The state herald., 1891-01-23
GOV. ROUTES INAUGURAL.
An Address Containing Important
Suggestions for the Progress
Of tho State.


Of the State.
The ceremonies attending the In
suguration Of Governor John L. Routt
took place at the broadway Theater In
Denver ON the 18th. The legislature and
oil Of the old and new State officers were
In attendance. After being sworn In by
Chief Justice Helm Governor Routt do
livered the following able address:
Gentlemen of the Senate aud House of
Representatives:
AT the commencement OF the present
session my predecessor submitted to you
o message In which he reviewed the pres
emit financial condition Of the State; also
tho status OF the various institutions under
for your consideration such subjects a. he
believed required legislation At your
hands, and II gives me pleasure to concur
In most OF the suggestions which no has
made 70 you.
am, therefore, relieved from the duty
Of discussing many Of the subjects which
he has 80 ably treated, and at this stage
OF your session many bills have been In
troduced and are now pending before your
| respective bodies, covering most Of the
measures recommended.
shall not discuss many Of the matters
referred to BY his excellency, except by
way Of few brief suggestions Of gen.
eral character.
Before entering upon the discharge Of
my duties as chief executive OF the State
desire to express my sincere thanks and
obligations to the people Of Colorado, who
have, for the second time, honored me by
their sufYrages. and as assume the re-
possibilities devolving upon me may be
permitted to express tho hope TINT my
Official acts mny merit their continued
approval.
Having heretofore served torn each as
Territorial and State executive, feel that
the experiences Of the past may DO Of
TO see that tho laws arc faithfully exc
cuted without fear or favor.
And now, gentlemen, permit me to con-
graduate you upon being members OF tho
Eighth General Assembly, for upon you
rests the responsibility Of making our
laws, and l trust that 10 your legislation
you will have On eye single to the promo
tion OF tho general welfare OF the whole
people Of the State. To this end 1t will be
my greatest pleasure and chief aim to CO.
operate.
The people expect much at your hands;
they are looking to you for correction of
some Of the errors which have from timo TO
time crept into our legislation, since the
organization Of the State; and they require
purity, integrity and the strictest economy
In the discharge Of Official obligations.
STATE FINANCES.
One Of the most difficult and important
subjects which will come before your
honorable body requiring legislation, Is
the question OF State finances.
BY reference to the reports Of the State
treasurer and attorney general, 1t will be
seen that there Ia now In tho State treas
ury something over s6O0, 900 Of State war.
lab 4
out OF the school and other Investment
funds, and are held ms q part Of tho assets
OF said funds.
Much talk and newspaper comment have
been INDUCED in rs to the legality Of these
warrants, SO much so rs 70 impair, TO
some extent, the credit Of tho State In tho
estimation OF strangers and citizens
OF other States who arc unfamiliar
with the reasons governing their issuance.
Fer these and other reasons his excellency
Governor Cooper, ut the suggestion Of the
attorney general, decided TO submit 10 the
Supreme Court the questions Of the Soon
stitutional powers and limitations In the
matter OF appropriations and the issuance
OF warrants on the general revenue Of the
Statcn
In the decision Of the questions sub
mitted. the court held "that no warrants
could be drawn In any year In excess Of
the revenues Of that year, aud warrants
drawn against tho revenues OF any
particular year cannot DO paid out Of the
revenues OF any other year" In short
each year must provide for itself. In the
light OF the above decision, the question
naturally arises ss 70 whether law can
DO passed authorizing the ultimate pay
incnt Of these warrants. For the answer
TO this question, respectfully call your
attention 70 the very able and exhaustive
argument presented by the attorney gen
cral, and especially 10 that portion OF II
embracing his recommendations on tho
subject
II law should DO passed In accordance
with his recommendations, validating
these warrants, and providing for the
ultimate payment thereof, together with
the accumulated interest thereon, tho
school and other investment funds will be
protected against loss, and, In my opinion,
with this guarantee, II the interest be
promptly paid, tho principal might run for
u term OF years.
The first step toward the accomplish
ment OF this very desirable object Is to
keep the appropriations below the consti-
tutional limit. For there Ia no way that
these warrants can DO paid except from
tho surplus revenues over and above the
annual appropriations for other purposes.
The fallacy OF creating Indebtedness with
out providing for the payment Of the same
Is ruinous TO the credit Of the State, and
sHuuiu W uNOiCcu, wen ~ tno expense OF
what some might think needed appropri
alton.
From my personal acquaintance with
most Of the members Of this General
Assembly, have every reason 10 believe,
md do believe, that the determination TO
provide for the payment Of our honest
debts, and TO keep below tho constitutional
limit In your appropriations, will DO the
controlling motive In NIL your legislative
proceedings.
STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.
! respectfully call your attention TO tho
fourth biennial report OF the board Of cap
ltol managers, In which the transactions
Of the board are fully set forth, showing
iE detail the receipts and disbursements
for the past two years.
The last General Assembly passed . law
authorizing tho board 10 use 10 the super
structure Of the building granite In place
OF sandstone. Soon after tho passage Of
tho bill tho board proceeded TO examine
the various granite quarries Of the State,
and. after = worry careful and thorough
Investigation Of the samc, decided TO use
tho stone from the Zugeldcr quarry In
Gunnison County. Tho color OF this gran.
lite ID very light gray, and OF most OK
rclicnt quality and even texture, FREQ from
apoia aud mineral stains, II has been
subjected TO u thorough scientific, test, and
pounds To the square inch, which shows
Its marvellous strength.
Since tho substitution Of granite for
| sandstone, tho contractors have made very
| satisfactory progress In tho work Of CON
| htrnction. They have one Of the finest and
aud have every facility for doing the work
with Dispatch.
The materials used aru OF tho best quail
lty, and tho construction ID fully up 70 the