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

Tor the year by paying them in cash
IL they were presented. he would give
1 promissory note with interest pay
able at some future date. He might
lelude himself with the idea that he
,ad reduced his expenses for the year
because he had not paid out as much
money for expenses as in previous
years, but he would have rude awak-
pning when called upon to take up his
paper and pay the added interest. l
doubt very much If the average man
would consider mis- expenses for the
year increased If included in the
moneys paid out he had taken up notes
given for the expense Of previous
years.
The state is in no different position
than the individual. 1t can run on
credit for cert-n length of time.
or until its credit Is eXhauSted-then
must come the pay day.
Realizing the danger Of such a
policy the past legislature took away
from the state board the right to re-
luce 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 apprO.
priatiOnS.
Had previous legislatures made the
same provision we would not have
found our finances in this deplorable
condition. The past legislature, real
lzing 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 to4fill its contracts
at the lowest possible figure.
.,.. Appropriations, 1919.
Let us now examine the apprOpria.
lions made by the last legislature, for
which it becomes the duty of this ad-
ministratiOn to raise the money, and
see II they were uncalled for, and if
In your judgment and that of the tax
payers they should not nave been
made. .
OF our total appropriations. at least
81, 100000 Is for improvements, and
should be considered as an investment
for the future and not as an Ordl-
nary expense of government. Had not
our bonding limit been nearly exhaust
ed, at least 81 100000 of these improve
ments would have been taken care of
by the bond issue. AS it was. there
was only one thing to do-raise the
money by direct taxation.
Remember, 1t had been the policy to
reduce taxes and it had been largely
done at the expense Of our public in
situations, educational, charitable and
penal.
Improvements.
University of Misunderstanding fire
system and other improvements, $122.-
4SS. The growth of this institution
demanded that ASCERTAIN amount of
building be done to meet their wants.
OF the above amount, $4S,127 were
deficiencies due to past administra-
lions that the legislature considered
the state was in honor bound to pay.
In some cases our supreme court had
given a recommendation judgment, hut
until the legislature had made pro-
vision for the payment of same. the
claimant was helpless so far as recov-
ering his money.
Albion Normal SchOol<This institu
ton called for less than any other,
$4,000 for walks and lighting system.
Idaho Technical Institute.-The
growth of this institution required an
of, $4,000 for buildings,
lands. and heating plant.
Lewiston Normal SchoOl.-Owing to
the destruction of the administration
by fire, it became our duty to
replace the same. An appropriation
of $150,O00 had to be made. The in
Surance money. $S4.005 which should
have been considered as sacred fund,
was spent for ordinary expenses of the
state necessitating this administration
raising the total amount by direct tax |
alton. In addition to this, the people
of Lewiston. to assist in completing
the grounds necessary to the Normal
school, made an offer to donate certain
provided the state would
make an appropriation of $4,000 for
the purchase of certain lots and build |
ings. l have examined the grounds
donated and purchased and | assure
you it was wise appropriation. The
ground was necessary to the institu-
ton and worth five times what it cost
US. Other improvements to the amount
Of $1,000 were granted.
Idaho Soldiers HOme.-This Is an
other institution that went to reduce
our taxes. The $4,000 insurance
that should have been cOnsid
cred sacred to the use Of the old sol
iier was used for ordinary expenses
If state. The United States govern
ne1t advised our authorities that 1t
using the Boise barracks
(where the old soldiers are now
loused) for hospital for tubercular
This being the case it de-
1olved upon the last legislature to re-
)uild that which had been destroyed
~ fire. To replace the buildings and
an appropriation of
;46,990 was made.
Had enough of our public buildings
,een destroyed by fire and the insur-
lnce money put to the same use as
vas that Of the Normal School and
Soldiers Home, the past administra-
ion could have run the state without
falling upon the taxpayer for single
lOllar.
Idaho Industrial Training School
A committee from the legislature,
1