Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-01-06
Gouenor S Message to
Idaho State LegisZature

The following message was delivered
by Gov. d. w. Davis Tuesday to a
joint session of the Idaho legislature:
Members of the Sixteenth Session of
the State Legislatures
If We saw them but dimly two years
ago, it certainly now is plain that the
problems of peace are not less serious
than the problems of war. Economic
difficulties are met on every side. The
housing of our population, the recon
struction of living conditions. keeping
labor employed in the face of tighten
ing credits and depressing conditions
in agriculture and industry, are prob
lens which confront every law-making
body and every executive.
In meeting these problems we should
find inspiration and comfort in the
thought that the pioneers who laid the
foundation of Idaho and of the great
west refused to be discouraged, al
though they endured far greater hard
ships and privations than this gener
alton will ever know. If disposed to
be disheartened let us remember our
blessings and compare our trials with
those of the Pilgrim Fathers the ter
centenary of whose landing we have
Just celebrated. Surrounded by great
dangers and confronted by difficulties
we know not of they laid the founda
lions of a government toward which
all the world has turned for guidance.
May their wisdom and fortitude inspire
and sustain us in solving the prob
lens of today.
MUST PRACTICE ECONOMY
We must fact coqrageously and
firmly the fact that economy must be
praeticed. Financial conditions de-
mand retrenchment. Agriculture and
are depressed; labor is none
too secure in employment. Industry
is heavily burdened, and there is UNI
certainty in the future. The people of
America are the victims of personal
of extortion and of in
dolence. They have with but little
protest submitted to the Vaccinations
of profteers and to wastefulness of
the Stacker in industry. No class is
free from reproach for the part it has
PLAYED. All are jointly responsible.
cannot remedy all these
evils. Economy in private expendi-
lures must return. Manufacturers,
distributors and retailers must give
value received and labor must do a
fair day s work for fair days pay.
Public expenditures must be curtailed;
we must rigidly economic, but in so
Ioing bear in mind that radical cur
,ailment of necessary expenditures is
as dangerous as corresponding We
IAN i'll afford to suspend public build |
ng, but our building program should
BE limited to what we are able to bond
'or, which is approximately a quar-
er of million dollars.
There should be no increase in the
ewing limit of our taxing bodies.
REPEAL HIGHWAY LEVY
The 2-mill highway levy should
De repealed. Two million of highway
,onds were voted at the general cleo
ion and will supply funds necessary
n continue the federal aid road prog |
ram without resorting to direct taxa
ion. Continuation of our highway pro
ram is vital to our best interests, but
t should be done in way that VIII
,e the least burdensome.
Safeguards should be thrown around
highway bonds to guard against their
ISSUANCE for a longer period than the
ife of the road they build.
Within a few days there Will he
,laced before you a budget presenting
N ANALYSIS of the expenditures of each
tate department and institution. ms
: the first time that an Idaho legisla-
ure or executive has had detailed IN
ormation of this kind. The budget
will be a valuable guide to the mem
ers of your honorable body IN max
mo- provisions for the support of the
ifferent departments and institutions.
he recommendation of the chief ex-
cutive, based upon a study of the
Midget and a knowledge of the needs
f the departments and institutions