Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-01-16
STATE LINES, THEiR COST AND
THEIR HARhssMENTs.

FCA4t PtVS iroo lAtCAt - iiO ilOlG any
where loking to decrease in taxa
ton. The only problem is to find
more ways and means of laying taxes
in order TO be able to do a fair share
and the most pressing of the things
that need to be done. The Tribune
thinks it unlikely that there will be a
decrease in this state, although it is
quite likely that it may be out-argued
by able contemporaries that corre-
spondents who conceive that the pub
lie insistence for more government
can be met at less cost, absolutely,
not relatively, than the simpler gov
eminent of the new era now passing.
If that be so, that the demands Of the
age are going to constantly call for
more and more activity and power
vested in government. the question
should call for serious reflection on
the part Of the people as to the man
ner in which they can play their
proper part in the civilizlng and pro-
gressive influences of their genera
ton without being unduly burdened,
or BY reducing the burden to the
minimum.
The question Of state lines is
question which has not become
public topic generally. but it is one
that should become so in a state like
Idaho. whose entire population and
wealth are only about equal to those
of small cities like Seattle or Port
land, yet which must maintain not
only the usual local governing equip
ments but also state equipments COM
parable with those of California,
Washington and Oregon. The state
government of Idaho is. in various
respects. as fully manned and as ex-
pensive as that Of oregon or wash
ington, and for it to increase COM
mensurately with the demands of the
times it is going TO lay a charge
upon $4,000 people now residing
within fhe state out if proportion to
the rights and capacities Of the situ-
alton There seems 2 flaw IL struc-
taral organization thaa LAYS the bur-
den Of separate state government
upon so snan @ society in view of
the new demands now having 70 be
met The increased exercise Of fed
eral power has served 10 obhterate
state lines in many respects. In other
respects it has made state lires
great and needless source Of confu-
sion and conflict The means Of in
communication are now 50 close
and so necessary that separate juris-
over tnterlocked territory and
their institutions are only harassing
and mischievous and contain no com
pensating benefits whatever. The
trend Of the times is for uniformity
and equality of law and OF treatment.
and not for states rights and other
codes. conditions and reg
ulations.
There is no reason why north Idaho
should receive the law from Boise in
stead of Olympia.or maintain an ex-
pensive establishment at Boise when
it could come within The Olympia ju-
risdiction. at but small fraction of
the cost now paid to Boise. There is |
no reason why southeastern Idaho
should rot come within the kindred
Jurisdiction of Utah, to which it be-
longs by every tie that counts for
anything. There is no sufficient rea-
son why the rest of Idaho, called for
the southwest, should (
not be attached to Oregon, although (
Of course the loss of the state capital
to Boise would be a controlling factor
against such realingnment.
But there. we think. will be found /
one root of our trouble, providing
there is any trouble. in the unintelli- I
gent erection Of new states in order /
to meet the exigencies OF politics, or
in erecting states whose lines have /
been shown By subsequent develop I
nents 10 have been unwise- It has
been thought in the past that young
states or small states could perhaps
themselves better than some
IF the older and larger ones, but thar
expectation has not been realized in
he case Of Idaho, especially in
riew Of the necessities of the new
political philosophy. Idaho is one
II the very largest Of states territor-
ally. one of the very smallest in pop
llation and development. and perhaps
he most difficult to all TO administer,
because the extreme distances, its
broken and diverse typography, and
is meagre means Of communication,
-equiring journeys through other
tates between its two main parts.
rbara iS Sor1efhir7or RI think ahorit /