The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-06-18


is for two years, or at the rate of
$1,247,649 per year. This is about
So per head for every person in the
state A hasty calculation of the ex-
penditures in the departments and
institutions with which | am familiar
leads me to the conclusion that saw
ing of approximately 100000 for the
biennial period can be made in the
above amount by careful admins
tration of the states affairs without
destroying the efficiency of any need
ed department or institution. While
the annual appropriation and bond
issue of the legislature seems large,
the total amount of taxes levied in
the state for all purposes, amounting
to $8,619,637, dwarfs it into insignifi-
canoe. This shows that the most Of
our taxes are local in their nature. To
effect economies in the total of our
taxation, we must reach these larger
expenditures and limit them. The best
method of doing so is to control the
boards having the power to levy orr
taxes in the interest of rigid economy.
These boards are: For state taxes,
the legislature. For county taxes,
the county commissioners. For NUM-
cipal taxes, the city or village council.
For school taxes, the trustees. A
good suggestion would be to put your
taxpayers, instead of your taxeaters.
on these boards, and the evil will no
doubt remedy itself as quickly as pos
sible. The largest single item of ex-
pense in the state is for the support
of the public schools, this requiring
nearly 40 per cent of the total taxes.
Our State Board of Education is now
studying this question, and will un-
doubtedly be able to furnish solution
of it. l will be very glad to cooper
ate and aid them in any possible.
The state highway commission law,
called the Automobile Tax Law,
as passed by the last session of the
legislature, restricts the benefits
each county gets from this tax to
those who bond themselves for road
building purposes. Very few counties
have bonded themselves for this pur-
pose, and very few counties will vote
bonds for any purpose now. This law
II L. Oh thof ho cnrraf.al
of the state will profit by
this tax in direct proportion to the a
mount paid in such county toward the
fund.
The laws and administration of the
land department need revising to meet
The changed conditions confronting US
now. If elected Governor, l will re-
to the legislature the amend
ment of the laws so as to effect I
changes as follows in this department:
Lst, put the department under one
lead, instead of two. End, extend all
payments due on land contracts for
,wo to twenty years, at the option of
he owner. 3rd, change the terms of
;ale of school land, so as to give the
purchaser twenty to thirty years on
It least so per cent of the purchase
,rice, at his option. The reason for
he last two changes is, that the
tate's object in selling these lands
S to get interest on the proceeds, and
" pursuing this course the money
will not only be invested for long
ime, but the liberal terms will make
he lands sell higher and increase the
mount of our school endowment
unds. 4th, amend the constitution,
aking the limit off of the amount of
ands that can be sold in any one year,
r greatly increase this limit. Att
he rate of sale now provided in this
rticle, it will take the state about 180
ears to close out it's land grants,
n absurd proposition. 1t will retard
ne growth of the state, and keep our
chool funds tied up too long if this
not changed.
"The settlers on our Carey Act pro-
,cts need the States aid in tiding
lem over their difficulties. The State
and Board should represent the set
ers' interests in all these matters.
his board should make an effort toI
ave the payments on water contracts v
4 these projects extended for a per- h
d of ten years at least, with no pay o
ents for interest to make. Any set c
er on new lands will need all his
lrnings for that period to keep up e
xes and interest, and build up and h
ock his place to it's best producing [
Ipacity. This should apply to set h
ers only, and the Improvements
aced on the farms will make the
'lder of the contracts amply secure
ne Land Board should use its utmost
forts to get the Government to pass
e lands in these projects to patent,
soon as possible, so the settler may
I'VE mortgageable or transferable a
lie. h.
"Foster the establishment and