Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-01-14
GOV. .MlNYIRE'8 ME88AGK,
GREAT NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
Wants the Legislature To Be Observation-Disclosures to
Present System of Taxation for State Institu-
tions-Praises the State Militia and Dis
cusses the Leadville Strike-Recom-
mends a Board of Arbitration.

tax as lnstitutIons-with the result that the
Institutions prior In date would receive the
full amount OF their Income, even when
more than sufficient for their needs. and
obliged to close their doors.
In 1901 the income OF the educational in.
reduced to one.slxth mill each by the Gen.
eral Assembly. by an act which has been
since declared unconstitutional by. the su::
ievics Of one.hfth mill each were restored,
depriying the state government Of tke dlner-
snsS % IN revenues, which i In o the year ls9I.os,
special fixed mill levy for the maintenance
OF n state Institution, educational or penal.
Of Its revenue. not upon Its needs, but upon
the entirely .cxtraneous and fortultous cir
cnmstnnce of the amount of property In the
assessment purposes, fixed upon the same
by the proper officers; and, further, Il gives
different Institutions with widely different
needs equal Incomes, and does not allow Tor
Increased needs ut special periods OF sucil
Institutions development, nor admit OF saw
Ing when the demands are less; In the FIRST
Instance, Gripping unrcasonnbly the given
Institution. and In the second discournging
economy. with the consequent demorallzing
eject. To me II seems clear that each Gen
eral Assembly should have control OF all the
revenues of Its biennial period, In order that
1t may appropriate for every governmental
requirement Of each during that period. con.
inning and limiting the expenditures OF all
alike to the minimum when the states In.
come is contracted. and according all alike
the benefit Of Increased revenues when that
income Is, In times of prosperity, aug
An Obvious remedy for the insuiiciency:
Il It be found to be such. of the revenues OF
the state for all purposes can be secured
purposes. particularly the county general
revenue; which will result. II properly I'D,
jnsted, In raising the assessed valuation OF
ciabic Increase In the total sum Of taxes
collected from the taxpayer.
l., The excess @ OF the estimated expenditures
In 1S9I-9S over the revenues for the same
to si67,Gs2, or ss3.oGi for each OF the two
as indicated. the % assessed valuation Of tho
state shall be increased Si5.OOO,O00 In the
year 1897. the resulting revenues to the
Of the mills which goes to maintain the
state government. will be sufficient to meet
the estimated deficit. The law as It now
at its full cash value. without a limit to the
levy for general county purposes, and indeed
20 as to assess Mi proper,y opt at its full cash
value would result In nn unreasonnble In.
Jury to the taxpayer. but with proper
better, more equitable or more satisfactory
basis Of assessment than the full cash value
Whenever the assessor fixes the value OF
property at some other value than Its actual
value. inequalities. ineIuitable and oppress-
I've on some and unduly favorable to others.
tnv fsr Ies
to those least able to endure 1t, and partial
escape from taxation on the part of those
who should bear their full share OF the bur-
den.
The state government. during the present
period, has been economically administered.
aries and expenses of the three branches OF
the government, which are fixed by the con-
stitntion and and statutes, some saving could trn be
which has been turned back into the treas
ury s1.795.76 although this is not certain.
wards for fugitIves from justice which
would consume more than that amount, and
there is opportunity for having more eco
auditors office which turned, back $500;
possibly In the attorney generals ofiice ana
say 5000 IN oh The secretary , Of & states % office
Ing by the abolishment of the board OF cap
itoi managers would not aid the situation
payment Of the capitol warrants. The in.
PRODUCTION Of Industrial employment at the
pcntcntinry and Mt the reformatory, as else.
relieve the states revenues of an increasing
proportion OF the cost. of those institutions.
although the results would not be, felt for
some months. From some or all of the
sources or through the economical methods
suggested. the additional revenues to pre-
vent the deficit Indicated must be derived.
certainly, at least. until mn adequate, eco
nomcal revision of the laws controlling rev.
enues and expenses Is secured. Too much
duty devolving upon you of combining ap-
proprlations to the limit set by the rev.
en1es It is as much the duty Of theen.
It is Of the state auditor to meet them IN
the Issuance of warrants. failure In the
been n large factor in causing the issue OF
excess warrants. and has resulted In causing
n stigma to be cast upon the business name
of the state.
Revision of Revenue Laws.
The General Assembly's attention is ear
nestly. called to the condition of the rev.
enue laws. revision Of them, and new
istratIon Of AFFAIRS. are exceedingly desir-
able. 1t is difficult to reconcile the incon-
sistencies IN these acts and general re- g,
some expenses and the lcssening Of others.
in order that the revenues may have less
sary outlnys and uneconomical expenditure;
A commission of three, In the Judgment Of
the executive. should he provided. to he ap-
having Knowledge of public affairs. and es-
pcclally the financial affairs of the state.
This commission to report at the n,, next sn ses;
such rcDcals and enactmcnts as may seem
desirable for uniformity and the greater
economy of the financial administration.
revenues. there Is practically no check on
the county treasurer In the matter of the
The state has no direct means Of knowing
whether 1t Is receiving Its revenues or not.
Tax sales are maze III ullcrent counties
without regard to uniformity as to time.
There is conspicuous lack of uniformity
in the salaries OF the subordinate officers In
the various departments OF the state For
the deputy auditor receives the
same pay ms does the auditor himself who
receives $4,000. The superintendent of In
surancc. who is n deputy Of the auditor, re-
Clerks for like class of service should re.
celye like pay. This Is conspicuously not
the case. Stenographers should have uni
form salaries. These are only instances.
The commission suggested should examine
into the expenditures by the state OF what
ever nature, and among other things
whether the number of judicial districts Is
too great, and suggest where compncting
might properly be brought about. Also. into
the expenses of the various state lnstitu-
tions, educational and penal. suggesting
whenever needed, such reforms as might
seem desirable and economical.
The governor suggests that every citizen
be required to show poll-tnS certificate be-
fore being allowed to vote. This, he thinks.
would Increase the mlitn.y revenue from
$50, 900 to $4,000. He recommends that the
expenses of the Insurance department be
provided for by appropriation. instcad of
by the present fee system, and that the sal
aries of state officers be euuallzed. The
salary of the treasurer should be cut down
and q board of state officers should desig |
nate tho banks Of deposit for state funds. |
Brief reference to the reports Of stats Of