The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-01-05
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE SUR
PRISES THE SOLONS
Continued from Page y


for them should be very cimple and
the least expensive of all governments.
The weight of taxation now bearing
upon their shoulders is caused, in the
main, by errors of the past that Meth
er your honorable body nor myself are
responsible for. All government suf-
fer from the same causes. They all
start from the line of simplicity Each
year something is added to the ma
chinery of the government to satisfy
the thirst of the politician and the
office holder Gradually there is
evolved structure that is top-heavy
with unnecessary offices, useless
boards and commissions that really
hinder the execution of the law in
stead of aiding it. The people
mand the abolition of these useless
boards, commissions and offices, not
by change in their names, but by
their absolute destruction. The ques-
ton of taxation to raise a certain
amount of revenue upon the industries
and property Of the people of the
state is one of the highest duties and
functions with which we are charged.
Tax Reduction
In order properly to serve the peo-
pie / am compelled to furnish you
...ao eoo+S oc +hou avict in thic state
The income of the state, without levy
ing any taxes upon any property, was
in the preceding two years, approx
mately $1,4O0,0O0. This money is
largely derived from the interest on
the sale of certain state lands, the
rental of lands, corporation taxes, IL
censes, federal aid to the various state
institutions, interest on money, fees,
and from other sources. This income
increase from year to year. 1t is used,
generally, for the general expenses OF
the state, for special purposes deslg-
mated by law or for purposes for
which the legislature may see fit to
use it.
There have been bond issues author
lied at almost every session OF the
legislature The last legislature au-
thorized a bond issue of $310,O00.OO OF
which $11O,0O0.00 was sold and the
money converted into the treasury. The
remaining $2OO,00000 of these bonds
was authorized for public highway
purposes and has not as yet been IS
sued by the proper authorities of the
state, but the greater portion OF the
proceeds therefrom has been pledged
for the payment of construction work
undertaken and performed on the pub
lie highways. The exact amount SO
pledged | am unable to ascertain. There
was used from the Carey Act fund
over $145 100000 and interest on bonds
outstanding was paid to the amount OF
over $500, 100000. When all these fig
ures are added together the last state
government had an income, aside from
the direct tax for general state pur-
poses, in round numbers of $2,055, 000O0
for the preceding two years. In ad-
dition to this the last legislature au-
thorized a direct tax upon all OF the
property of the people in the state
of So, OOO, 100000 more for the two years,
by house bill Ais, chapter 1877, Session
laws of 1913, of which 100000,
s1.80O,00O was levied by the state
board of equalization, making grand
total income exceeding 1885, 100000. In
addition to all this | am warranted Ill
saying that there were expenditures
of $500, 100000 in excess of the reve-
nues. This amount has not yet been
fully ascertained Bills for the vari-
Gus departments for the months OF
November and December 1914, have
not been audited. AS soon as the
proper amount is ascertained it will be
submitted to the legislature for con-
sideration. This enormous deficit has
been caused by the lavish expenditure