Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1913-12-13
GOV. WILL PROBE
THE TAX PROBLEM
Continued from page u

Ing apparatus, electric lights, prope
sewerage and all other modern i'm
proVements; If the people within
a county desire to bond for public i'll
provements which come uAder the jl
rlsdiction of county go1ernnlent-al
these things are matters of purely
local concern. with which the state
government has, and should have
nothing whatever to do. When these
expenditures are authorized, however
the people should realize that they
are placing heavy burdens upon
themselves, and they should be will
ling to assume their full share of re-
sponsibility for the aggregate assess,
ment,
"lf. finally, the members of the leg.
islature, who were elected by the
people themselves, who come from
the people, and who are supposed to
reflect their wishes, desire to make
large appropriations for the main
tenance of schools, desire to provide
literally for our penal and charitable
institutions; if they desire to create
new commissions for the purpose Of
having the state undertake govern
mental activities along new lines, it
is certainly not the duty of elected
or appointed administrative state Of
ficials to say them nay or to al
tempt to insist hat these approni!a-
tons VIII h a'e sIoaospa to reflect
the wishes # the reoi lie sholld net
be made
ut is, however, the duty of state
officials to carefully and economical
ly administer the laws aud to con-
duct all operations of state govern
ment at the lowest possible cost con-
sistent with efficient service This.
the present administration has &C
complished in a notable degree. 1t
has not only reduced expenses IN
many directions, bu; it '.as rendered
frequent accountinss, AID has invited
the freest and widest pubi,city with
reference to all its acts. BIT the
state administration, through the tax
commission, is now able to supply in
formation which will help the people
to understand the true situation and
to make the necessary corrections in
order to bring about the lowering of
tax levies. This informtion will
clearly demonstrate, | think, that we
have drifted into a condition of high
in local matters parti-
cularly, due largely to lack of spe
cific information as to the situation
as a whole.
For the purpose, therefore, Of Sc
curing public discussion of this i'm
portant matter, for the purpose of
securing the interest and cooperation
of the taxpayers themselves, for the
the root of our difficulties, l desire
TO ask the commission of which you
are the chairman, to prepare and for
nulate. or cause to be prepared and
a report which may be
submitted to me by January Is, or as
soon thereafter as possible, and
which will contain the following in
with reference to each
county in the state:
1. The total amount of bonded
county Indebtedness.
2. The total amount of bonded
Indebtedness of all kinds.
3. The total amount of bonded
chool district Indebtedness.
4. The total amount of bonded
Dad district Indebtedness.
s. The total amount raised in
axes during the present year.
6. The total amount raised during
he present year through collection
If fees by county officials.
Z. The total amount expended for
he maintenance of each county Of
ice.
s. The toal amount expended for
he maintenance of municipal govern
nent.
8. The total amount expended On
Dads.
10. The total amount extended on
chools.
With reference to the state gov
l wish you would include
nd tabulate the following for the
resent year:
/. The total amount of outstand-
ng bonded Indebtedness.
e. The total amount raised by the
tate in taxes.
g.. The total amount collected In
ees by state officials. (
4. The total amount expended by