Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-03-14

issue and was certain that 1t would not
carry. He said the commissioners
would do a better work by taking the
money that an election would cost and
spending it upon putting the roads in
to condition. He stated he favored
good roads, but not a bond election,
that he favored the use of the extra
auto license being expended on the
roads and with a small bond ISSUE
good cross roads could be built lead
ing to the main thoroughfares, thus
doing a good work without going to
such a heavy expense. He stated the
valuations in the city and county were
from one-third to one-half higher than
they should be and higher than in
other sections of the state. over at
Nampa, he stated, the real estate deal
ers were selling land and business was
good at Twin Falls ana Idaho Falls.
where land was not assessed as high
as it is here and where, he stated, new
are raised here.
There are three classes OF men in
Ada county. stated the former commits
sioner, professional men and business
men who are living off the producer
and consumer and thirdly the men who
do not pay any taxes but are able 10
vote and willing to put burden on the
tax payers Of the county.
Compared With Illinois.
MIR. Briggs took the commissioners
back to Illinois and pointed out four
counties in that state where he stated.
taxes were much lower, the counties
richer, where there was coal mining,
manufacturing and big pay rolls and
yet he said, not one of those counties
had as good a system of roads as Ada
county now had and even a county.
which held the capital of that great
state. did not have as good a system IS
Ada county.
Farmers living under the Riden-
baugh canal, stated Mr.. Briggs, soon
have a bond issue coming due which
will cost them $3.50 per acre. Then, he
stated. there is an additional assess
ment OF $3.50 per acre for interest on
outstanding bonds and maintenance.
Add some SO to $3.50 more per acre
for taxes. he said, and likely go cents
per acre for a drainage system for the
benefit of Nampa and Caldwell, and
farmers here win be paying S9.10 per
acre on their land on a valuation OF
| 1925 per acre. which ne declared was
too heavy a burden to carry. He urg-
ed that the commissioners take no ae-
ton in calling the election.
Others who spoke against the bond
election were, II. G. Wilson, Robert
Wilson. A. Wilson. Frank Hammer. Mr.
Baldwin and W. r. whipple, rancher
from Dry creek.
In Favor of Election.
Jess B. Hawley the newly elected
president of the Boise Commercial
club spoke in favor of the bond cleo
ton. He stated that he represented In.
terests which paid taxes IN Ada county
several times the amount OF those who
had voiced objections. He said they
were not asking the commissioners Il
build good roads, but merely to cal
an election and to ascertain the senti-
ment of the residents of the county ant
IL they exV essed themselves by ma.
iority vote in favor Of bond issue
then the matter was settled, but that
it lay with the people. He stated h
was sure from the sentiment he hat
heard expressed that 10 per cent Of III.
lpeople of the county wanted to bont
the county to complete the system O.
good roads ana ali that WAS being ask
ed OF the commissioners was to hols
an election and let them express them
selves. He declares those whom HI
represented favored IL and felt tn,
commissioners would not be doing thei
duty, II in the face Of the petition, the!
refused to call tbs election.
Others speaking IN the interests q
calling the election were w. r. Pierce
70. p. Henderson,. I. L. Truax, s. 81
Coffin. w. N. Sweet. George A. Ander.
son, y. n. Rorthrop, Ira T. High. Q
w. Allen and r. x. Davis. They NJ
gave briefly their reasons for wantini
the election callet. and believed IL wa
a step IN the progressive line which
the county should take. All urged tn
commissioners to take favorable action
Commissioner Coffin announced tina
he was IN favor OF improvements anl
by bonding and that he favored tn.
calling Of an election Speaking foi
himself as a member OF the board. a.
said he would vote for Il. Commission.
Ter Howell was not present at the SEES.
sion and Mr.. Carlson refused to max.
: statement at this time, but intimat.
ed that he would favor the calling q
the eleetion.