The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-02-02
ECONOMY VS.. BUSINESS SENSE.

The commissioners of Idaho county
elected on an economy platform, com
menced to cut down expenses by dis
pensing with the county agricultural
agent, and are now hearing from the
farmers, who had found out that ar
intelligent, active county agent, car
make them more money each veal
than board of county commissioners
can save in several years. The county
commissioners of Latah county are
to be congratulated on being more far
seeing and having a broader and more
progressive outlook. The county farm
bureau, made up of representative far
mers from all parts of Latah county
fully realized the benefit which the
farmers have derived through the work
of County Agent o. S. Fletcher, when
they unqualifiedly endorsed his work
at the meeting held in this city We'd
nesday, thereby endorsing the action
of the county commissioners in again
making provision for county agent
work
Regarding the Idaho county situa-
ton, the Kooskia Mountaineer has the
following to say:
If emphatic opinions expressed by
farmers are criterion, the action of
the county commissioners in dispen-
sing with the county farm agent was
not what the agricultural interests of
the county expected. The need of our
farmers for the help that can be given
them by the farm agent is realized on
all hands. The agent is a money
maker for farmers and the small ex-
pense involved in keeping him on the
job is trife compared with the good
he does for the people he serves
Farmers looked for the commissioners
to practice economy in handling
county business but did not anticipate
that the board would deprive them
of the one officer who more than all
others is engaged directly in build
ing up farm values. AS one taxpayer
puts it " that sort Of economy is like
cutting off your nose to spite your
face"
"a - "a
A DEMANDED PRISON REFORM |
bill giving the prison commits
sioners limited authority to tut the |
convicts in the Idaho penitentiary at |
work at some useful trade offers hope |
that the disgraceful state prison sys-
tenn we have suffered in this state
will presently go forever into the dis
card.
The prison that forced men to wait
for release year after year, with moth
ing to do but loaf around the yards
and NOPE in the cellhouses is just one
step advanced beyond the dungeon :
and the solitary
More than this, a man should have 4
he right to labor even when he is
N prison
The new plan will help to turn back
nto society at the end of their terms. =
nen more fit to move in society than .
my we have yet turned back If there =
-~oA0 ~ NOuPlCd Will IL dH agency a
which would make an effort to find
places for men on their discharge. the
ituation would be better yet Such
n agency will probably come in =
ime .
One supposes the new bill will get o
he usual protest from Idaho organ 8
zed labor and that, in Difference to &
he labor unions, the state will permit 3
onvlcts to manufacture only such &
commodities as are not otherwise e
Manufactured in the Statesman. =
~ ~ "a =
1t is apparent now that Senator =
immediate future has =
cen taken care of, the press dis Z
stches announcing his appointment
! ambassador to Peru. The Job =
rries with it a salary of $17,5OO per =
mum, which is ten thousand more =
an the senatorial JOB pays. While y
ere is perhaps no particular reason -
ly Poindexter should have had the X
pointment over many other men, :
will take all the necessary dignity -
d sufficient ability and knowledge -
international affairs with him to &,
ndle the job with credit to his x,
lntry Thus the administration has (.
placed another of its lame z
ks. -
IA IA IA -
-.
sed himself on the Arbuck1e case, -