Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-01-23

but derives her revenue from public
utilities, Inheritance taxes and fees.
North Dakota.
The Nonpartisan press Of Idaho il
quite active in telling our people the
amount of the tax levy for state pur-
poses in North Dakota, as compared
with that in Idaho; Dakota, 2.9s; Ida
no. rs mills. As | have stated before,
this means nothing. It is only one
factor. Now, let us look at the other
the valuation. In 1919, this year the
assessed valuation was raised from
SOB 40. 2js. (191S assessment) to
$1.J14,e0O.0O0, an increase Of over 375
per cent. The state levy was reduced
from As mills 70 2.9S mills. Had Ida
no increased her assessed value a
the same proportion it would have
taken a tax levy Of only les mills.
in 1y177l91S the total of North Da-
kOtas appropriation was 81. i23, 6j4 80.
In 19l9-1920. $500. "a. 10, an increase
Of S3.Ss5.JS7.11. or over ~ per cent
North DakOta's legislature voted
bonds 10 the extent of Sl7 100000.
These figures are official and cannot
be successfully c0Dtradicted. / am
perfectly willing that our NOnpartisan
friends draw a comparison between
Idaho and Dakota. provided they do
as ] have dOne-give all the factors.
This concludes my analysis of the
appropriations made By the last legis-
lature. No previous legislature had
such problems To meet. \ depleted
treasury, outstanding warrants, def
ciencieS greater than ever before.
every public institution in the stare
crying for relief. and . universal de
mand from the people for good roads,
all requiring money and only one way
10 get it-by direct taxation.
If there is any censure or criticism
due. il should not fail upon men who
had nothing TO 90 with the making
Of appropriations. The enemy always
center their attacks upon the five stare
elective officers. With the exception
of the governor they were helpless.
For the maintenance Of their own de-
partments. they had to accept that
which the legislature saw fit to give
them.
As a member Of the senate. I wish to
make this statement. No man fought
harder than / to keep down expendi-
lures and some Of the appropriations
made did not receive my support; not
that I did not think they had merit.
but I knew that the average taxpayer.
not being as familiar with the condi-
tiOns Of our state as we We're, would
charge US with extravaganza.
Take them as a whole, ] do not be
lieve that Idaho ever had a more
earnest and conscientious body of men
gather together than those who com
prised Idaho's fifteenth session Of the
We differed politically.
and on some state questions, but it
was an honest difference of opinion.
All of them were seeking that which
they believed to be for the best in
terests and the upbuilding of Idaho.
Efficiency.
In the final analysis, it is not SC
much what a thing costs as to finding
out If we have received value for our
money, and that question viii bring up
the operation of Senate Bill 10. There
are those present who viii go into that
in detail. AS one who was partially
responsible for the passage of this
measure, I have tried TO observe its
operation. If we can judge from its
first six months. when it is undergoing
its organization, ! would give it the
stamp of approval. and if 1 had my
way there would be more consolidation
NJ danartmanrS