The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-03-30
CONSTRUCTIVE LEGISLATION.

(By A C. Hindnan, Assistant Attorney Gen of Idaho
The Republican press Of the state already has raised
e cry OF exrayagance and broken promises the part
OF the democratic majority in the session of the LegsIa
ture just ADJOURNED and particularly with reference
the aggregate amount OF the appropriation bills passed
ne statements which have appeared in print in the ed
yOra columns OF the opposition press not only mis-
leading but in many instances are untrue At first glance
would appear that the appropriations made by the Leg
sature are much larger than those made by any
egsiare However, there several things which must
DC taken into consideration before passing judgment upon
the action OF the Legislature In the first place. the aggre
gate amount Of the appropriation printedn the press in
cudes bond issue of 600 900 for the purpose of
structng roads, highways and bridges where needed
throughout the state This bond issue was approved by
DOtn houses OF the Legislature without dissenting vote
IN either house. By passing this measure the state of Ida
no will secure from the federal government hundreds of
thousands OF dollars for aid in the construction Of roads
during the next five years We do not believe any taxpay
er Of Idaho will take exception to the passage of this good
roads measure.
Relative 70 the appropriations for the state depart
menus and state institutions the legislature for the first
time In the hisOy OF the state adopted real budget sys
tenn IN making ts appropriations and itemized almost
70 the last cent the different amounts which may be spent
Dy the state Tor the purposes intended This will enabled
any taxpayer IN the state TO know Just how the
money Is being expended In addition it places an effec
tive check upon each department and institution in the
expenditure of the funds appropriated for it. It has been
customary heretofore to appropriate lump sums which
We're expended as the departments or institutions saw fit
and without any satisfactory system of accounting
The aggregate Of the appropriations for the state de-
partmens and institutions totaed in the appropria
on bls IS considerably larger than for any preceding
bennium This is due to the fact that appropriations
committee and the Legislature placed in the appropria
uon bills items covering every cent that will or can be ex
pended by the several departments and institutions
CARELESS OF the source from which received Practically
al the state educational and charitable institutions have
sources OF income other than from direct appropriations
previous sessions OF the Legislature the appropriation
ns merely carried the difference between the aggregate
amount needed Tor the several institutions and the
amount OF income received from other sources The an
preparations made by the session of the episa
Of uxuhio h,r;1 l.
expended by the state departments and institutions and
then provide that upon the receipt of income from anv
other source whatsoever, the appropriations made sha
De decreased automatically in such amounts and the
FUNDS returned TO the state treasury 1t will thus be
tat the actual amount of money appropriated by the re-
cent session. not only not in excess of previous
pacn but by reason of the check thus provided upon
considerable saving will result G
Since the establishment of the state government nst-
utons like the penitenary and asylums have had con
siderable income from the care of patients the sale Of
manufactured and farm products and from other
Lunos 20 received have been retained by the nsttu
$50