The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1919-01-30
Would Assess Electric Com
panies on Capabilities
of Plants.
ACT ON COWS BILL
Few Measures Enacted; Ex-
pect Both Houses to Get
Busy Soon.

Boise Jan. 27.-Not only the leEiSla-
tors who have commented on the meas
ure but among the farmers and bust
ness men of this part of the state, al
most instant opposition was created on
the bill of Senator Booth which made
its appearance in the upper house last
Friday.
The bill provides that taxation OF
electric plants should he determined,
by the amount of power which the
plant is capable of generating and
shall assess the same on the basis Of
the values Of the power developed,
generated and used or capable of de-
vclopmcnt and used
"Thc source of thn measure was in
stantly recognized 1t is aimed at the
electric pewer companies Of the state
and is u reflection of the fight that Il
certain organization is making against
these companies. Bat that ia not what
makes the differences With me" said
one of the progressive legislators.
at is tie principle involved in the
measure. Even assuming that the law
would not stand the test. What the
makers Of the bill wish to do is one of
the signs of the times, they would rule
or ruin
"If such n bill should become n law,
great boost If impractical lcgisln
tion such rs this even gets minor sup
port. it tends to stir up a feeling that
cannot afford to have AT this time
THE main opposition which comes
from the farming element, hinges on
YET another feature of the bill. They
point out that if taxation of unused
resources is allowed that every farmer
who does not farm his piece of land 10
Tho full limit of its capabilities is liable
to have his taxes raised, Mines that
are not developed would have to paw
more taxes and there would be no end
Of things that might he brought under
the law.
1t is recognized by business men that
| lack of capital in business enterprises
often handicaUS the development of un-
used resources and il is principle of
business and good business just to 81 q
owners an opportunity to develop prop
erty when they can, without coniisCat-
ing it with taXcS.' is the view taken
by another legislator.
Passage Of the administration bill
asking for Capitalization of depart
mcutS is the biz; thing that republican
legislators now have To wrestle with
This week will probably tell the tale
Of the passage # the measure.
With Governor Davis urging the
principle Of the bill rs II necessary
change in the government of the
political aspect of the measure has not
been lost sight of by the Republicans
n the two houses.
They must they feel, do what the
head If their organization feels is the
best thing To- do. Some of them, how
ever. are more or less disturbed The
do not like radical changes in the fac
II what the party must do in the legi.,.
Iaturc. Ent nevertheless they all sotm
20 agree that a change in the conduct
Of the STATE departments is ncccssa
} whether now or two years from now.
"lt took courage for Governor DAVIS
| TO insist on passing This bill" said IA
'pador in the senate He knows we
must face a hard financial Sitmtioe
. must clAngc tie primary law and thai
the party is ON trial StiIl he asks as
> 20 tackle this his thing am going 10
S IL" him my earnest support and RS"
4 Or fall with tho record thar Is made =
E my party and it~ lc4It.
p II is believed here tuat lde bjll y f
fac" considerable opposition but TIM
a Z viii finally pass
{, With lie rls~age by the house of re.
u rg~nntatiyp- Of tie Glars county bill
! which creates Clarl, county ont If thc
western part uf Fremont county tho
> third measure To- run the gauntlet Of
u tho two houses VIII hncum" "A law With
g the signature If GaNeruor Davis
+ The previous measures t. pass both
houses were t.e bill 'o appropriate
S1J.ouo for tine expenses of thc lrgiS-