The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-09-21
SOME FACTS REGARDING TAXES
IN IDAHO.

Moses Alexander. democratic candi
date for governor, is now in northern
Idaho INDUCING in his usual harangue
for the purpose of deceiving the vot-
ers. and placing special stress upon
high taxes. for which he undertakes
to hold the republican administration
responsible. and which he promises to
remedy by introducing a system of
rigid economy in the state house. The
people of Idaho will generally recall in
former campaigns Mr.. Alexander
promised a saving of a million a year
in the cost of state government if
elected. and also his utter failure to
make good, besides leaving "A large
deficit for the succeeding republican
administration to cover But in order
to appreciate the absurdity of Mr..
Nexander's claims in regard to taxa
ton and his attempt to place the re-
sponsibilty upon the republican ad-
ministratiOn. it is only necessary to
consider the manner in which taxes
are levied and the purposes for which
revenue is raised to see how little the
state has to do with it and what a
small proportion is used to meet the
expense of state government In a re-
cent address in southern Idaho Roy L.
Black. attorney general. presented
some significant figures on taxation
compiled from official records which
thoroughly expose the duplicity of
Alexander Mr.. Black pointed out that
of all the taxes paid by the people of
Idaho. 45 per cent is levied by munich
palities. S5 per cent by school districts,
IL per cent by counties, leaving s per
cent for state purposes. and of this s
per cent about two-thirds is used for
the construction of state highways. In
other words, of all the taxes collected
throughout the state of Idaho. the
state administration spends only s per
cent and most of this is for the con
struction of good roads for the benefit /
of the people and which they demand. /
These figures completely refute the
charges persistently made by Alexan-
der in his attempt to deliberately mis-
lead the voters on the tax question.
1t is true that in many sections Of
he state taxes have reached a figure
hat is almost unbearable, but why
blame the state administration for this
condition? Most of the tax is account
"a for in bond issues voted by the peo-
Die themselves during the period when
ines were good and who lost their
earrings. their sense of proportion. in
bling up obligations which they now
ind difficult to pay The republican d
tate convention recognized this con-
ition and. unlike our democratic
riends pledged the party to adopting
measures that will prevent recur-
ence of these heavy obligations by L
Uniting the levy that may be made by
he taxing bodies of the various state
nits. Here is the pfain. frank state
nent on .his subject contained in the
epubhcan platform:
I'VE favor frank realization that
we can not at present have the
complex agencies and cOnven- I
fences of government. be they t
ever so desirable. of older and =
weather. states.
We pledge ourselves to close
supervision of all appropriations p
to the end that IdahO's cost OF s
government state. county and h
municipal shall be reduced to ac- L
tual necessities.
I'VE favor amending the laws 81
SO that the maximum levies which p'
the various taxing bodies may levy in
shall be materially reduced. and n,
that any additional levies within ~.
another maximum to be fixed shall
not be levied unless approved by 10
two thirds vote Of the taxpayers
affected"
That is the definite remedy propos- =,