Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-04-16

manent and equitable system of rev.
enue and taxation with an ak in the
hands of capricious chief executive.
The problem calls for the exercise of
the keenest intellects, and for patri-
Otic service.
At the close of his administration
Governor Alexander will be given
full credit for all he accomplishes.
The reductions he secures in public
expenditures and the lowering of the
states taxes. if there be such, will
be weighed in the balance against
the injury done to state institutions,
the setback given to the progress Of
the state, and the reputation Of
honest obligations.
If the reduction in the tax levy is
found to outweigh the injury to state
institutions, the blow given to worthy
enterprise and the repudiatidn of
honest debts, then Governor Alexan-
der-will retire from office with vote
of commendation.
But if. at the close Of his admins
tration, it is found that Governor
Alexander's policy was injurious;
that he simply sloughed the burden
of taxation from his administration
to that of his successor; that he con-
tributed nothing to the permanent
solution of the tax problem, then
Governor Alexander will be cast aside
as an Improbable experiment.
This is not new subject, this one
of revenue and taxation. Neither is
its discussion confined to Idaho. It
is continually pressing to the front in
every community and in every state.
1t was acute during the admins
tratiOn of Governor Hawley. Few
have forgotten the full cash value"
propaganda of that administration
or the extra session of the legislature
called to remodel the tax system of
the state. Whether any good at all
was accomplished at that time re-.
mains an open question. But it is
certain that the problem was more
acute at the close of Governor Haw-
ley's administration than at any 9TH
er time.
It was found that full cash value"
tended to the reckless use of public
money by officials. The greater pro-
perty valuation revealed in this way
encouraged the officials to spend.
Tax levies were not reduced in pro-
portion to the increase in valuation.
The consequence was that more of
the peoples money was expended by
the state, county, municipal. school
and township governments.
To remedy this unfortunate situa-
ton was the chief object of the ad-
ministration of Governor Haines.
The state tax commission was Great
ed to enable public officials to get al
the real facts as to property values,
and for the first time in the history
of the state an intelligent and com
prehensive survey of the field wa.
made. Idaho was in a fair way tC
get all taxable property on the lis
and to have the tax burden distri
buted on the principle of justice t.
all property owners, great and small
1t is a matter of sincere regre
that the supreme court found i
necessary todeprive the tax commits
sion of all but clerical power. Pow
er to make adjustments is conferre'
by the constitution of the state boar
Of equalization, and until the consti
tutioA can be amended there is M
m0rsuse for a tax commission thai
for tn fifth wheel on wagon.
At the same time experience hs
demonstrated that the best result
are obtained through the operatio
of the best informed men in Idah
that the permanent solution Of tn
problem here must come in this way
Because of the friction betwee
the tax commission and the stat
board Of equalization. little progre
toward . permanent solution Of Il
tax problem was made during Il
administration OF Governor Haine
This was in spite of the fact tn
Governor Hainea exerted himself
the utmost to reduce the business