The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-01-09

an 1917 the legislature made the fol-
lowing appropriations, for the pay
ment Of which the previous admins
tration was supposed to make levy.
"For the Gem Irrigation district,
$96, $40. When the claim for this ap-
was presented for pay
ment our supreme court held it to
be illegal and the money raised for
the payment was used to defray other
expenses.
"The 1917 legislature, also made an
of 100000 for the Col
den Spike Exposition. This money
was never used for the purpose but
remained in the general fund to be
used for current expense.
Gan appropriation of $4,000 for the
erection of a monument to Governor
Steunenberg was never called for.
IAN appropriation of $4,000 was
made to assist in the erection OF
bridges across the Snake river. These
moneys were never called for, but
bids for the erection of these bridges
are now being let and from its reven-
ues this administration will have to
meet an appropriation that was in
tended to be taken care of by the
revenues of the previous administra-
ton.
"The total of the these appropria-
tons unpaid amounts to $l7l $40. Had
there been pain as the legislature in
tended it would have wiped out all
of our balance and left us $74,224 in
the hole and with no taxes available
to defray the expenses of state gov
eminent until the 1919 taxes were re-
ceWed in 1920.
"The fact is that the previous state
administration did not make a tax
levy sufficient to meet the approprn-
tons made by the legislature but,
in attempting to carry out the pre-
election promises of tax reduction,
paid their bills by paying in warrants
for which they had failed to provide
money to take up, with the results
that, instead of reducing taxes, they
increased them to the extent of the
interest charge on the warrants.
eff the individual taxpayed attempt
ed the same system of finance, it
would cean that instead of meeting
his bills for the year by paying them
in cash as they were presented, he
would give promissory note with in
terest payable at some future date.
He might delude himself with the
idea that he had reduced his expen-
ses for the year because he had not
paid out as much money for expen-
ses as in previous years, but he would
have a rude awakening when called
upon to take up his paper and pay the
added interest. I doubt very much if
the average man would consider his
expenses for the year increased if in
cluded in the moneys paid out he had
taken up notes given for the expense
of previous years.
"The state is in no different posi-
ton than the individual, it can run
on credit for a certain length Of
time, or until its credit is exhausted
then Gust come the pay day.
Realizing the danger of such pol
icy, the past legislature took away
from the state board the right to re-
duce the levy from that authorized
by them, and made it mandatory on
the state board to make the levy as
fixed BY the legislature to meet their
appropriations.
"Had previous legislatures made the
same provision we would not have
found our finances in this deplorable
condition. The past legislature, re-
alizing the advantages of doing the
states business on cash basis, au-
thorized the issuance of treasury GER
tificates. The issuance of these GER
tificates reduces our interest charge.
maintains our warrants at par, and
enables the state to fill its contracts
at the lowest possible figure.
Appropriations. 1919.
"Let us now examine the appropria-
tons made by the last legislature, for
which it becomes the duty of this ad
ministration to raise the money, and
see if they were uncalled for, and II
in your Judgment and that of the tax
payers they should not have been
made.
"Of our total appropriations, at
least $l,30O,0O is for improvements,
and should be considered as an invest
ment for the future and not as an or
binary expense of government. Had
not our bonding limit been nearly ex-
hausted. at least 100000 of these