The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1916-05-25
WHY THE HIGH
LEVY OF 1915?
lconlinued Irom lsl pagel

the legislature of 1911 out of a
portion of Nez Perez county. The
act was signed by Gov. James II.
Hawley ON March 3, 1911. 1t was,
unfortunately, an emergency mea-
sure, and the newly appointed Of
ficials took up the work without
Iany time for preparations or for
securing the necessary supplies.
The act provided for partition
of assest and liabilities between
the old and new counties, the lat
ter assuming 81, 10000 of the
bonded Indebtedness. This
amount has all been paid. From
delinquent taxes and other SQUIRE
es Nez Perez county has collected
for Lewis county 1923, 5O075, all
of which has also been paid. The
relation of debtor and creditor
does not, therefore, exist between
the two.
Lewis is one of the smaller
counties of the state, its total val
uation averaging about $780,
10000. It has comparatively little
railroad mileage, and but few
large industries, its principle tax
able property consisting of agri-
cultural lands. Ii is known as
the greatest wheat producing
county in the state.
The total amount received as
public revenue during the five
years Of its existance aggregates
$74S, 6SS9O, or an average OF
$3.50, 10000 per annum.
Public funds have been so han
died that the average balance in
the treasury has been $2l, 10000
The rate of interest paid by the
banks has been comparatively
high, earnings from interest being
approximately 4 per cent.
Crime and indigeney both APP
pear to be rare. Inmates of the
county jail average less than one,
the total fines collected during
five years by probate and justice
courts is less than $1,000 The |
care Of the poor has never reached
l per cent of the total expendi-
lures.
The county has 40 schools and
% road districts. There are six
incorporated towns, Nezperce,
Kahiah, no, Vollmer, Winehes-
ter and Reubens. All Of these
are in good financial
condition.
On the theory that economical
administration can only be Il
brought about BY analysis and
comparison, the report
goes into the matter of public ex-
in minute detail. 1t is
ihOwn that the cost of strictly |
county government has been very
learly the same in each of the
i've years of the cOunty's history.
angling from $50, 10000 in 1912
0 $35, 10000 in 1914. Road and
ridge expenditures varied great
y, ranging from 100000 in 1911
0 $39, 10000 in 1914, and drop
ing to $20,OO0.O0 last year. The
unusually large expenditure in
hese departments left the county
considerably in debt at the close
1914 and made necessary an in
rease Of so per cent in the levy
1915. Il is evident that the
mount of taxes raised has not
cen sufficient to meet public de
lands. At the close Of the first
ear the county was not only free
.Om debt, but had surplus in
le treasury of 100000, while the
arrant Indebtedness at the close
1914 reached the sum Of $34,
1000. This Indebtedness was re-
lced last year to approximately
That it cost money to be in debt
shown by the fact that inter-
t on warrants grew from $3.50
in 1911 to $3,314.65 in 1915.
The report calls especial at
ntion TO the increase cost
ought about by the recent
ange in law making the treas-
'er, instead Of the assessor, taxi
and states that a SINH
r increase in expense has result
in every county in the state
le rapidly growing cost Of pub
schools is clearly shown by ac-
al figures.
The amount Of taxes paid for
tie purposes during the several
ars was as follows:
II ...... $20,O47721
IL ANN. .. $14,5O416I
10 .. M 25,613,SOl
ID . $500. 18,153.89T
Is ...... 800. 15,22737
One of the most interesting and
a