The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-03-26
THE HIGH COST OF ECONOMY
(Glenn'S Ferry Gazette

We listen to a body of men who
have interests in a section separated
from railroad points by big river
and we hear them wax warm in Their
disapproval of the governor Of the
state because he failed to sign a bill
which would furnish them a bridge
The bridge would have brought the
section closer to markets, would have
attracted new settlers, new money
and prosperity, but the governor re-
fused to sanction it because it would
cost the state sum of money.
We hear bunch of men who are
interested in the state as a whole and
who realize the importance of good
roads as factor in the general devel-
opment of the state criticise the same
governor adversely for refusing to
sign a bill which would put convict
labor to work on highway improve
ment. The governor vetoed the bill
because it would have cost the state
some money for equipment.
We read in the papers of people
who are wrathy at the governor be-
cause OF his begrudging attitude to-
ward various irrigation projects.
when encouragement is needed
Economy is again the reply. We
hear reports of other instances where
people are angry because some in
stitution or enterprise which is close
to them and which they know is meri-
table has been hampered with an
economy-lnSpired thrust.
When we ponder all this greed for
economy our minds may 90 back to
the days before election We NAV
remember OF all the talk about high
taxation and how it must be reduced
We may remember, too, about the
political speaker who came along and
told us how easy it would be to chi
dawn the taxes by looping off a lot
OF useless commissions and lavish
office appropriations.
a political orator, in addressing the
people OF community, would tell
them how their money was being
spent toolishly how in things with
which they were not familiar MONEY
was being poured out like water. A
speaker before meeting of livestock
men would take shot at some state
school twenty miles off in the sage
brush. A speaker before an audience
OF school teachers would take shot
az some hopeless irrigation project"
he either endorsed their own enter
PrIses or Side-stepped them entirely.
ana SO 1t went-always there were
things which were eating up good
money and which should be eliminat-
ed The people believed the speaker
generally and were misled by their
own ignorance of conditions
Inc speaker usually had no inter
est IN the separate counties and vii
lages and, OF course, said nothing of
the local causes of taxation-when
the tact of the matter was thar tho
state taxes were insufficient when
compared with those of town and
county. But he always talked Of
state taxes and there the peonle's |
MINDS were directed. They were led
10 oeheye that if this extravaganza in |
state athairS were ended their taxes
would be cut in two. Again. their
own ignorance, or perhaps thought |
lessness, betrayed them.
The people elected set of officials |
and body of legislators bound To- in
augurate an epoch of economy and
they almost got all the economy tbev
wanted too. and would have had moi |
the legislature and governor overlook. |
cd at times the economy column. At
that, practically everyone is disap- |
pointed and dissatisfied. The cause
OF 1t all seems to be that there was
more desire for economy on the Dart
OF everyone concerned than there was
possibility to put it through and re-
main in the bounds Of sanity.