The Meeker herald., 1897-01-16

dress and occupied over two hours In read
Ing. The Leadyille trouble was gone Into
fully and the governors reasons for sending
the militia there explained.
Recommendations were made for changes
In the financial policy of the state, for q
better method of collecting the poll tax.
and to provide some sort OF employment for
prisoners In the pentcutary. All the state
institutions except one were praised. and
49, ss.--N.---s r--.--s.--- '- -.
The Legislature WIS nsked TO enact mnch
needed new laws. so as to prevent leaks that
now occur.
Below nre given the more important por-
tions OF the message:
Fellow Citizens of the Eleventh General As
sembiy:
Neither the people of the state nor the
state Itself have escaped the effect of the
long business depression since the panic
Of 1893. Particularly has this effect been
ciai crisis mentioned. resulting both in the
stagnntion of business and Industry ana
the lowering, values of the products OF agri-
factory. and. In fact, of about every com,
modify. except that produced by our gold
comes of the individual members. of the
community, but of the state Itself. It u.
true that the phenomenal growth Of one OF
our chief Industries. the one last mentioned,
that of our gold mines. has in n great meas
urs preserved Ms from that degree of al
versity which we had anticipated would be
come our lot. Another factor in the aInelio'
ration of our condition must be considered,
namely. the recent Improvement In prices
of our agricultural products, Including sheep
and cattle. The people of Colorado. for
many years easily prosperous on account OF
the development OF our natural Resources,
both Of the mine and the field. are little
accustomed TO the scrimping economies al
ways found necessary by the people Of many
other regions. so that when '.hard times"
came, 1t was not without difficulty that they
adjusted themselves to the new conditions.
but. by an enforced economy. they found a
80, flat 4
seemed well nigh impossible. In the end,
doubtless, they will feel the beneficial Of
fects of this added virtue, and ns times be
come more prosperous through n natural I'M
provement of business conditions, which
have been depressed below the normal. as
opment first. OF the gold industry. and.
later on. through a natural commercial sym
pathy, Of the other industries OF the state,
they Will see the blessing in disguise. So.
In state affairs, restricted revenues first
create confusion and embarrassment and
denial and wisdom were necessary to enable
the individual to meet the condition confront
Ing him. II is not different with the body
polite. Wise and economical management
Of the financial affairs Of the state will nm.
rnyel the tangle. and good rather than evil
the patience. self-deniaf and wisdom in per
forming your high function in public anairs
p9s aS@Ts CAL ssae4 ar s an as sfsa @
ment- You will not obey the behest of the
sovereign people who sent you here clothed.
as Their repr"s"ntatires. win sovereign ,Sa
OF office. IL you fall to heed the lesson as
public servants which the people themselves
have been obliged to learn and practice.
You will have many weighty matters to con-
slider, but none Of greater Importance than
the proper caring for and adjustment OF the
finances Of the state. In all good things you
will be sympnthetically and ably assisted
by the wisdom and experience Of him whom
ecutlve for the next two years. He has
known Intimately during the whole period
OF hi, M manhood the people and their ways rs
state. He has been tried and not found
wanting In the difficult place which he Is
now chosen to again occupy. and. however
trying the duties may he that will soon de-
vove upon him. the people can confidently
expect a careful and successful manage
ment of their affairs.
State Finances.
The assessed valuation of the state stead.
lily increased in amount from 1877, when II
was 81. eco, until 1893, when 1t reached
s23s, 100000: In 1894 Its valuation dropped to
SOS, ,o0o, 600; in 1875 the total WIS s2o2. ISL,
In this biennial period of 500. 1s2 sH5. TO- the
lowest assessed valuation of any like period
since 1880. resulting In n correspondingly re
duced revenue TO the state. which. however
has been In measure relieved by the cx
traordinary receipts OF the secretary OF
states Office.
The present state administration has
lived within Its income. besides paying out
Of the revenues OF the present two years
some OF the deficiencies Of past administra.
tions, and will have balance left in the
| treasury.
The surplus revenues of lso5o6 after NIL
warrants shall have been paid that have
| been Issued against them. should be trans.
| ferred to the revenues of 1S9;,-9i. for tho
| purpose of taking up the warrants issued
| during those years. As 1t seems to me- no
| better use could be made Of this balance
| than the payment Of the warrants of these
VI AL mali -
| the tremendous and unexpected falling on
| In the revenues caused by the panic which
occurred in those years.
The state auditor estimates the revenues
| for the years 1S9i-9s. available for the gen
ernl fund.that Is, for general state pur
poses-at S1.092, $50. which Is the total to be
derived from the tax of 81 mills and from
| the miscellaneous receipts from other
sources. Out Of this sum must be met ths
have been estimated by the state auditor nj
| kl.2GO. s12.7o. 1t would seem that this estl
amount that will be found necessary Will,
| In some Items reduction may he made
there there !, are others which slm9si nevitabl,
| lngs may he made In certain directions, bu
| these likewise will be almost certainly or
| set by the demands in other directions whicl
must be met. Most Of the items going t,
| make up the last mentioned sum are ffNet
| charges which are not susceptible OF dmi
| mutton.
| The expenses must be kept within the In
| come. Therefore there must be either Gu
| u
| uses of the state government. and this In
| crease can In all human probability be de
rived only, from the funds furnished b!
| what is called special mill levies. which az
gregnte 10 mills, and are estimated by tn,
| auditor to yield $780, $50 In 1S97-DS An,
right here ! desire to call attention to tn
| Ing and interest on capitol building bond
and stock inspection: which are all support
| ed by the special mill levy, In addition to tn
| special appropriate which are annual,
| made to some of them, receive 10 mills o
| nineteenth -fortieths of the total revenues o
the state derived from taxation. as agains
txenty zone. .fortieths & for all departments, o
branches Of the government, plus the add
the benehciaries Of the special mill levy
| giving to the 'institutions'' more than hal
| Of all the revenues derived from the stat
tax. Under the present law providln
special mill levies. In the event of fnilur
OF the 81 mills to provide sufficient revenu
to carry on the state government. the none
to meet that deficiency must be taken fror
| the funds produced by the special mill levlc
in the inverse order Of the dates Of the act
| creating them, with the result that the In
/ otttuffone-and for convenience i will cI1 q