The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-07-25
commentator in this particular will
eventually take am unable to say.


,v desire to impress upon YOU at this
time is the fact that these investiga-
lions are being made primarily in the
ders and not in the interest of the
bond purchaser As has been represent
ed in certain parts OF the state. Vt you
will think about this calmly you will
come to the conclusion have reached
that the interest If the settler and
the bond purchaser are identical The
man who ;n..S-s his money in irri.
CATION enterprises is anxious only
that his capital and interest shall be
assured and that he runs no great
risk of loss of either. The settler
upon our irrigation tracts is interested
in making his purchase under condi-
tons which he can be able to meet
Naturally he desires the terms of This
contract to be such that there will be
no danger of default on his part He
desires the rate of interest which he
is compelled to pay to be as low
as reasonably can be expected and
does not want his payments to fall
due at time when it is not just to
expect him to be able to make them
Whatever therefore makes for the
good of the settler and which assures
his ability to pay at the time indi-
Gated in his contract makes also for
the good of the investor because it
assures him that while his money
must be invested for, a long period
the ultimate return thereon is per-
fectly safe. You will see, therefore,
that this movement on the part of
the state government to find a solu-
ton of this great problem is one that
is primarily in the interest of our
settlers and you will agree with me
in saying that if the proper solution
can be found it will go further to
make for the permanent prosperity
of the state than any other matter
which is before the people for con-
sideration at the present time.
Another matter of importance to
which l desire to call your attention
is that of the more rapid sale of our
state lands. Certain limitations upon
the sale of these lands are placed in
the Constitution of this state, the idea
being to check the sale of such lands
in order that the same may be held in
reserve, either for an advance in price
or for the benefit of coming genera
tons Under the limitations imposed
by the Constitution it will require
something like one hundred eighty
FIVE years for us to dispose of our
holdings. Under the present plan The
principal secured from the sale of
these holdings is kept intact but the
interest thereon is added yearly to
the proper fund and becomes available
for current use.
1t is now proposed to amend the
Constitution of the state in such a
manner as to permit of more rapid
sale of our state holdings, provided,
of course, that none of them shall be
sold at less than the minimum price
per acre fixed by the Constitution
This plan was first advanced and for
some time has been advocated by our
state land commissioner, George A.
Day, and plank was last year in
corporated in the Republican State
platform, as a result of earnest advo-
cacy by T. E. Picotte, editor of the
Wood River Times, who was a dele
gate from Blaine county, ,favering
the submi ssion of such proposed
amendment to the people of this state
!
this plank in the campaign and strong
ly recommended favorable considera-
ton in my first message to the legis-
lature. l also urged the approval of
such an amendment in an article
which l prepared for the Meadows
Eagle and which appeared in its issue
of January IS, 1913. The legislature
failed to submit for your considera-
ton the proposed amendment al
though it was prepared and introduce
ed by Senator Davis of Power county.
This amendment passed the senate
but was lost in the house, largely,
think, through a failure on the part
of its members to understand the re-
suits that would follow its adoption.
This is, of course, a momentous ques-
ton and one that requires careful
study and calculation in order to be
fully understood At first considera-
ton it seems a radical departure
from ideas heretofore accepted as cor
rect, and the subject must be discuss
ed in order that it may be understood
am confident that il the people come
to understand this matter fully they
will adopt the necessary constitutional
amendment at the first opportunity.
Senator Davis has lately performed
a signal service in connection with
this proposed change in the mamie,
of disposing of our state lands. In
an able address delivered before tho
Bankers convention at Weiser HI
pointed out the immense benefit.
which would accrue to the stat,
through a business-like handling o.
its holdings; selling them to NEE,
legitimate demands and adding mo-
only the sum derived from these add
tional sales but The interest thereon
to our present principal until we shall
have built up fund large enough &c
produce yearly sufficient revenue fol
all state and county purposes. II,
pointed out that handled in this wa,
the state of Idaho has resources suf
fcient to make it one where eventual
ly no taxes need be collected.
1t is not my purpose to repeat Sen
ator Davis argument, nor do NOR,
than invite your attention to the fac
that his conclusions are based on &C