The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-02-07
SOME ECONOMY BILLS.

| senator ii Z. Baldrldge OF Cdhyoh
county is coming to be known as
the watchdog of treasury Every
bill he has introduced thus far this
session has had for it's object the cut,
ting down of the running expenses
of the government particularly the
county government.
One of these bills proposes to cut
out the distributing clerks at elec-
ton and have the work heretofore
done by the distributing clerks done
by one of the judges. 1t also pro-
vides for starting the counting of the
ballots as soon as five votes have
been cast This bill, it is estimat-
ed, will save from s4 to $12 at every
polling place in the state and at every
election. and as there are upward of
600 polling places in the state, the
saving promises to be quite an item.
Cut Down Milage.
Another of the Baldridge bills is
intended to cut out the 25 cent mile
age now allowed all witnesses and
30 cents allowed all jurors and sub
stitutes therefor actual car, stage and
boat travelling expenses. This, it is
estimated, will result in a great saw
ing to every county in the state.
Still, another Baldridge bill, one
that was indefinitely postponed in the
senate, was intended to cut the pay
of election judges and clerks from 81
to $3.50 and, limit the time they
might serve at any election to two
days. Senator Baldridge says that
such law would have saved Canyon
county alone $4,000 in the past year.
This bill was opposed because it was
asserted that judges could not be
secured for $3.50 in some of the
counties.
Sticks to Economy Policy.
Senator Baldridge has joined with
Senator Hart in the presentation OF
another bill which it is claimed it
will result in a greater saving than
any other in the list. This is inten-
ded to revise the registration laws
and make the registration of voters
automatic. The registrars are cut
out and the duty of registering vot-
ers placed upon court clerks, justices
of the peace and notaries public.
Under this law a voter will never
have to register again after register
ing once until he fails to vote at a
general election. AS soon as he
fails to Sc vote his name is dropped.
In this way the registration list is
always clean.
Senator BaIdridge has still another
economy" bill. Under the present
law two sets of judges are permitted
where ever there are upward of 100
voters. The new bill raises the limit
to 800 voters, and this will render
unnecessary the extra set of judges
| in very many of the voting precincts
of the state.
Reduce Legal Rates.
One other bill, No. ST, is intended
to cut in two the legal rates now al
lowed by law for the publication of
notices in newspapers. The present
rate is 81 for the first insertion and
SO cents for each additional inser-
ton and $3.50 and Is cents for
table work.
Still one other bill introduced by
Senator Baldridge, No. 10, has for
one of it's objects the wiping out OF
the four land appraisers now on the
state payroll at $500 a year. Fol
these he would substitute appraisers
in the immediate vicinity in which
the land is to be appraised and pay
them for actual work by the day
This bill also limits the amount OF
state money that may be loaned tc
one man to $4,000, and provides for
the making of these loans in the ex-
act order in which the applications
are filed with the land board.
Senator Baldridge has devoted
much time to investigations along the
lines of his bills, and 1t is reasonable
to presume that he still has other
Economy bills up his sleeve for the
early introduction.
He takes it that the taxpayers are
in earnest in demanding cheaper
government and reduction of the
number of tax eaters.