The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-01-10
r. E. FIELD
LICENSED
ARCHITECT
Little Big.
CALDWELL

lower assessment than that made for
the present year of $ll.70 per acre.
With the state receiving little or moth
ing from the land and adding $1l.70
year with assessments thereto, how
will it ever be able to get anywhere
near the principal expended, not con-
sidering the interest on the amount
invested? Many times business men
conclude that they have made a bad
deal and the sonner they charge the
item off of their books, the better off
they are Is it not fact that the state
would be better off to charge this
item off its books, than to attempt
to pay indefinitely upon lands which
it cannot cultivate?
Is the judge not aware that the fin
ance committee of the house, COM
posed of such men al Beacher, Hitch
cock of Standpoint, Peter Johnson of
Blackfoot, and D. L. Young of Boise,
personally inspected the lands within
the Gem Irrigation district and spent
considerable time in an effort to de-
wise a possible way to relieve the state
of this liability; that after such invest
CATION, the finance committee unani-
! mously reported that house bill No.
1872 do pass. This is the bill which
gave the district power to purchase.
The same committee unanimously re-
ported that house bill No. 381 do pass.
which is the bill making the appro-
priation to enable the district to make
the purchase. House bill No. S82
passed the house with but three dis
senting votes, and the senate with but
one. House bill No. 38l passed the
house with only two dissenting votes
and the senate with but one Does
this look like an attempt to loot?
Months afterward friendly suit was
instituted in the district court to de-
termine the constitutionality of these
acts, and afterwards appealed to the
supreme court, which is the ordinary
way to determine this fact.
Where was the judge during all this
Unexpectedly two years? Did he
appeal to the courts or to public opin-
ion? If it was an attempt to steal,
he is in the position of one who idly
stands by and sees highwayman at
tempting to break and enter his neigh
boris home. and when he fails, the
Judge hastens to his good neighbor
and tells him that a robbery was at
tempted, but that there is no danger
now as the robber failed. Then he
proceeds to give his neighbor some
advice to the eject that he had better
count his cash and take an inventory
of his valuables. The judge says: "By
this act Oh. B. 38D, it was proposed
to levy tax upon the taxpayers of
Idaho" Does he use the words "levy
a tax" in legal sense, or the ordinary
accepted meaning? House bill No.
381, 1917 session laws, page 23S. says
nothing about a tax but makes a
straight out appropriation to the Gem
district of $o6,670, and then provides
for its administration. The judge sud-
denly becomes very much interested in
the taxpayers of the state of Idaho.
He further says: at seems evident
that the land was appraised by some
person without visiting them" Per-
NIT me to advise the judge that never
were state lands so closely inspected
and arranged under the provisions of
house bill No. 382 sa. as to- make the
good land sell the poor. Guesses are
sometimes correct, but very unfor-
tunate when one seeks to advise the
taxpayer as to facts.
. The judge asked the legislature to
. inve stigate for what purpose the $780,
go illegally collected was diverted.
i. Now he knows full we'll that there was
no levy for that purpose. and that
the general levy was all that was
, made. He also knows. or should know,
!; that no money was ever paid over un-
, der either of the two acts complained
Of Neither was it carried so far as
, to- draw warrant for the same. or
, even make book entry in the office
; of the treasurer of the state of Idaho.
Is it not a fact then that the judge is
/ making much ado about nothing
/ Who has been injured? No money
r collected, no money expended. not
even an entry made on the books OF
the state showing taht such sale was
: ever made other than those of the
land board. which authorized the sale
to be made
: Much Ado Over Matter.
, The Judge makes much ado because
. the matter found its way into the ST.
| preme court and the court held the
t act unconstitutional. I wonder how
e or who he would have pass upon the
: constitutionality Of an act OF the legis,
{ lature. Is not the passing upon such
: acts a part OF the duty OF our.supreme
court, when presented to Il for its
I decision1 He seems to be somewha,
r surprised that the court found the
= state had constitution, With tho
c court as now constituted. l am ever
L.. II a.. lA1s