho t
: realize the exact situation which
e confronts us with reference to tn,
problem of taxation.
t Taxes cannot be reduced by Law
y except by arbitrarily reducing th'
e levying power to point which ma!
!, prevent all progress. Our presen
= revenue law will give US equitabl
b taxation when once it is fin prope
e operation; and this is the mos
d which can be expected from an
revenue law. In order to reduc
It taxes we must either spend les
r money or else acquire more taxabl
1t property; and, since our government
le can do little to increase taxabl
t, wealth, we must eentraIize our e.
I forts on a reduction of public e.