American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-04-06
AT THE FORKS OF THE ROAD.

Whether Idaho is to become a tax
less state, or whether we gain a little
relief and are then saddled
for all time to come with tax burdens,
depends entirely upon how We handle
our resources. Idaho can be made en-
tirely taxless, and l favor adopting a
which will make her so, even
though the policy will not provide
quite so great a measure of-immediate
relief as some other policy might give.
I favor the conversion Of our dor
mant into interest bearing
securities as rapidly as possible, and
conserving the earnings therefrom I'M
til a permanent fund a~ccrues, the in
trest from which will forever solve
our tax problems. This is not a vi
sionary scheme, but one entirely prac-
tical, and l advance it after several
years of careful study and delibera-
ton. 1t has been put into effect in
private business enterprises with as
tonlshing success. Had the states east
of the Mississippi put this plan into
operation they would all long since
have been taxless and have borne
lighter burdens almost from the be-
ginning.
That they did not do so is no
reason why we should not. We
are at the forks of the road. One
way leads to a little temporary
relief. and then to endless taxa
ton. The other VIII soon bring
far greater relief and ultimately
do away with taxation entirely.
Already there are people adyOcat-
ing the capitalization of our re-
resources and using all the earn
ings therefrcm to provide a little
temporary relief. If this policy is
adopted our opportunity will be
II birthright for a mess of pot
tage.
Bear in mind that the plan l ad-
yOcate does not contemplate the
expenditure Of all the earnings
from the fund derived by the sale
of our lands. We eannOr accumu-
late a great revenue producing
fund without saving. This land
was given us for the benefit of our
schools. We are not required to
eXpend the income as fast as Ii is
earned. 1t will he of far greater
benefit to permit this fund to in
crease than to use 1t for tempOr-
airy relief. j am not considering
the present alone. We do not and
should not live for ourselves alone,
but for u children and our
children's children, and for genera
tons yet to come. We are not
worthy Of the blessings our fore
fathers b%equeathed to us unless
we b~equeath something to the fu-
ture. II Is our duty to so use our
resources as to relieve our own
burdens and TO lessen the burdens
Of those to come after us. ii we
are entirely selfish, and do not
consider the future, we might ma
terially reduce taxes by closing
u schools. We might save much
by shortening the school term. But
we will do nothing of this kind.
Rather, we will increase the scope
and usefulness of our schools. But
we a and should at once re-
duce the burden of their cost and
ultimately eliminate the cost en-
tirely.
According to the last report of t
state land board, Idaho has appro,
mately 3,170,000 acres of land whi
with the exception of an income fro
leases, is producing no revenue.
this amount, about 700, 900 acres
timber land, some of it of great Walt
About 2.650,000 acres is common schC
land, the remainder being set apa
for the support and benefit of our va
ious state institutions.
State lands sold from the be.
ginning until now have averaged
about $3.50 per acre. The pres.
ent average is much higher. When
il become known that Idaho has
adopted a policy leading to alb.
sOlute freedom from taxation, a
nation wide demand for Idaho
land will follow. By requiring
only a small cash payment, will
long time, a low rate of interest
and easy payments on the amor
tizatiOn plan, there should be NJ
trouble in dispOsing Of 3OO.0Ot
acres a year at even better prices
than are now being secured. Al
ready the proposal to inaugural,
this policy is being discussed il
financial publications Throughout
the country, and with average
financial conditions, there will b.
no lack of applications for Idah'
land by the time this plan can b,
put into operation.
But assuming that W. realize o
SIS pei acre for these lands, we wo
start off with "a, 0 900 from the fl
years sale OF 300, 900 acres. At 6
cent this would earn S270,G00. A
the interest to the principal, and
close the year with a fund Of $4,770,(
Then add another $500, 900 from
sale of the second 300, 900 acres, bri
ing the total to s~9,270,000. the ca
ings from which would be $685..
Add this interest and $4,000, 900 Fl
the third 300, 900 acres and the Fl
becomes s14,326.2 200. more by a tn
almost, than has been acumula
since the land department was est
lished, and we have just entered
third year. Continuing until the So
have reached 100000 acres at
end of the eighth year, selling o