The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-11-23

make the taxes high. When tn,
people want something, let them z,
out and get it, pay for 1t and max,
such use OF 1t as they want to.
Clerks Were
Different
A few weeks ago a lecturer wa
making dates In western towns
teaching better salesmanship, ant
Blackfoot merchants, feeling tn
need of learning more about tina
subject and desiring to have thei
clerks trained to wait on the publ,
in more acceptable manner, bandet
together and hired the speaker for .
course of lectures and charged 81
cents admission each night to ge
back the money advanced to tn,
speaker. The lectures opened will
100 present, and closed on the fifth
night with over 800.
If that series had been paid fol
out of the public treasury it woult
have been no more than Is beins
done all over the state all the time
for the information and benefit Of
the farmers, and yet only handful
Of the farmers attend them.
Officers Were
Criticised
In the recent campaign, one Of the
things that was charged against the
county commissioners all over the
state was that they allowed expense
bills for the county assessors to &c
to Boise and spend few days to.
gether at public expense, talking
over their work and trying to stand.
ardize it. They allowed bills for the
county clerks to do the same thing
and were criticised for it; they al
lowed bills for themselves to attend
the commissioners conventions once
a year and people raised great hue
and cry about it, and said it was
spending too much money for the
the pleasure of the commissioners.
They allowed bills for the school
superintendent travelling in Pull
man cars, taking meals on diners,
and for meals and rooms at Idaho's
finest hotel for the superintendents
convention and state teachers asso-
citation, all paid for from the public
treasury, and people say they doubt
the wisdom of such things, and
many of them vote against the party
in power, some vote against the
commissioners, some vote the county
clerk out of office, some vote against
the county superintendent, and
nearly everybody votes against
someone.
In some of these cases the meet
ings are provided for by law, in
some cases it is left to the discretion
OF the officers to call such conven-
ton or not, and for the officials to
go or remain at home as they may
wish.
In the agricultural sections of the
country, the farmers have been the
most persistent kickers about spend
ing money for any and all these
activities, and they are the ones who
pay most OF the taxes. We think
that the county commissioners
would be applauded If they would
look over these things carefully and
trim them down wherever they
have authority to trim. They should
distinguish severely between the
things that the law makes manda-
tory and the things that the law says
they may do. Too many officials
have been kidding themselves into
reading the mandatory clause into
I'll the discretionary clauses, and
elling people that the law provides
or it-that it is required by law,
when the law merely provides that
hey may do it if they think the con-
litions warrant.
amt Read
Jaw
The probate judges of this state
ave been reading the same things
nto the law, in dealing with appli-
atoms for widows pensions and
i'd for the poor. Where the law
avs the probate judge may, they
ave adopted the habit of acting as
it said must" and have granted
verything that was asked for and
aging that the law provides for it,
nd SO it. does, but not in the sense
hey have been quoting it. In some
ounties this has been so fragrant
nat the whole statute has been dis
egarded and ignored.
In similar manner the law pro-
ides that probation officer NAV be
mployed If conditions seem to war
ant it, and school nurse may be
ired in case of epidemic when it is
bought that it would be to the best
lterest of the public to have it
one, and officials have read too
luch into the law and have shame
lily wasted the public funds, exer-
sing an official privilege that was
OF an official duty.
A good many demands are going
be made upon the commissioners
Bingham county, and the people
re likely to study more carefully
ian ever the record of their expen-
ltures. Those wanting money and
laps in useless offices will press
leir wishes quietly and discreetly.
hose wanting help and appropria-
ons will go about it tearfully or
18th the showing of a strong delega-
on and half hidden threats, but
lose who stay at home and paw the
lis were peruse the printed reports
what is hpinp dana with +boI