The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1914-04-23
FEDERAL ADVERTISEMENT OF
TDAHO'S PUBLIC DEBT

the Keucra1 government ana olnSi
disinterested compilers of economic
facts. In agriculture the production
of foodstuffs is the highest on an
equal area of any state in the union.
In mining il is the nations greatest
producer of lead, ranks near the top
in silver and does well gold. In tim
Der its forests are among the world $
greatest assets and its mills are
among the largest, if not the very
largest, ever built. It's hydro cleo
trio resources are not excelled any
where, and serve to eliminate the use
of fuel except for heating purposes.
It's orchards and vineyards serve as
a model for the most ambitious
growers. In individual achievement,
and in the materials to work with,
the state is willing to stand compare
son with the best of them.
The industrious searchers after
facts, however, have at last come
along through the national census
bureau with comparison that puts
Idaho in the discredited class, far
below the general average Of all the
states, and that is in the matter of .
state indebtedness. The figures seem
to indicate that citizens of the state,
while able to hold their own individ-
ually With the best of them, are
lacking or negligent in capacity for
political business. The rate at
which the state is being plunged into
debt would seem to mean that, but
what makes it worse is that the state
has nothing to show for it, has as lit
tie as the least of other states, ex-
cepting only in the matter OF the
gorgeous capitol ediice and its
equally gorgeous interior fittings, its
imposing army of functionaries and
its corresponding scale of payrolls,
allowances and associated sources of
expenditure.
The census bulletin, however needs
explanation in order to be ineligible
in its general statements. While the
state may be, as said, twice as deep
ly in debt as the average of all the I
states, that assertion standing by
itself may mean nothing. 1t would I
mean nothing, for example, if the
state had employed its credit in pro- !
ductive uses, which it has not done. ),
But has, on the other hand, incurred !,
iebt for purposes which are usually J,
net by current taxation. The cur !
'ent rates of taxation as we'll as the !,
'asis on which property assessments !
re made in other states must .here- !
ore be known before true COMPARE =
on can be made. -
With this explanation, which it is
air to make, it must still be recall ed IS
aat federal figures are not needed in
rider to discover that Idaho is an
Igoverned state, in nearly all sub
.antial respects. It is heavily in
Owed 10 debt, its current taxes are tr,
Ugh, and il has no improvements or
,licies worthy Of the name. Its ~
gislatures fritter away their time Al
empty and silly changing, un-
aking and making over laws and i
Istoms of no practical value to any -
lie at all, and when important pro-
,sals are made In the way Of meet
G changing times and conditions the Nc
,verning body is wholly incapable ~
devising definite program or
rem of adapting one already in oper-
ion elsewhere to the special condi- 81
ons of its own stale. The multiple ~
ltion of Offices, salaries and expen- IN
lures seems to be about the limit
an Idaho legislatures political tin
opacity. pr
IL this structure is strong, II is VII
'obably not too strong. Senator era
orah, in his letter printed In The
ribune yesterday, refers to the lea
me state Of facts and seems TO do
edge his services to the state in US
c approaching campaign in an II
Tort to get something better out of
The senator's references are, Der
turally, couched only in general haf
rms and it is left to the magma bel
10 TO know just what he means and onl
lat he intends to try TO do. Can I
minded men can draw only one the