The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-12-03
BOISE POLITICAL NEWS
AND GOSSIP Of
INTEREST
GOVERNOR ALEXANDER HAS
WONDERFUL CHANGE OF
HEART TOWARD STATE
OFFICIALS.
Those Men Are Earning Their Sal
aries-Governor is Long on Psych-
ology-Short on Respect for Press
Very Good Politician in Spite of
all Denials.

ander will make an entirely different
campaign next fall from the one that
he made a year ago is very evident
from his recent public utterances. 1t
is not unfair to the governor to say
that whenehe took over the reins OF
the governors office he anticipated
being able to show that all the Re-
publican office holders have been
grafters and dishonest men in office.
1t is pretty we'll established that the
Grand Jury which met in Boise last
winter was one of his political assets
although such statement of course
has to be made with care owing to
the privilege of the courts to hold in
contempt those who might go too far
in statements, of this kind. The gov
ernor at that time was imbued with
the idea of cleaning out the gang and
Attorney General Peterson and State
Auditor Huston were among those
who were under the ban. However,
before the grand jury had adjourned
its sessions, Governor Alexander be-
gan to see that there were honest men
in the state house besides himself and
he now takes pride in the assistance
which is being rendered him by Mr..
Peterson and Mr. Huston in the bust
nesslike and economical administra-
ton of the states affairs.
Governor Praises Republican Associ-
ates.
Before the University Club at the
Boise Commercial club room Satur-
day evening, Governor Alexander de-
livered a most important address, i'm
portant from the point of view indicat-
ing his change of attitude from what
he thought last winter and what he
knows now. He explained the sys-
tenn of state government iii its admin
istFative departments. Among Other
things he said: "The real business of
the state is done by three men-the
Governor, the Attorney General and
the Secretary of State. They handle
more business than any corporation
within the state. AS majority of the
land board they are responsible for
more loans than are made by any
three banks in the state. They do
more actual business in dollars and
cents than any other three men in
Idaho and they do it for an aggre-
gate of $4,000 a year."
Governor Alexander went into de-
tail to explain how the board of ex-
aminers consisting of the Governor,
Attorney General and Secretary of
State looks over all the claims filed
against the state from its various de-
partments and institutions; how these
bills came before the board after be-
ing signed by the head of the depart
ment or institution, signed by the
State Auditor, as correct in their to-
tails, and how they are then looked
over and signed by the three mem
bers- of the board of examiners. He
showed that every check was placed
upon the states moneys in the pay
ment of its accounts. He also showed
how the state board of examiners had
hospital where all bills over which
any question arose were placed and
how the board met after the regular
meeting and discussed these bills un-
til they were either paid in full, cut
down or disallowed. He said: at is
the final arbitrator of all accounts
brought against the state unless the
claimant thus turned down makes ap.
peal for a special legislative appro-
priatIon to cover his case. and such
action is very uncommon except ir
cases where the board has to turr
down claims for lack of appropriation
to cover the same"
Governor Alexander then sketcheC
through all the duties of the different
boards, showing how loans are made
by the land board, showing how tn,
Carey Act segrgations were created
and the problems which confronted
the present land board in connection
Herewith; he showed how the Gov
ernor, Attorney General and Secre
tary of State were members of TIL,
pardon and parole boards and tn,
method of bringing applications o
prisoners to, the attention of these tive
boards and the large amount of worl
involved in reaching conclusions
which would protect the state and a
the same time give square deal I.
the prisoners. He showed how thesI
three officials composed the soldiers
home board: how the Governor. Sec
rotary of State and State Treasure
were members of the capital commits
sion having authority over the capita
building and its grounds; how tn
Governor, Secretary of State and At
torney General were members of TIL
depository board and had charge o
the banking system of the state in re
lation to the daily balances of tn
treasurer's Office.
II used to think with others. be
fore / was Governor, that all thos
guys had to do up at the state hous
was to sit with their feet upon the ma
hogany furniture and smoke fine Ct
gars given them by those anxious t
hold some of the small-frY jobs. bu
| want to tell you that the state oil
flciaIs work often over their eiph