The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-01-13

ture provided for the employment o
competent man as manager of tin
farm. leaving the superintendent FREE
to devote his entire time to the car
Of the patients.
North IuaAo Insane Asylum at Ora
fino.-This institution was also over
crowded and provision was made tina
when the necessary improvements Were
completed at the home for the feeble
minded at Nampa those of that typ,
would be removed. Nine thousand dol
lars was appropriated for the institu
ton at OrOfinO.
Idaho State Sanitarium ut Nampa.-
This institution was found to be over
crowded and an appropriation of sos,
600 was found necessary to relieve thi
institution and provide for the remOva
of the feeble-minded in the asylum.
at BlackfOOt and OrOtinO.
Idaho Penitentiary.--As chairman O
committee appointed to condens'
the reports made by the investigator:
committee, to be submitted to the lee
islature for their consideration, tool
ton of the penitentiary. There
found economy pr2eticed with ven
geance. The floor Of the kitchen was
worn out and when water was split Oh
the floor scrubbed, the water drippet
through into the tailor shop beneath
In the wOmens ward they had q
room not over 12x12 feet. In this room
three women were confined. Here thes
had their beds, did their cooking ant
washing. There was no privacy what
ever. If a woman committed a crime
that called for Imprisonment no mat
ter what her previous condition in
life might have been, she would have
been compelled to come in close asso
citation with those whose habits were
repugnant. ...
The deputy warden called my
attention to the condition of their
pasture fences. Posts We're rOttetl
off and wires lying on the
ground. He estimated it would require
a carload of posts to rebuild it. Thu
condition prevailed at state institu-
ton where there were 200 idle men.
Economy was the watchword, and this
is fair sample of the economy prac-
ticed at most of our charitable and
penal institutions.
The legislature made an appropria-
tion of $4,000 for womeRs ward
and other repairs. With convict labor
this amount will go long way to-
ward needed improvements.
School for the Deaf and the Blind.
TO keep pace with the growth Of
this institution, it was found neceS-
sary to erect an additional school
building. laundry, and provide for
other improvements. An appropria-
ton of $63,250 was made to meet their
wants.
We will now consider special appro-
priatiOns and the reasons for making
them.
Gem Irrigation District.-The state
land under this project was looked
upon as a white elephant on our hands.
In past years the state had failed TO
make the district its water payments
due on state lands. These lands We're
endowmentS belonging to our charit,
able institutions, and could not be dis
posed of at less than SO per acre.
In 1917, the legislature. anxious to
get rid of these lands and their water
charges, and being unable to make Il
gift outright to the district of the land
in payment of the back water charges.
made an appropriation of $96,61O out
of the general fund as gift to the
Gem Irrigation district, to be repaid
to the state as the purchase price of
these lands, and to be appQrtioned
to the endowment funds to which they
belonged. Our supreme court declared
the act unconstitutional and payment
of the $96,670 was stopped.
The last legislature appropriated the
sum of $119456 to be used for the
purpose of paying the back water
charges, and Crowded further that
when these lands were sold the $119,-
456 be repaid into the general fund.
Our present land board ordered the
land commissioner to offer these
lands for sale. In compliance with
this order these lands were appraised
and sold. A portion of these lands
were sold, bringing $39l,743. The
S119, 456 will be returned to the gen
eral fund of the state. Instead of the
state taking $685. $40 out of the general
fund and giving it to the charitable
funds and making a gift of over $500
acres of land to the Gem district, the
state receives back the moneys ad
,anced from the general fund and the
charitable institutions of the state
nave $2S2,2S7 added to their endow-
nent funds instead of $96,670. In
)ther words, this administration in
his transaction saved over 1891, 700
o the people Of Idaho.
I again wish to call your attention
o the fact that the $96,670, which was
collected from the taxpayers by the
asst administration, was used for other
purposes.
Snake River Improvements.-The
legislature made an appropriation of
10000 to assist the people of Jeffer-
on and Madison counties in control
ng the flood waters of the Snake
liver, which had been washing on:
ridges and threatened to destroy
thousands Of acres Of agricultural
ands. At times this condition had
'een aggravated by the Jackson lake
eservoir having to release waters at
lood tide. The legislature considered
t the duty Of the state to cooperate
With these people. This appropria-
ion passed the senate and the house
without single vote being recorded