The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-01-07
Governor Alexander Makes Recon-
mendations in Fullfillment of His
Campaign Promise.

Following the example Of President
woodrow Wilson, Governor Aexan-
der delivered his message in person to
the legislature last Tuesday. Almost
every paragraph is an appeal for econ
/ omy and lower taxes, and the govern
/ or asserts that If his recommended
+ tions are followed the state will save
81, 900, 900 in the direct tax levy. The
governor not only demands submits
sion of the lisuor question to the vote
Of the people, but he calls upon the
legislature to pass rigid prohibition
law at once. Extracts from the mes
sage follow:
Begin in the Capitol.
The law-abiding spirit prevailing
among the people of this state necs-
states very few new laws to be pass
ed by your body. We have too many
laws. The repeal of some of the laws
on the statute books would be a bless
ing
The burden of taxation must bC
lightened 1t must begin right under
the dome of this capitol; 1t must star
right from the office of the governor;
from the halls of the legislature i
must be carried to every courthouse II
every county in the state, to every
municipality and to every school dis
trict. 1t Is not alone necessary that W,
tn1~ ~ 80 4
hour demands that we act promptly il
1.-THE solution Of this question above al
else.
Taxes Too High.
Taxes are too high. They must b.
reduced. They must be reduced not b,
fractions nor by piece meal, but b,
one-half. AS the governor, under m!
duties under the constitution, an
here in behalf of the people of the stat
to recommend to you that the runninl
expenses of the state government 70
the next two years should be $1,000
900 less than they were in 1913-1914
by your honorable body as direct tn,
upon the property of the people Of TIL
state should also be. at least $1,000.
900 less than was levied In house bill
4l5, laws of 1918, for the preceding tw
years.
Would Specify Expenditures.
Every department of the state gov
! eminent should have an appropriate
made by the legislature setting fort
every item for which the money Is t
be appropriated, for what uses 1t ca
. be expended, the amount of money t
be paid to each employee, the numhe
of employees, for stationery. for ever
item in detail, even to postage stamp
and typewrters that every man VIII
has charge of department of tn
state government may know exactl
4 what is demanded Of him and wha
money he has for each purpose.
It should be made a felony to ex
pend the money of the state for an
purpose other than that for which
Is specifically appropriated.
| further recommend to your consid
Grafton the absolute prohibition of an
deficiencies to be issued by any de
oartment of the state government fo
my purpose except that for which tn
constitution provides. and that no in
lebtedness be incurred, directly or in
lirectly, by an officer Of the state or b
J his employees for any purpose what
I ever Should a great crisis arise tn
legislature can be convened and II
consent asked.
Bar officials Family.
) No public officer. beginning with til
governors office and ending with
road overseer, should be allowed (
practice nepotism. In other words, t
employ any Of his family or relative.
either by marriage o rby blood in an
a department of the state, county, mu
uicipality or school district.
No bonds should be issued at thi
session of the legislature for any pur
! pose.
There are some things that the stat
: can get along better without tina
"'eH' pht VI liCNS - tllt liilu' SIdttu
commissioner This office should b
abolished. Another is the tax commits
sion. This commission ought to n
abolished on account of its uselessnes!
] ! also ask You to consider the aboli
tlon of many Of the boards that hav
been created-for what purpose, 1t
hard to imagine.
Salary Cuts Hinted.
The state auditor receives an appro
priation Of $4,000 and an additions
appropriation of $4,000 for the travelln
auditor, and the governor says tn
travelling auditor should be abolished
The appropriation for the attorne
general is $4,000. was $4,000 fou
years ago. and the governor says
should be reduced to the latter fgur
at least and the state would not suf
fer
The state treasurer gets $4,000, hi
salary being $4,000 and reduction o
$4,000 in this department is recon-
mended, the treasurer and one deput
being sufficlen to run the office Tn
message also says the state treasure
should not carry any money in hi
vaults, that favoritism should not b
shown in letting banks handle stat