The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-03-15
CALLAHAN SUMS UP
LEGISLATIVE WORK
PARTY PLEDGES KEPT
Tax Levies Reduced and APP
preparations Cut--Effect of
Primary Agitation
PARTY PLEDGES KEPT

tor from ShoshOne county, re
turned Tuesday from the stat
capital, after two months o
strenuous legislative work. Whel
asked for a statement reviewing tn
work Of the session. Mr.. Callahan pro
tested that he had nothing to say, bu
finally consented to make a brie
statement in which he sums up the
outstanding features of the Legislative
session. Mr.. Callahan said:
Tax Levies Reduced.
1.-THE outstanding accomplishment OF
the seventeenth session of the legisla-
ture was the reduction of the maxi
mum tax levies in the various politi-
cal units of the state. 1t is quite
likely that this will not be very enthu-
siastically received in many places
The reduction in the school levies has
met with a vigorous protest from the
trustees of the Independent districts
in Shoshone county and ! think quite
likely this viii be true throughout the
state. There has not been so much
opposition developed to the reduc-
tons of the county. city and highway
levies but doubtless there are many
places where these will not be popu-
lar.
This reduction was made to COM
ply with the pledge of the republican
party at the Wallace convention. In
the state of Idaho at the close of the
year 1922, the delinquent taxes in the
various counties amounted to more
than seven million dollars and it is
believed that this will reach eleven
million dollars before the end of the
present biennium. The latest official
figures available show that during the
past eight years the average tax upon
agricultural lands throughout the
United States has increased 122 per
cent. The conditions throughout Ida
no are almost unbelievable. We who
live in the mining and timber section
can not conceive of the situation con-
fronting the farmers of south Idaho.
To cut down the maximum levies
which may be imposed by the vari-
Gus taxing boards will put the issue
vi NOllA5 AcAfANo Cie up ~ NiAN
people and they will learn to bear the
burden without complaining or to do
without many of the things which in
the past they have considered essen
tial
Some Cuts Unwise.
1.-THE legislature endeavored to fol-
low the governors recommendation in
the matter of reductions of state APP
and succeeded to a GER
tain extent. Personally, believe
many of the cuts which were made
were very unwlse. 1 feel that certain
of the state departments will be ser
iously crippled, and I deplore the fact
that several departments were inten-
tionally crippled through disgruntled
political elements in the Legislature
which were seeking to injure men who
had been active in the last political
which will be seriously handicapped
for lack of funds are the budget bur
eau and the bureau of public accounts.
The recommendation of the governor
which called for a decrease of apprO
priations exceeding that made by the
legislature provided adequately for
these two departments. The land
had his salary appro-
Driation cut 5000 year The indus
trial accident board suffered cut Of
;25 a month each in the commission !
ars' salaries. The public utilities /
We're each cut $50 per /
month. as were also the commission /
ers of agriculture, the commissioner /
IF public investments and the COM +
missioner of public welfare.
Of Interest to the North.
"The action of the legislature which .
particularly affected north Idaho was
he abolition of the state constabulary ]
md the rejection of the comprehen-
i've forestry bill which failed to mus
er any strength The loss of the
has been partially made
10 by placing in the hands of the 4
an emergency power and
citing an appropriation to carry it
nut. A measure of interest to those I
ngaged in the mining business was
he bill proposed by the state mine
Inspector which passed both houses
nd has already been signed by the
governor. This provides for the leas-
ng of state mineral and oil lands up
n a royalty basis and further pro-
fdes for the retention of all mineral
lights on all state lands
Direct Primary and Effects.
1.-THE failure of the direct primary
orces to enact their pet measure was
he outstanding political event of the
ession. No attempt was made TO
ass the bill over the governors veto.