Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-06-08
s ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

Attention has been called in this
series of articles to what apnear IN
the writer to be the two Urinary
weaknesses in our present state GOV.
eminent These are, |. Lack of uni-
FORM accounting and good reporting
:: Lack of Capitalization of response
olhty' 1t has already been empha-
sized that the points that have been
hiade are not In any sense whatso-
ever to be construed as criticism of
any individual, official, or otherwise.
or any group of individuals. The
troubles lie partly in the statutory
provisions Cor lack of provisions) and
partly IN the constitution itself. The
fauit lies in the system. The remark
able thing is that the state has gotten
on SO well, and it is a marked tribute
TO those who have been in charge of
state affairs that this measure of sue
cess has been attained.
The question presents itself at this
stage of our inquiry as to the future
so far as the first point indicates above
Is coneerned-uniform aceounting-it is
noteworthy that there is already a
statute making it possible (Chap. 112,
Session Laws, 1850 Moreover, many
of the men who have announced them
selves as candidates for the guberna-
torial office have given prominent place
IN their platforms to this question,
without exception, pledging them
selves to see the movement put thru.
The State Tax Association at its Boise
meeting, was unanimous in its judg-
ment, tho, expressed wholly in an I'M
official manner, that this change was
essential. Some precedent exists in the
matter of reporting in the special re
port of the State Tax Commission, (Feb
IA, 19l4.)
Turning to the second part of the
inquiry, we find that if there was any
other one thing upon which the men
| present at the Tax Association con
ference were agreed, it was that the
Tax Commission should be recreated
and given substantial power. 1t was
felt that no other body could so effect
lively. (D enforce the present law. e,
supervise uniform accounting and re
porting, (3) suggest change in the law
Certain objection are, of course, en-
countered when the proposition is SCI
forth. They may all be grouped under
two heads: (11 the old commission
was not an unqualified success. e.
we already have too many boards, com
missions and officers, all costing goo,
deal of money, and to add anothe
would be adding insult to injury.
The old commission was prevented
from attaining full usefulness by tw'
things. One was that it was com
bined with the Utilities Commission
and hence largely doomed to failur
from the day of it's birth. These tw
fields are so large that to attempt t.
cover both by one board is out of tn
question. Either could well occupy tn
full time of any board. The othe
difficulty was constitutional. Unde
the supreme court ruling much rea
power was taken from the body and it
efficiency seriously impaired. Bot
of these difficulties could be removed
As to the cost one Fundamental
principle must every be kept in min(
The addition of a new board is just
fable, financially, any time that
saves the state more money than
costs to maintain it. This is exactl
what would happen with Tax Con
| mission. BY supervising accountin
| and by reporting to the people acel
! rate facts, in easily UNDERSTANDABLE
form, the commission would make
: possible for taxpayers to see where til
leaks exist in state, county, and cit
finances, and to stop these leaks, b
enforcing the law it would add Gas
did do thousands of dollars to tt
assessment roll. BY continually stud,
ing the conditions. it could recommen
such changes in the aw as experient
and study convinced them would rem
err easier the administration of the la
and would more equitably distribu
the tax burden. By these steps Il
cost of such a commission would
saved many times over.
HOWARD T. LEWIS, DEPARTING
of Economies and Political Scienc
University of Idaho.