Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-04-16
The PROBLEM OF REV.
ENUE AND TAXATION
It IS One That Calls for the Exercise of the Keen
a est mtellectS Instead of the Haphazard Acts
= Of SeIfSeeking Politicians.

the state to proper system, to hold
public expenses to a minimum and to
enforce efficiency in all departments.
It was in spite of the fact that the
tax commission issued a report based
upon actual investigations that was
the most valuable contribution yet
made in Idaho to the subject of rev.
enue and taxation.
Since the close of the recent ses-
sion of the legislature Governor Alex
ander has been most severely CEN
sured because up to this time, not
withstanding his loud professions,
he has contributed nothing to the
permanent solution of this problem.
1t was not surprising that in the
campaign of 1914, so astute politi-
clan as Mr.. Alexander should take
every advantage of the unrest among
the people, that he should make
political capital out of a situation
that was in no wise due to politics.
This was natural and perhaps legiti-
mate. 1t is the way the game is us
ually played.
But it was not legitimate for Mr..
Alexander to promise the people, if
elected governor, to reduce their
taxes 81, 900, 900 in the first year of
his administration, unless he had
some definite and reasonable plan for
the redemption of his promise. 1t
was not legitimate for him to prom
Use the people of the state to wipe
out their taxes altogether and pay
the running expenses Of the state
out Of the trust funds unless he has
some plan for bringing this about.
Voters, groaning under the double
burden of business depression and
high taxes, put their faith in the
man and elected him. They felt that
when the legislature met the govern
or would lay bare his plans, that he
would block out a constructive pro-
gram for the reduction of taxes and
the permanent solution of the tax
problem.
By all the rules that govern the
actions of decent men in politics
these Idaho voters were entitled to
know how that 81 900, 900 was to be
saved, and how the burden of state
taxes was ultimately to be thrown
off altogether.
Here is where these voters discov-
cred that they had been betrayed;
that instead of electing an expert in
revenue and taxation, they had elect
ed man whose only idea was to
utilize this issue to elevate himself
and his political henchmen into pub
lie Office.
There is nothing in Governor Alex
ander's messages to the legislature,
nothing in any of his public utterings
since he assumed office that reveals
knowledge of the subject, or any.
thing in the nature of program for
a solution of the taxation problem
Everything he has done has been Of
the haphazard, hit-or-miss order
He has simply undertaken to substi
! tute his own caprice for law and pre-
cedent; to build up a political ma
/, chine rather than outline definit,
program for the benefit of the state
t All this will pass. Governor Alex
t ander and bis machine will have thei
: day. Then they will go to the rub
: bish pile of politics. Public expense
may be reduced by dodging obliga
d tions, destroying efficiency and shift
I ing the burden to those who com
o after. But the problem of tax an
n revenue reform viii remain, and
the proper solution of the probler
q thoughtful and conscientious me
.s must devote their best efforts. 1t
= a service that will be rendered,
: the end. by patriotic men and not
. selfseeking politicians.-Idaho R
view.