Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1920-01-22
ANALYSIS OF
STATE TAXES
By Hon. John D. Robsrtson)
Review Of Appropriations

Now, let US endeayOr TO determine
how much greater is the actual cost Of
state government over past years
We have already shown that $500
900 Of appropriations made cannot pro-
perry be considered as an ordinary ex-
pense. Part of it was for repla cement
and repairs that should have been
taken care of in the past. and some for
the future, and should be considered
as an investment.
Two million dollars for roads Is not
an ordinary expense that will have
20 be met by each administration.
To take care Of the growth and needs
OF our educational institutions In i'm
provements necessary cost us over
$4,000.
Increased Cost.
We are sorry to say we !nust admit
there has been an increase In the cost
Of state government Of not 10 exceed
. per cent over the past edmintStra-
tiOu. Let US seek to find the cause.
Il Is not in the salary VI your elee-
tive officers. They are receiving the
same old salaries. We do fId an III
crease In the pay Of the help EN-
pIoyed, but when you consider the in
creased cost Of living the increase is
not in proportion. At the present time
the average employee Is not receiving
the same wage US the ordinary labor
or, and you must admit that il requires
time and study 10 qualify for these
positions. Supplies. such as station
cry. books, etc, have greatly increased
in cost. Travel expense Of those whose
duties require them to visit the differ
ent parts Of the state has increased
20 per c"Ot. We find the same in
crease true in all our charitable and
penal Institutions Where the indiyi-
dual buys one pair Of shoes, we have
10 buy thousand. The same rule
holds true as to food and clothing.
Where is the business man, farmer
or head OF a household who will claim
that the cost OF operation OF his bust
ness or farm. as well as the expense Of
his household. has not increased more
than p per cent in the past two years.
When you and / are compelled 10
pay double. can we expect the state 10
get It's help and supplies ut the same
old hgureI As a matter of fact, the
state, through its purchasing depart
ment buying in large quantities. is en-
abled TO buy FOR less money than We
can.
We find that in some departments
there las been considerable increase
in their appropriations, but we find
also that there has been increased
duties imposed upon them. As an IL
lustration. | give the public utilities
commission. Their appropriation was
more than doubled over thar OF 1917-
1918, for the purpose of enabling them
20 make a physical examination of
some Of our public utilities TO deter
mine the value. so that they might in
telIigently fix rates that the utility
might charge the public. To further
emphasize the thought the legislators
had in mind, that of service and eff
cheney, and that politics did not enteH
into their calculations, / call your al
tentiOn to the fact that the majority
OF the commission is democratic.
Other States
Perhaps il might be well now II vel
paSse on and compare our increase
with other states, TO see If they had
the same conditions to meet and i'll
they had TO meet them by increased
taxes.
Washington.
I9IT-191S l9l9-192O
AUGMENTATION SOY 1lp DDS SSf ago otSI