American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-10

ing the biennium 1t will be necessary
for the state to raise a million dollars
In order to take full advantage Of fed
eral aid for rural post roads and forest
roads.
Nothing will be so beneficial to this
state as the continued construction
and proper maintenance of good roads
Whatever pruning Of appropriations
the legislature may find 1t necessary
to make, ! am satisfied the people OF
the state do not desire any retrench-
ment in its good roads building pro-
gram.
Public Buildings.
Having in mine the fact that the
state has almost reached its limit of
bonded Indebtedness | hesitate to
make any specific recommendations as
TO public buildings, other thar to urge
as liberal a building program as avail
able resources will permit. Even
though the cost of labor and material
is higher than 1t has been or will be
later, the consensus of opinion among
the public spirited men of the nation
is that buffer employment should be
provided during the period of demob-
ilization and REIMBURSEMENT.
During the last biennium two of our
public institutions suffered loss by
fire, the Lewiston normal school and
the Soldiers Home. Both of the
burned structures should of course be
replaced. The other public institu-
tions OF the state will M doubt pre-
sent in their budgets their require
ments for additional permanent i'm
provements all of which will require
your earnest consideration In their re-
lation to this problem of buffer en-
ployment. II is to be hoped that the
municipal authorities and civic bod
les of the capital city will continue
their public-spirited efforts to make
the surroundings of the capitol a civic
center which will add to the beauty
and attractiveness of the completed
capitol. The need Of more room for
state departments is increasing every
year. 1t is time that the state in its
own interest committed itself to a
definite program for the completion
OF the capitol. Such a program will
also enable the capital city to pro-
coed with a definite and progressive
program for the Improvement OF Its
civic center
am asking the state board of edu-
, cation and the state highway depart
; ment each to submit a project plan of
] improvements covering the next five
or 10 years. The legislature can then
; determine what amount should be
raised by bond issues and what
amount should be raised by other
! means. II the legislature approves
such a program the same can the be
= submitted for ratification of the people
at the next general election In accord
ance with the provisions OF the consti-
T tuition.
Q Budget.
r The constitution provides that the
q governor shall at the commencement
s of each session present estimates Of
r the amount of money required to be
raised by taxation for all purposes Of
q the state"
Il The present provisions of the stat
utes relating to the compilation ant
presentation OF a budget are very In
adequate. II Is the apparent intent o
the constitution that the responsible,
should be placed upon the chief ex
ecutive to prepare the budget In or
% der that he may do so intelligent!
a and TO carry out the constitutions
mandate, | recommend that the stud!
and preparation of the budget b.
d made one of the continuous duties o
# an officer directly under the contro
o and supervision of the governor.
The budget which | expect to sub
l. init for your consideration later in thu
I, session will necessarily be tentative
d for the very reason that there has ex
1t listed in this state no budget making
---- \ 100 % aaA thn hffdQ A
% system so perfected that the next gov
q ernor can say in presenting his bulge
that he Is prepared TO stand or ran OF
B. the figures presented.
If Taxation.
n The eyer-present problem OF equit
IS able taxation will no doubt presen
itself to you In various phases. Intel
/ ligent study and the collation. OF &c
curate data are the first requisites TO
intelligent legislation on this subject
N Much valuable information was col
Ic leeted by the now abolished tax com
Is mission and / am convinced that IL
is abolition was a mistake, The investi
o g%ational duties which 1t was requires
TO perform should be imposed upol
l. an officer or department directly re
10 sponsible TO the chief executive,
% REORGANIZATION Of Land Board.
10 Much of the work imposed upon tn
Is state board of land commissioners 1
IS not required by the constitution of tn.
state to be performed by that board
but has been delegated to the board b,
Legislative enactment | refer partic
/ ularly to the investment of state funds
d Owing to the fact that the officer
composing the land board are primari
= ly selected for other duties, In tn
l. performance OF which their tim /
largely occupied, the delegation {
le them of the Investment of the publ
d, funds has proved unfortunate. hop
Ie to see a reorganization effected b
" which this unconstitutional dut
- may be imposed upon a department
organized along modern bushes