The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-07-07

unrec0gnlZed Tor more tnan q lew
hours.
The business of Idaho's treasury
has grown wonderfully since the Or
ganization of the office, 26 years ago.
1t is now the largest institution of
la banking nature in the state, hav-
ing more than twice the resources
of all the banks of the state COM
bined.
It now has about ~$1,210,000 cash
and due from banks; over $7,5OO,OOO
in loans; and over 100000, 900 of
lands and other resources that in
the main will be turned into cash In
due time. In addition to all that,
the treasurer is the recipient of year.
ly taxes, licenses, fees, ETC., to the
amount OF between 100000 and
"a, OO0, 900. It can be readily seen
that, IL it were not for the great ex-
Ipense of conducting a free and &C
ceptable government, Idaho's treas
ury would soon be bullying with the
peoples dollars. On the other hand,
If can also be just as readily seen
that If it were not for the almost
unlimited power of levying taxes to
pay expenses, the state would soon
60 into the hands of a receiver, no
matter how great its present re-
sources may be. And while this
waste and loss, In extremely great
thru duplication of duties, %antiquat-
ed methods, incomplete legislation,
etc., 1t Is rarely augmented by venal
acts. Much Of it can be eliminated by
careful systematizing of the work to
be done and purposes to be accomp-
lished. A better cooperation OF Of
ficers and employees all along the
line can and should be worked out.
No bank or business could prosper
il it adopted the plan. of selecting its
officers and directors as does the
state every few months, from widely
separated points and without refer
ence to their personal efficiency or
experience in the duties to be per-
formed. And while honesty Is one
of the greatest virtues any pubic
officer can have, it is not efficient
without experience and therefore,
often accomplishes next to nothing.
Idaho has been many years getting
the legislative ground work for Ell
ficient handling of its endowment
funds. The loans have been handed
honestly in the main and tho all
political parties have been in con-
troll. only one loan of $1,000 has pos
sibly been lost to date since state
hood began; a loss in proportion to
the millions of dollars loaned, SO
small a part of one per cent tina
one need not estimate it. A record
in honesty not surpassed by any BAN
in the state or in the United States.
On the other hand, an efficient bank
err would have developed a good sized
surplus thru small revenues Int saw
ings and a greater activity OF funds
that the state has failed to secure.
(Since this article was written the
attorney general has informed me
that suit had been started and in all
probability the security on which TINS
loan was made will be taken over by
the state and there was little llkell-
hood of there being any loss what
eyer.)
While the state treasurer is the
cashier. he occupies a very different
relationship to that of the bank cash
Ter with respect to his board of dlrec-
tors. The bank cashier is usually
a. member of the banks board OF d.
rectors, but the state treasurer is not
a member of either controlling board
and has nothing whatever to do with
the making Of loans, altho he is
authorized by the board to act as
custodian of loans and make collec-
lions. Thus, the treasury department
of the state comes in direct Imam
cial contact with o people, (most
of whom are depositors in the states
account) than all the other state elc-
tive officers. Every county treasury
is a branch of the state treasury and
takes deposits from every taxpayer
in the respective counties. Every
county clerk deposits with the state
for every suit started IN
his county; every county superln-
tendent, every teacher getting a state
certificate, every attorney passing the
bar examination, every court report
err, various justices of the peace, the
government of the U. S., each of the
$50 depository banks, each n of