Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-09-21
FIGURES And
STATISTICS
CAPT. CONNER REFUTES STATE.
MENTS OF DEMOCRATIC NOM
INEE FOR GOVERNOR
SHOWS WHERE THE MONEY GOES
Cabinet Form of Government Is
Not Responsible For the
High Taxes.

Captain A. II. Conner of Standpoint
republican candidate for attorney
general, has been giving the people of
central Idaho enlightenment upon
state affairs in manner that has
brought home TO them the real situa-
tion in the state. "a am giving you
facts and nothing but the facts" Cap
tain Conner told the people of Butte
county in opening his campaign at
Arco, the republican party does not
need to misrepresent nor to make
wild statements; we want the people
to know the truth as shown on the
books OF your state and county"
Captain Conner illustrates his truth
dealing arguments with large chart
showing actual figures a n d further
carries home his points by taking a
tax receipt from local resident and
analyzing it to show exactly where
the tax money goes. So clearly does
he explain the matter that his hearers
are able to analyze their own tax re-
ceipts and see exactly where their
taxes are going and as result to
formulate their own remedy for the
situation.
Taking up what he called the legacy
of debt and incompetency left to the
administration Captain Conner said:
when the republicans came into Of
flee in 1919 it was necessary to in
crease the state tax levy 5 mills,
which meant about S2,400,000 more in
state taxes. There were some %
items that made up this increase, but
/ will take only the larger ones. One
of the most important of these was
the appropriation for educational in
stitutions. The institutions of our
state had been allowed to run down
by our democratic friends, and it was
necessary to appropriate more money
than would have been ordinarily nee
essary to bring them back to stand
ard In addition to this the schools
were forced to take care of a large
increase in attendance The war was
over and the boys were going back
to school The attendance at the
University of Idaho alone jumped
from $50 in 1918 to over 100 in 1919.
The Lewiston Normal building. had
burned and the insurance money in
stead of being used for the sacred
task OF rebuilding it, was turned into
the general state fund and spent for
stenographers' salaries, stationery,
etc To put our educational institu-
tions again upon their feet, take care
of the increased attendance and re-
build the Lewiston Normal required
$402,000
Taking up next our charitable and
penal institutions. The Soldiers home
at Boise had burned and the insur
ance money had been used to pay ste
nographers and buy stationery, etc.
The same rundown conditions had ac-
cumulated in our charitable and penal
institutions as in our educational in
stitutions. At the state penitentiary
the Alexander administration had cut
down the appropriation so that the
men confined there did not even have
tin cups for drinking purposes; they
were using tomato cans to drink out
of. The roofs were leaking, the fences
were down and the condition was de-
plorable. To again put these institu
tions upon human basis and to re-
build the Soldiers Home, it was nee
essary for the republicans to ask you
for S259,000.
Highway improvements called for
another large appropriation" said
Captain Conner. You will remember
that in 1919 there was a general de-
mand for the building OF roads, build
ings and municipal improvements to
give work to the returned soldiers.
Under the constitutional limitations
Idaho could not vote any more bonds
for this work-the democrats had is
sued bonds up to the limit-so at the
demand of the people of the state a
direct levy of two mills was made,
amounting to $1.069,000.
During the Alexander administra-I
tion S165, 900 worth of state bonds had
become due; these were not paid and
il was necessary for the republican |
administration to pay them
Legal liabilities which d not !
been paid in the amount of S1S7 900 |
had been incurred by the Alexander |
administration in 1917 and 1918. These !
were DEFICIENCIES created in state in |
stitutions in order TO keep them in
operation when their appropriations
were cut off. The state was legally /
bound to pay these and it fell to the /
republicans to meet that obligation
You have heard our democratic |
friends tell you that they had to spend l
a lot of money on the war. Now the |
only way the state of Idaho can spend |
money is by appropriation by the |
legislature. We did>not enter the war
until after the legislature of 1917 had /
closed its work and the next legisla- !
ture did not meet until after the arm
istice had been signed, so you can !
draw your own conclusions as to that |
statement However, after he war
there was a call for funds for soldier |
aid. health work, memorials and other 4
things which the people wanted to do I
for the men who had been in the serv-
ice. This called for an appropriation
of $166,000.
"The Gem Irrigation district called |
for another appropriation The dem
ocratic legislature had appropriated /
$4,000 to be loaned to the district |
to buy the state land. This act was
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