Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-10-19
FlX[ESS" STATE A


o,oner I'D. w. Davis, re-
boise ominee for governor, IS max
ean n"mnaign upon promise to
Dis nTaxless state. ms ne
pte i, do through the rapid sale
DC W lands and the investment vt
u sIa'e interest of the money receiv-
pOunas .om which he figures out In
thels sls Of 40 or 80 years will pro,
e0a snnd the interest from which will
a, luie to pay all expenses of
sfls ntv municipal and other local
e, eOu nt without the necessity OF
tl an snv tax of any nature.
ias scheme itself is that OF vision
Dc s.0ee none but a dreamer and an
ne naol man would even seriously
rss sts auy such plan, but there is
oe sS 10 discuss the absurdity OF this
neeu alan. 1t is sufficient to know
Op 1a.bo does not own one acre OF
rnJ Il therefore has no land to
land which is commonly called
,. nc. land which are the lands
la'1 candidate Davis proposes to sell,
en .he lands of the State but they
~ NV 10 the government given to the
ps hold in trust for the use and
e. Of specifically named institu-
s for the education of the children
NJ State and for the care of its un-
tunate 90
~ state are granted to the state for
.snnort of the common schools; so
t.;ons Of land are granted for the pur-
\ If erecting public buildings at the
f.ol 70 sections are given for the
diversity; 100000 acres are given for
establishment and maintenance of
1 scientific Schools, 100000 acres for
/ State Normal Schools; $4,000 acres
thp support and maintenance of the
Lonp ASYLUM at Blackfoot; 10000
[ps for the Agricultural College; So
4 acres for the maintenance of the
Iuiteptiary; $4,000 additional acres for
1 support and maintenance of the
Diversity, and 10000 acres "for the
Ipr State Charitable, Educational,
|nal and Reformatory Institutions.
|Tbese lands are held by the State as
6rustee for the express trusts, use and
Eefit of the institutions named in the
bnt. The gift is not gift outright
A a conditional gift with specific con-
lions attached which conditions must
kessarily be complied with. The con-
Hon attached to these lands is that
sv may be sold only for the purpose
obtaining funds, the interest from
bich must go to the maintenance of
1 Institutions named as beneficiaries
the grant So fully protected are
Csc funds that it is made the impera-
ye duty of the legislature of the state
reimburse any fund that my suffer
ON loss so that the principal may
ver decrease and only the interest
by be used and it is provided that
en- the interest may only be used for
Z specific purpose mentioned.
What D. W. Davis is then proposing
do is to violate the trust imposed in
9 State of Idaho by the National
,yernment and take these lands with
I authority of law from the institu
ms for whose use and benefit they are
ven and to apply the interest from the
Oceeds to the general expenses of
yernment.
He proposes to take the amount given
the University; to the Agricultural
llege; to the Normal Schools; to the
sane Asylum; to the Reformatory
hOO and to the Public School sys-
n of the State of Idaho and use the
crest derived from the sale of these
Ids in paying salaries at the State
ptol in Boise, to maintain the police
zee in cities and throughout the State
in general for the thousand one
penses that 60 to make up the cost Of
vernment in State like Idaho.
This is an impracticable, dishonest
impossible thing to do; therefore
Ns must become an impossible and
practicable candidate. Waving aside
'se impossible things, every thought
citizen of the state knows that an
sfiat fund may continue to be, as
'etofore proven, unsafe in the hands
public officials. But waving aside
inability of incompetent officials
handle such vast sum and the pro-
: dishonesty among officials, still it
" impress itself upon the mind Of
ny thoughtful person that to make q
less state by any such scheme means
exempt the wealthy from any share
lne burden of government and to i'm
= such burden wholly upon those who
compelled to borrow.
y. Is the interest from the investment
'nls money that Mr.. Davis proposes
ase ior the expenses of Government.
crest is only paid by those who
TOW money, hence by the poor alone,
!, none Of the great corporations, not
l ian Oh vast wealth or others with in
'ehdent means able to live and con-
- J lneir business and support them
~ ~ without aid would have to con-
,ae one cent toward the cost and
Nc uen OF the government.
a ans constitutes a reversal Of the
:. ndl principles of American Govern
~ ny, winch is, that the burden of gov
. . ~ should be borne by those best
:. 70 bear it in consideration of the
~ protection which they receive
-ue hands of the State.
ne No pan suggested by Mr.. Davis has
: II Clements of weakness in it that
sp one more thoughtful of those who
an exporting 70 him apologize for him
; ~ auei TO give any credence what
70 MS plan IL ,,a,4 e