American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-07-23

lst A new aDpOrtionment bill re-
dueing the membership OF the lower
house TO not over half the present
number. The membership Of the SEN
at is fixed by the Constitution.
End. Changes in several laws TO
eliminate duplicate officials whose du-
ties are nearly the same. OF which one
official can perform. AS an illustra-
ton. the land commissioner. and the
register Of the land department have
similar duties 10 perform, and they
frequently interfere with each other
One man can attend 10 both and save
f considerable. This duplication OF Of
hcials and employees has increased
alarmingly in recent years. and must
be handled vigorously to save taxes.
+ Bird. Consolidating departments Of
state IN several instances. One illus
tration will suffice The duties Of the
insurance commissioner can be con-
solidated with those OF the bank ex-
aminer, and one man attend to both
Their duties are very similar ManS
such consultations can be effected
and the government OF the state sim
plified and money saved thereby
4th. Adjusting the salaries Of many
state officials 10 a lower schedule
This applies to both elective and ap-
pointiye officials
5th. Reducing The expenses Of
holding elections We now have two
elections 10 pay for every two years.
and may have more with the Initiative
referendum and recall laws in opera
tion. The cost OF these elections in
1912 amounted 10 s17l.570.53. This
cost should be reduced one-third or
one-half
6th. Changing the laws fixing the
maximum levies it is possible for the
several taxing boards OF the state TO
make. These should be lowered in
many instances. II is best. however
for the people 10 depend entirely on
these changes to reduce their taxes.
In the interest OF true economy people
should be elected to these tax levying
boards who are known to be economi-
cal. and who are interested from the
side Of the taxpayer rather than the
tax eater. II this is done We will
soon begin to feel reduction Of our
tax burdens. The boards having tax
levying powers are:
For state taxes. the legislature
For county taxes. the commission
ers
For city and village taxes. the coun-
Gil.
For school taxes. the trustees
7th. Amend the automobile tax
law so each county will receive its
proportion Of this license money TO
tighten IT'S road taxes.
Sth. Amending the Constitution SO
more Of our school lands can be sold
each year than az present The in
terest on these sales viii help 10
tighten the burden our school taxes
/ At the present rate Of sale it Will take
: about $50 years TO close out our
school lands. This is absurd. and we
need the income from these lands
now.
= Taxes Must Come Down. Z
I have always been a large taNpfy.
h er. and am in earnest about the redhc
ton OF taxes in Idaho. viii use kh'
veto power. II necessary. 10 keep th'
taxes for state purposes down as low
? as possible without destroying the ef
fciency OF any branch Of the govern
. ment. will Try and eliminate al
useless help. get a days work for Z
DAYS pay. and make the tax dollal
buy as much as the private dollar.
Prohibition.
The LIQUOR question is OF the mex
importance in all parts OF the state
This question has apparently beef
settled by all parties agreeing TO sub
NIT a constitutional amendment pro
viding for statewide prohibition. w
will therefore have two years NOR
under the present local option Law
t. and afterward the prohibition Whe
ther We will have dry counties unde
|. the present law. and dry state unde
the prohibition law. will depend ol
two things; the character OF the en-
: forcement Of laws for suppressing tn
trafic. and the personelle Of the gov
ernor whose duty Il is to enforce thes
laws The two must go together =
get results. With weak enforcemen
e Of laws the best executive win d
Z nothing effectively. and with the bes
, Of enforcing Of laws a lukewarm exc
u cutivs will do nothing. and IN eithe
: case the argument OF the liquor me
that prohibition does not prohibit.
is strengthened To get results /
:, Idaho We should have strong enfores
u ment OF laws. and an executive