The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-10-16
Continued from Page u

tion that would cost him more money
than he could save? None evidently,
for this has gone on for years. Over
smith said recently that the farmers
have made no complaint so far. Why
should anyone be expected to make a
fuss now? What was to prevent the
machine from continuing in it's old
practices?
simultaneously, and without one
knowing until later what the other was
doing, the Star-Mirror and the Pot
latch Lumber company were at work to
prevent continuation of these viola
tons of the law.
When there remained mo hope Of
inducing the commissioners to abide
by the law without it, the lumber COM
pany, which could afford it, brought
preme court. The action was not plan
ned to have any political effect, 9th
erwise it would not have been set for
hearing after the primary election. II
the decision of the supreme court had
preceded the election, there would have
been no chance for either Lyon or
Woody to be nominated, and it is not
likely that any other machine candi-
date would have been nominated either.
Following the decision of the court,
the Star-Mirror published the news
briefly, inconspicuously, and without
comment. There was no gloating over
the fact that the court had found, as
we had declared. that the commission
ers had been violating the law. There
was no harrassing of the commission
ers, because they had been proved to
be lawbreakers, and had been ordered
by the court to do as we had advised
them 10 do, even though they were can
didates for office whom we believed to
be untitled for office. and whose cleo
ton we were determined to oppose.
They were given a chance to comply
with the courts order.
When the general and special tax
that the. mandate of the court had not
been complied with. The special tax
1evies have yielded over $29 900 hereto
fore The usual one mill levy yield
ed about $4,000. The commissioners
testified in court that practically all
special road tax was used for general
road purposes, so the general road ex-
pense was about $40, 900. How can
one and half mill general levy pay
for the same amount of general road
work when it will yield. only about
$4,000?
The Star-Mirror is responsible for
the fact that the courts attention was
called to the action of the commission
ers. The tax levy made by the COM
missioners totaled four mills in many
districts, which is excessive, and they
continued their old practice of loading
upon the farmer an unreasonable share
of the road tax.
They have been summoned to Boise !
because it appears to the court that
they disregarded the order. We have
given the news, and made some expla-
nations, because we believed that the
people are entitled to know about pub
lie affairs and that the present condi-
tions should be understood by the vot-
ers before election.
We have been severely criticised by
some of the political leaders for not
keeping quiet. They don't want the
people to know the facts. 1t might
affect the chances of the reelection of
their tools. 1t will have the effect of
making some of them pay in the future
taxes that in the past the farmer has
been compelled to pay for them. Why
should we not expect them to attack
us, to try to discredit us with the peo-
pie whom they have deceived and ov-
ertaxed SO long, to try to put us out of
business?
A number have declared their inten-