The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-12-04
GOVERNOR DIGS DEEPER
into TAXES
Asks State Tax Commission to
Ascertain What Becomes
of Peoples Money


, communication to Axel P Ramstedt,
president of the state tax commission,
in which he asks that the tax COM
mission make thorough investiga-
tion to determine how much revenue
is raised for state, county, munich
pal, school and highway district pur-
poses; how much is the bonded in
debtedness of each; how the taxes
collected are distributed, and above
4 all else what can be done to tighten
the burden of taxes that the people
are now required to carry. A report
covering all the points suggested is
asked for by January 10, in order that
steps may be taken to correct al.y
evils that may be uncovered.
In his communication the governor
says in part:
at is clearly evident that in order
to bring about such lJwering of tax
levies as will materially reduce indi-
vidual assessments it is necessary to
enlist the active interest and co opera
tion of every taxpayer in the state Of
Idaho Every man who pays taxes
should know just why he pays them
and the purposes for which the money
so paid is to be used.
"He should know the part which
goes to the state and how it is there
applied; the part which .,oos to the
county and how that is used; the part
which goes to his city, town nr village
and whether or not it is properly and
economically expended, and, finally,
the part which goes 20 his road and
school districts, and whether the same
is expended with the idea giving
the taxpayer full valne for the outlay
which he is called upon to lake. In
other words, every taxpayer should
be just as fully informed at all times
with regard to the handling of these
details of public business as ne is con-
cerning the details of mis- own private
business. He should watch the tax
spending end of governmental ma
chinery quite as carefully as he does
the tax-gathering end.
"If the people of certain school
district wish to bond their district for
the purpose of erecting good school
houses, if they wish to tax themselves
literally for the purpose of employing
skilled teachers, if tn " are willing to
pay for conveyances IN which to carry /
their children to and from school; if /
the people of a road district desire to
Lend their district f. the purpose of
of maintaining such roads and bridges
in good condition; if the people resid-
ing in any city or village desire to
bond in order to erect public build
ings, pave their streets, provide fire
fighting apparatus, electric lights,
proper sewerage and all other modern
if the people within
county desire to bond for public i'm
which come under the ju-
risdiction of county governmental
these things are matters of purely To-
cal concern, with which the state gov
ernment has, and should have, moth
whatever to do. When these ex-
mixtures are authorized, however,
people should realize that they are
hcing heavy burdens upon them
selves, and they should be willing to
assume their full share of response
oility for the aggregate assessment.
eff, finally, the members of the leg
stature, who were elected by the peo-
Die themselves, who come from the
people, and who are supposed to re-
1ect their wishes, desire to make
arge appropriations for the mainte-
lance of schools, desire to provide lib
,rally for our penal and charitable
Institutions; if they desire to create
lew commissions for the purpose of
laving the state undertake govern
mental activities along new lines, it
S certainly not the duty of elected or
appointed administrative state Off :
ials to say them nay or attempt to !
nsist that these appropriations which
ire supposed to reflect the wishes of
he people should not be made.
"For the purpose of securing pub
ic discussion of this important mat
er, for the purpose of securing the
interest and cooperation of the tax
layers themselves, for the purpose of
nabling US to strike at the root of
ur difficulties, l desire to ask the
commission of which you are the
hartman to prepare and formulate
report which may be submitted to
ne by January 10, or as soon there
fter as possible, and which will con-