Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-09-18

candidate for governor, went about
the state during the primary can14
paign telling the people how, if
elected governor, he could save
$1,000, 900 year in taxes. This
statement, along with others equal
ly as absurd. was made by Mr..
Alexander in a speech at Grange
vile and was published in a num-
Der of the democratic papers in the
state. AS he evidently regarded
this as his keynote" address, it is
safe to say that he will continue to
make these rash statements wherev-
er he appears during the coming
campaign. Among other things he
said in his Grangeville speech:
'sThe state of Idaho has an income
without levying any taxes, of nearly
81, 800, 600 every two years. That with
@ bond issue of 1896, 900 made two years
ego makes the income of the state of
Idaho without levying any taxes near
$4,000. 900 for two years. 1t looks to
me like $l,0O0,O 900 year to govern a
state of 800, 600 people ought to be suf-
ficient. But the machine is not satis-
fed with that, and on top of that in-
come Of nearly g., ,OOO, 900 the last legis-
lature has tax levy which was signed
by the governor, of two additional mil
- e.. h..
lieve we democrats will save the peo-
pie of the first two years Of our state
administration one million dollars, and
il the same condition is condition II
continued for two years thereafter, II
will be unnecessary. in my opinion, e
levy any taxes at all for state purposes
The indirect income from the rentals
of land, interest on sales of lands, an6
other taxes viii be sufficient to pay th'
expenses OF state government, il prop
erly and honestly administered with
out having a cumbersome machine t.
eat up the taxes Of the people.
II have promised in some OF my ad
dresses to the people that If elected
shall clean ont the state house, and
have not changed my opinion in tn
matter; and then will cooperate wit
the legislature with the view Of abo
ishing the Offices that are useless an
about ell of the various boards that al
costing us money with no value r
ceived. Whether the tax payers wal
lot OF useless officials and wheth
they want our school system disrupte
and abolished for the sake OF econon
is 8 question that will be decided at 81
polls this coming November. b
lieve in education myself, as tax pa
er. ann not in favor of laying
hand on the educational institutio
anywhere for the purpose Of reducil
taxes. The means to reduce taxes
found In the useless boards and orr
mental Offices"
In commenting upon these sta
ments the Nampa Leader-Hers
says:
Probably no greater amount
misinformation and misstatement
fact could be crowded into few
words. Mr.. Alexander, it will
noticed, distinctly disavows any
tention of economizing by in
way touching the educational in
tutions. He proposes to save
taxpayers 81, 900, 900 in two ye
by cutting off unnecessary boal
commissions and useless Off
To begin with the people of Id
have not taken much to the idea
a car and have never given a.
cratic powers to their governor.
Alexander, as governor. would
no authority whatever to abolii
single board, commission or OF
There are some unnecessary boa
commissions and offices in
Judgment of the Leader-Herald
cutting them off by proper leg
tive enactment would be 8 !
step in the interest Of economy
result in saving thousands of do
annually. However, TO say
81 .O0O. 900 could be saved IN
years is an absurdity. Had
Alexander taken the trouble to
up the appropriations of the
legislature for the maintenanS
all boards, commissions. offices
elective and appointive for th
ennial of 1854 ne would
found the total to be 1922
make good on his statement,
fore. he would have to abolish
single ofRes in the state and q
over as5. 900 cut Of his own !