Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-06-05

Highway tax l.40, or about one-thir-
tieth the total.
State tax $2.S7 1-2, or about one-thir-
teenth the total.
The school tax constituting one-fourth
of our entire tax is worthy our careful
consideration. The people of Nampa
may know, and should know, just
where every dollar Of this money goes.
How much have we paid for buildings |
and was it too much? What are we
paying for teaching, janitor service,
coal, books, stationery, chalk, pencils,
paper and all supplies and are we pay
ing too much? We should know and if
there be extravagances remedy them.
We levy these taxes and we spend
them. Nobody else has anything to do
with it, and no reform will come unless
we of Nampa do it. Doubtless upon in
vestigation we shall find that our school
board has conducted matters as care
fully and efficiently as any board could,
and while doing so has given its SER
vices to the public, and is deserving of
commentator rather than censure.
The trouble, if there be trouble, IS with
the system and not the school board.
Is there, then, no hope Of reducing our
high school tax? Not materially unless
we change the entire system and in my
opinion that should be none. In our
enthusiasm to give every boy and girl
good education we have kept adding to
our common and high school courses
until we have included SO many SUBJ
jects that the average high school
course is equal to that Of a college of
few years ago.
Hurrying through these numerous
branches the average student does not
in any sense master the subjects. He
acquires smattering Of many things
which never serve him any useful pur-
pose in making his way in the world.
In my judgment the c0drses should be
cut in two and the BOYS and girls well
grounded in the fundamentals. By
thus making a shS Srter course there
would be decided saving in money
and it would also give the boys and
girls time to specialize in some avoca-
tional pursuit SO th>t when leaving
school they would be htted to at once
engage in some remuneyative employ
ment.
Turning to our city tax we. find the
greatest burden Of all. Seventeen dol
lars is well up 10 one-half the total In
an eastern town this size the city tsx
would be trifling, but we are ambi-
tious; we wanted paving, curbing, ce-
ment sidewalks, $50, 900 city hall, $12,-
GOO fire station and proper equipment,
sewer and water pipes all over town
and an arc light at every corner. We
wanted all the modern conveniences of
an eastern city of q, ZOO population and
we got them. Nobody compelled US to
have them. We, the people Of Nampa,
) voted for them by overwhelming ma.
jorities and it would be childish to at.
tempt to blame any one but ourselves
for this confiscatory tax of ST on the
thousand. Let us frankly admit thai
. we travelled too fast in the boom days
profit by our past mistakes and ge
away from them as rapidly as possible
and in the meantime avoid making
| more.
: In our analysis of taxes the highwa.
I tax of $1.4O on the thousand seems S,
small compared with the total that WI
!. hardly regard it as worth noticing. Tha
: is because we have become Injured t
r the situation. once owned a beautl
S full 32O acres Of land near a good mar
ket in Canada, which sold for owe
t IS, 900 and the whole tax on it that yea
t was IS. 40, or but little more than ou
e insignificant road tax. Small thong
we think it is, like other taxes,
p should receive our careful scrutiny an
= be pared down if possible. Our count
tax Of 1912 IL on the thousand is n
h to be overlooked. 1t constitates Iont
fifth and more of the total Who p,
e this burden on US? We, the people {
Canyon county. No outside party ha
n the power to make us pay cent {
county tax. Why have we such bu
y Affirms Timber Cruise.