The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-03-09
The Silver Lining.

The Silver Lining.
We have had occasion in previous
issues to call attention to the farm
credit situation. In the November
number we said, "The farmers prices
in the last analysis, are set by foreign
demand and foreign ability to pay for
his products. If the farmer proposes
to limit himself to feeding the peo-
pie Of the United States he might as
well go out of business" We were
emphasizing the Importance of mar
kets rather than of chedits; not but
what an improved credit system
would mitigate many of the evils I'M
der which the farmer suffers at pres
ent. The enactment of any one Of
the bills now before Congress would
make possible the continuation Of a
policy and practice already we'll es-
tablished under the War Finance Cor
poration. Up to November 80, 1922,
the Corporation approved loans for
agricultural and livestock purposes in
the State Of Idaho amounting to ap-
proximately $500, 100000. Loans have
stock loan companies and co-opera-
tive marketing associations. To the
last named the Corporation author
lied loans in the country as a whole
for the season of 1922 amounting
to $64,0000 100000. The Corporation
has agents in this state at Boise,
Gooding and Lewiston. 1t has been
of, Tod {.1r xy.,1x
that the operation Of the Lenroot bill
Or any similar measure would cut
he farmers interest charges at least
80 per cent. A saving of this char
acter is Of very real significance.
finally, we can find what consolation
here may be in the fact that wheat
'aising is becoming an increasing
cost proposition. The farmer who I
WINS good wheat land now is tied up I
With a pretty safe investment There I
rent any more Minnesotas or Pal
use countries ?
Costs of Government. "a
Now that the legislature is consid-
ring the biennial state budget, it is u
OF inappropriate to call attention to G
ne phase Of governmental expendi- g.
Ire that ought not to be overlooked. N
hat is the cost of county govern CT
tent. The entire State of Idaho has
bout the same population as Mil 81
aukee County, Wisconsin, which in f
udes the city of Milwaukee. Mass
,husetts with 3,S5o,000 people has q
counties; Idaho with 431, 900 has
|. The total amount raised in 1919
r county purposes alone, not in T.
uding city or village taxes or spec
school or highway district assess az
ents of any description, reached the Id
llossal total of $6,3S5,0O0. This
rs for a single year. On biennial
sis it represents a total of $12,-
$1,000, for strictly county purposes
one. In the same year, 1919, the Co
unties Of Idaho paid out for salar-
and wages alone $1,342,136 Just 1.
way Of illustration, the admins
ltion Of finance in Milwaukee the
unity, that is the salaries and ex- ira
nses Of the county treasurer, audi dee
:, and assessor, amount annually to pei
100000. In the A counties Of Ida sal
this same item, borne by the same the
nber of people, amounts to $685. mo
90 This was very nearly as much thi
the state legislature in its last istl
sion appropriated out Of taxation at
run the state University for two bar
RS! 1t need not be inferred that ing
pay our county fiscal officials too the
CHI. A comparison Of our salary [
edule with that Of neighboring
les would disprove that notion. "a;
her, we have too many counties.
by pay more" mo-
Thank You. A
q the January issue OF the Mon C
Report on Economic Conditions, A
;" issued by the National City F
X of New York, the editor Of that H
lication takes occasion to quote A
column from the November
no Economic Bulletin. It Is alSTA
sage in which we ventured to dis Cou
J the general economic outlook as City
fleets the farmer. The quotation p
Introduced with the statement that ton
discuss the whole situation with Cou
lligent comprehension" 1t is 80 the
. that we are accused Of "intelli- of L
comprehension" that we are glad City
tand and make our bow. Univer- of
Of Idaho, Department Of Econo- dire
J and Political Science (Business) of c.