Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-01-06

Legislature met and passed NAV i'm
portant laws Including statewide pro-
hibition act, classed as most rigid in
its terms of any state in union, making
Idaho dry on and after Jan. l, 1916.
In Governmental Circles.
The Capital News shows also the con
dltions as concerns the administration
OF the state governmental affairs as
follows:
Snug Balance in Treasury.
There was a snug balance of $780,
659.44 in the treasury of the state with
the opening of business Dec. l and it
was not materially increased or de-
creased with the close of the year.
This fact is shown by the treasurer in
his report to the auditor showing the
balances in the various funds. State
Treasurer Eagleson has adopted
policy since taking over office of car
rying practically no actual money in
the treasury department but instead
depositing it in the various banks as
quickly as it comes in SO that interest
pcan be earned from it. This minim-
ICES the risks and makes more money
for the state. He also pays all claims
against the state by treasury check in
stead of actual money. This check is
SOOu OH duy DdHh Ill tHG SJdUe, anu Il
negotiable instrument. No personal
checks of state employees are cashed by
the treasurer.
the defalcations of o. V. Allen and
Fred M. Coleman, former state and
deputy state treasurer, who embezzled
$4,000, has resulted in every precau-
tion being taken to safeguard the
treasury in the future. The state re-
Gently instituted suit to recover from
the National Surety company the
amount of the Allen and Coleman
shortage that corporation being surety
ON their bonds. All told including the
interest the shortage is now estimated
at $135,000.
The more important funds in the
treasurer's report show the following
balances: General fund, $43,5534s.
general school, $276,522.53; common
school, $101, ,337.05; general interest and
sinking, $35,9S6.33; Carey act trust,
$4, 1928; predatory animal, $61197;
game, $9,650.99; livestock sanitary,
$25,S6o.97; national forest reserve,
S,276.26; state highway, $24,4579s;
unapportioned, $93,339.76.
In connection with the treasure de-
partment it might be said that during
December the land board ordered the
securities amounting to several mil
lions of dollars held by the state trans.
ferred back to the land department.
The latter department is to be re-
organized with a view of cutting down
operating expenses. The commission
er of the land office and the register
of the land board are to be moved into
the main capitol building from the an
mex and installed in the wing opposite
the treasury department occupying the
same offices. Heretofore they have
had separate offices. The clerical
forces are to be consolidated and the
securities placed in the treasurer IS
vault for safe keeping but yet will be
under the supervision Of the land Off
cials.
Less Revenue Required For State.
The total assessed valuation of the
state as fixed by the state board of
equalization was $416,538,946. The
board set 100000 as the amount re-
quired to meet state expenses per an
mum. In 1914 the board raised 100000
This year personal property was in
creased 1906, Ill; railroads, $714,949;
private car lines, $393,915; telephone
lines, $118,721; telegraph lines, $16,386;
transmission lines, $365,12 The total
equalized valuations in the several
classes of property as adjusted by the
state board of equalization and COM
piled for fixing of the several levies
follow.
Sheep ............$ 1885, las
Livestock other than sheep 1S,101,731
Personal property ........ zoe, ,449,572
Railroads ............. s5,s53,909
Telephone lines .......... 100000
Telegraph lines ...... S21,947
Transmission lines ...... 10,8S5,4S2
Pullman & private car lines 856,715
The general tax levy fixed was
.0018005519, the sheep or predatory
animal levy, .003 and the stock levy
.0001a.
This is the calendar season and local
business houses have been supplying
thar