The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-05-28
JUDGE STEVENS IN THE RING
(StateSnan)

On the bench in this district, entered
the race for governor as a Republi
can last Thursday and issued state.
ment setting forth his position on
what he regards as the mostimportant
issues before the voters of the state
at this time His statement is as
follows:
In announcing myself as candi-
date for the nomination as governor
on the Republican ticket, l promise
elected, that l will apply modern bust
ness methods to the handling of tho
affairs of the state and it's resources.
"W.hile there will be many ques-
lions forr discussion during the cam
paign, the che which seems to be up
permost in the minds Of the people at
this time is the reduction Of taxes l
have been asked how l proposed to
improve conditions in this regard. l
realize that while q material rcduc-
ton could be made at once by tho
elimination of lot of unnecessary APP
pendages in the way Of commissions
and hangers on, tho real solution, to
my mind, lies in the proper and bust
nesslike management of the resources
OF the state.
Would Open Up Resources
Resources of almost inconceivablq
value are lying idle while the tax
payers are paying the bills. After
much thought | am convinced that
the solution Of this question is to be
found in the sale of the matured tim
) Der from the state timber lands; the
sale of the state lands and the invest
i. ment of the money derived therefrom.
! This money could be loaned TO the
farmers and citizens of Idaho at low
rate of interest and the people allowed
to improve their farms and homes, in
J creasing the taxable valuation and
shifting the burden of government
from the shoulders Of the few to the
many. From this interest, figured on
a per cent basis, in few years the
state and the public schools could be
run and public highways built without
, one cent Of direct taxation.
Sell State Lands Faster
From official figures it appears
that at present rate. it will take
more than $50 years to dispose Of
Idaho's land holdings. and my plan is
to sell these lands as rapidly as pos
, sble ait net less than the present min
Jimum price, set moro settlers, more
farmers and more homes. What We
need in Idaho is more people and
more industries. With a population
Of 100000, we have adopted all the
K governmental luXurios CT the most
: wealthy and populous states, and OF
4 course the burden is heavy.
The policy CT the state in handline
n it's lands is like that of man who
, buys an immense tract ard refuses t.,
1 do anything with it except to let it lie
= idle and pay taxes en- it, and Gael
year the state is paying out large
= sums to protect this maturod tmLel
= from fires and devastation, AID al
most every year the state suffers
heavy less from such fires
THE matured timber from thest
lands could be sold and as soon as i
is reproduced of sufficient size il
could be again distressed Of, thus max
ing it continuing revenue producer
Il Remedy for Courts Delays
| "Fhcre has been much said, AM
that justly, about the laws delays ant
| the unnecessary expense of the con
duct of the courts, and | suggest tn
| following for your consideration:
costs approximately 500 day t
conduct the district court with a jur
| and large percentage of the bushes
is appeals from the justice court, il
volying small amounts. These appeal
] often find their way to the suprem
i court and in the erd a $50 horse an
| two stubborn litisants cost the taXpa,
] ers several hundred dollars. | w0ul
! recommend that in all cases wher
] the amount involved is less than $40
| and the case tried by jury CT a jur
/ waived that the judgment OF the pre-
bate or justice court be final; wher
| the amount involved is less than $50
in civil matters, and in all misd:
meanOrs tried before a jury Or a jur
waived lin the district court. that it
judgmen be final unless some const
tutional question arises. or some Ill
j usual conditions presents itself. TIL
/ would so far reduce litigation thu
/ the courts would be able to keep u
| their work without any difficult
| whatever.
Strict Enforcement of Law