The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-12-26
GOVERNOR HAINES
TALKS right OUT

Governor Haines stands ready to
defend his policies from those who
are attacking the administration and
holding it responsible for high taxes.
He is not afraid of the issue. He still
stands upon the slogan Take Your
Tax Receipts to the Polls" Accord
ing to the Boise Statesman:
Governor Haines seems to have no
intention of Sinking the fight. He
expresses himself as ready to meet
the tax issue. He goes further and
asserts that he will still insist that the
voters take their tax receipts to the
polls, and that they shall study their
tax notices to determine just what
is done with the money raised by tax
alton. Concerning this matter the
governor on Friday gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
'The statewide discussion of the
cause OF high taxes which was start
ed by my recent communication to the
chairman of the state tax commission,
asking for a thorough investigation
as to the conditions prevailing
throughout the stae, has been CRAFTY
ing to me indeed.
Il desire to have this matter thor
oughly investigated by the people and
there seems to be every reason at
present to believe that this will be
done. There is one point, how
ever, on which there seems to be a
misunderstanding in certain quarters
as to the stand taken by me.
Courts Full Inquiry.
Reference to my recent letter to
the tax commission will disclose the
fact that requested just as full and
complete an investigation by that body
with reference to state Indebtedness
and state taxation as | askeu tor with
reference to county, municipal, school
district, road district and all other
forms OF indebtedness and taxation.
There was not the slightest intention
on my part to shift any particle Of
responsibility for high taxation. That
part of this responsibility which be-
longs to the state, the state will cheer
fully assume. 1t was my desire how
ever, to have attention called to the
situation as whole SO that the people
could no longer be made to believe
that the entire, or that the chief, re-
sponsibility rests with the state.
II want to have the tax bill of every
taxpayer so arranged that he will BIZ
able to see clearly just what become.
of the taxes which he pays. | want te
have the state tax segregated from
the county tax, and l want each uni
of government to bear its full shar,
of responsibility for the total tax
q no more and no less.
State Tax Small Item.
"The fact that the state tax is abou
the smallest item in the bill of ever
taxpayer, and that his highest charge
come from his city and school levie
is mere incident in the general dis
cussion. 1t is supreme folly t
think that the taxes of the individua
taxpayer can be materially reduce
by chopping off any state department
In fact, as has been shown, the en-
tire state government could be abol
ished and the result would scarcel
be noticed by the individual taxpaye
paying taxes in any county OF the stat
on valuation of $1,000. He would no
see that his taxes had been reduce
in any material degree.
I'm my campaign last year l III
sisted that the people study their ia
receipts and l expect to insist upo
this study until it results in definit
accomplishment in the matter of Sc
curing lowering Of taxation. Take
can only be lowered by general cor
certed movement all along the lin,
Wherever an economy can be mad
in state government it must, of cours
be made and wherever economic
can be affected in any other depart
ment of government they certainl
should be made by those responsible
therefor.
1.-THE one thing to understand
that I am not attempting to shift r,
sponsibihty, but that ! am invitin
the people to participate in an no,
est discussion of taxation. which ca
and will produce results, as distii
guished from the purely political di
cussions OF this matter which v
might expect to witness in campaig
years but which we should hardly G,
pect to hear well-meaning either
make at the present time"