Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-10-29

partmentS nave Deen IactoT LII re-
ducing this years tax levy. Con-
trary to general belief, the receipts
of the departments are not added
to their appropriations and expend-
ed. With the exception that the
Department Of Agriculture uses its
inspection fees to pay the costs of
inspections. and the Department Of
Law Enforcement uses the occupa-
ton registration fees to pay the
cost of registering professional men,
all other fees are deposited with the
State Treasurer.
The following are facts from the
records: When the present admin
istration came into power, these are
some of the things they found:
Warrants outstanding, $476,118;
claims outstanding other than de-
ficiency, $156,43O; deficiency and
relief claims, $187,185; interest on
claims, 1881; insurance collected
and spent, which had to be made
good. $113,96S; bonds which fell
due in 1917 for which no sinking
fund had been provided, $4,000,
making a total of $1,258,392. Cash
in treasury, $20,911.
To pay this indebtedness the Al
exander board of equalization levied
only $978,6S6. This, with the cash
in the treasury, lacked $258.795 Of
being enough to pay this indebted
ness, and left us nothing to meet
the expenses of 1919. Add to the
above Indebtedness. which we in
herited, $1,069.00O for roads and
bridges for 1919, 1861, 900 increases
for state educational. charitable and
penal institutions, necessary for
their upkeep and growth, increased
costs of labor and supplies, increases
in counties and cities. and the cause
of higher taxes is made clear. State
taxes are lower this year than they
were in 1919.
Some of our opponents are laying
stress upon the fact that during the
four years of the Alexander admin
istrations the total State taxes lev
led were only $2,893,686. They
F., forget to mention outstanding war
rants and unpaid claims which
turned apparent assets of $999,597
into deficit Of $258.795. There
| was not a single year of the Alex
ander administration when the State
board Of equalization levied a suf-
fcent amount to take care OF the
actual appropriations made and
spent during each of said years. AZ
ter all warrants, claims. accounts
and deficiencies were paid, the
Haines administrator left net bal
ance of $673,48O. Alexander left
deficit of $258,795. showing tina,
his levies were $932,275 less than
should have been levied. State lev
les for 1919 and 1920 provide for
every appropriation made by the
Legislature.
The business man knows that the
cost Of printing and paper has more
than doubled. Every employer
knows that the cost of labor has
about doubled. The farmer knows
there has been great increase In
the cost of implements building
material, and of everything he uses
i The housewife knows there has been
| a great increase in the cost of su.
gar. groceries, shoes, clothing, and
of everything that come into the
home. The State buys all of these
and many other things the price OF
which has doubled and often more
than doubled. Repeating the Cabi
net for of government will not re-
duce the price Of a single one OF
| the articles and hence will not re-
duce taxes at all. It is the increase:
in costs of labor and supplies, the
Indebtedness left by the preceding
administration, the needs of our ed
ucational. charitable and penal in
situations, and the extensive high
way program that has increased
taxes.
Those who charge this admins
| tration with wastefulness are no
mindful of the facts. When we came
into power there were taxes re
ceivable and cash In the treasury
totalling $999,597, and obligations
OF $1.258.392. The assets were
S25S.795 less than the liabilities
| There was nothing left to meet the
expenses Of 1919. Thirty Thousand
boys in the service and war indus
tries were coming home and mus
be absorbed by the industries Of thu
State. To provide employment FOL
these without demoralizing labor
conditions demanded large con
struction program. We entered into
comprehensive highway program
on Federal Aid basis. On all Fed
eral Aid highway projects the State
is Obliged to finance the work and
afterward receives from the Other
cooperators their proportion OF thu
cost, as work is completed and the
cost ascertained. The States pro
portion of the total expenditure.
on these projects Is one-sixth Of tn,
total cost. the proportion OF thu
county or highway district two
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