The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
NtM CONSTITUTION
WANTED FOR STATE
County Commissioners ASK Legisla-
ture To Issue Call For Il Convention
Pass Many Resolutions.

BOISE The eighth annual conven-
ton of county commissioners of Ida
no, in session last week, passed a res
olution that our association immedi-
ately recommend that provision be
made by the legislature for calling a
constitutional convention, that we may
do away with obsolete laws and place
our counties in position for handling
affairs by modern, up-to-date, bust
ness methods
The action went through so easily
that many of the delegates seemed
not to realize it had been taken.
Mines, Roads, Forestry
Other resolutions that we're passed:
THAT each and every member pres
ent at this meeting take home copy
Of the recommendations submitted by
our legislative committee. and make
known to the members elect of the
coming legislature our purposes and
wishes.
That we cannot expect the rapid
development of our mining, timber,
grazing and power resources without
the means OF easy transportation.
That good road building is the
spirit of the times. That we earnest
ly recommend the hearty cooperation
of the county commissioners of every
county, with the state highway com
mission, the national forest service,
the governor and every unit of our
state government in the construction
of a thorough, correlated system OF
good roads, throughout the state.
"That the expenditure of all large
sums of money for public improve
ments be made from funds raised by
long time, low interest bearing bonds,
instead of by direct taxation.
THAT as far as practical great pub
lie improvements should be made in
times of stress when little private
Improvements are being made.
c. b. Ross of Canyon county at the
morning session did not discuss
Duties of Commissioners" the subject
slated on the program, but having
been named chairman Of the legisla-
tive committee talked on proposed
legislation and urged a change in the
revenue law as to the reassessing and
the collecting of personal taxes.
Suggest Tax Reform
Carl Feldhusen of the Ada County
Assessors office suggested various
tax reforms. lie said:
THE term, cash value is the yard
stick by which we measure our val
ues and there should be no doubt as
to it's Interpretation. / want to warn
you, gentlemen, that we are getting
away from the law The cry that high
valuations mean high taxes is decep-
tive.
Il wish to propose that no bonds be
voted by any taxing district unless a
provision is made that they com
mence to be redeemed one year after
their issue.
The distribution of the money de-
rived from the taxation of the pub
lie utilities also needs adjustment 1t
is not right that one district is com
PEELED to levy a dollar for special
school taxes, when another district
that happens to have a large railroad
valuation has plenty Of funds for a
first class school with a 10 cent levy
The money derived from these sources
for school purposes should be divided
according to population or school at
tendance over the whole state"
Legislative Report.
Edward Smith, Ada county, present
ed the report of the legislative COM
mittee. The committee reported that
it favored the creation by Legislative
enactment of law providing a uni
form system of accounting, auditing
and reporting in all governmental
units of the state Such a law will
be drafted on behalf of the committee
and presented to the legislature.
Reorganization of county govern
ment for the purpose of rendering il
a more efficient business unit is rec
commended and as an initial step in
such reorganization they favor an
amendment TO the constitution pro-
viding that the term of county COM
missioners be extended TO six years
and that the bill be so drawn that two
commissioners be elected every two
wears one for the fOur-year term and