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

travagance. high taxes, and disre-
gard for the welfare of the taxpayer,
both democrats and nonpartisans alike
supported almost unanimously all ap-
preparation bills passed. As mem
Der OF the senate have no recollec-
ton of any democrat or nonpartisan
raising his voice in opposition to ap-
preparations passed. i believe they
felt, as did the large majority, tina,
these appropriations were necessary
to the proper conduct and develop
ment of our state.
Review of Appropriations.
Now. let US endeavor to determine
how much greater is the actual cost
OF state government over past years
We have already shown that ST.
3oo,0OO of appropriations made can
not properly be considered as an Or
dinary expense. Part of it was for
replacement and repairs that should
have been taken care Of in the past
and some for the future and shouto
be considered as an investment.
100000 for roads is not an or
binary expense that will have to be
met by each administration.
To take care of the growth and
needs Of our educational institutions
in improvements necessary cost us
over $4,000.
Increased Cost.
we are sorry to say we must ad-
NIT there has been an increase in the
cost OF state government of not to
exceed Is per cent over the past ad-
ministration. Let us seek to find the
cause. 1t is not in the salary of your
elective officers. They are receiving
the same old salaries. We do find an
increase in the pay Of help employed,
but when you consider the increased
cost of living the increase is not in
proportion. At the present time the
average employee is not receiving the
same wage as the ordinary laborer,
and you must admit that stationery.
books, ETC., have greatly increased in
cost. Travel expense of those whose
duties require them to visit the diff
ferent parts of he state has increased
5O-per cent. We find the same in
crease true in all our charitable and
penal institutions. Where the indi-
vidual buys one pair of shoes, we
have to buy a thousand The same
rule holds true as to food and cloth
ing.
Where is the business man, farmer
or head of a household who will claim
that the cost of operation of his bus.
mess or farm, as we'll as the expense
of his household, has not increased
more than Is per cent in the past two
years.
When you and are compelled to
pay double, can we expect the state
to get its help and supplies at the
old figure9 AS 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 has been considerable increase
in their appropriations, but we find
also that there has been increased du-
ties imposed upon them. AS an illus
tration, give the public utilities COM
mission. Their appropriation was
more than doubled over that of 1917
1918, for the purpose of enabling them
to make a physical examination of
some of our public utilities to. deter
mine the value, so that they might in
diligently fix rates that the utility
might charge the public To further
emphasize the thought the legislators
had in mind, that of service and ef-
ficiency, and that politics did not en-
ter into their calculations, l call your
attention to the fact that the major
ity of the commission is democratic.
Other States.
Perhaps it might be we'll now if VI
pass on and compare our increase
with other states, to see if they had
the same conditions to meet and if
they had to meet them by increased
taxes.
Washington.
Appropriation. 1ol7-lol8, $780,
0o6; lol9-lo20 $36.432,26l. Increase,
$ll,030,2s4 Per cent of increase, ~
per cent. State levy, Washington,
1914 mills. Idaho, including road and
all special levies, 7.8 mills. Ordin-
arilly, comparison of levies does not
mean anything unless the valuation is
taken into consideration. 1t 50 hap
pens that the ner cent of yalue for as