The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-09-26
GOV. HAINfS
STRIKES BACK
Why Taxes Are Higher Than
Last Year
ISSUES STATEMENT IN DEFENSE
OF PRESENT STATE LEVY.

Legislature Made Larger ApprOpria-
Z tiOns for Things Demanded by the
/ People.
Governor Haines does not intend to
sit still and permit adverse critics to
charge his administration with extra
vagance; with being false to it's pro-
fessions of economy and retrenchment.
From the beginning the governor has
I prided himself on bringing the busi-
ness of the state to a better business
standard; to the establishment of sys-
tenn and better management in every
department of the state government.
In an open Statesment to the PeO-
pie of Idaho on the State Tax Levy"
issued on Friday, Governor Haines
submits facts and figures that will be
of interest to every taxpayer in the
state. In this signed states 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
newspapers for a declaration that the
present administration has failed to
redeem it's promises in the matter of
giving the people an economical, bust
ness administration of state affairs.
cit is pointed out that the board of
equalization is raising through direct
taxation $24,23S73 more this year
than was similarly raised in 1912, and
an attempt is being made to use this
fact as proof of extravaganza and
breach of faith on the part of the state
officers.
People Should Have the Facts.
at is my belief that the people
should be fully informed on this mat
ter so that they may know the exact
status of the question and be able to
decide for themselves whether or not
the state government has been eco
nomical and businesslike in it's opera
tions. 1t is true that direct taxes have
been increased by the amount named
but it is also true that those who have
attempted to make capital out of this
fact have not been fair enough to give
the reasons for this increase or the
facts from which the reasons might be
deduced.
"It is a we'll known fact that the
last legislature considerably extended
the operations of the state government
and that the board of equalization was
!, forced to provide for meeting many ex-
penses which heretofore have not been
charages against the state.
What Legislators Did.
For instance, the legislature, at the
peoples wish, it must be presumed,
mission for which expenses during the
current year we were forced to pro-
vide $4,000 not previously required
I 1t also created state board of educa-
tion, for which we have had to provide
$4,000 for current expenses. 1t ap-
propriated $500 to pay for silver
service for the battleship Idaho. an
obligation coming from the previous
administration. and 100000 for the
expenses of state exhibit at the PAN
ama-Pacific exposition, all Of which
under the terms of the law must be
available within the next year.
Big. Additional Burden.
/, Taking these items together, it will
be seen that we were forced to pro-
vide $157, 500 to meet expenses which
were new and unusual, but which were
S1lucT uellduucu ny llt pcOplc VI III
Cured in such manner as to relieve
the present state administration of
responsibility therefor. If we had not
been compelled to raise this large
amount of new revenue, instead of
calling for $24,23S.73 more than last
year we should have been able to call
FOR S133,261 less.
Only Part Of the Story
"But even this does not tell all the
story. The legislature. owing to the
increased cost of maintenance found
it necessary to considerably increase
the appropriations therefor. 1t Is pre-
sumed that these Increased appro-
priations were all approved by the
critics of the legislature, because at
the time they severely criticised that
body, or more particularly the senate,
for defeating bond issues Involving
many thousands of dollars for enlarge
ments of these Institutions.
"For the capitol building and
grounds and for the penal and chari-
table institutions, the legislature ap-
propriated @85,00O more for the bien-
nial period than was appropriated in
19l1 Similarly 1t appropriated for
our educational institutions 3177.-
O48.2O more than in 1911. Half Of this
made available for the current year.
and the board of equalization was thus
forced to- raise this year 'f1r our state
.il. IS. CONFINED on, Page 81