The state herald., 1899-02-03
me fifth class, not exceeding 25 mills on

the dollar; rond purposes, not exceeding
mills on the dollar and poll tax not
TO exceed 81 for purposes TO be determine
cd by the board of county commission
era for each county. The board of county
commissioners may, II they Judge the me-
cessities OF the county require it, order
aud direct special levy to be made not
to exceed 5 mills on the dollar to raise
funds to meet any unforeseen contingency
which, in their Judgment, should be
dealt with, and funds thus raised shall
be set over and used for such cont,ngen-
cy and collected and held by tho county
treasurer ns special contingency fund;
such taxes shall bs payable in cash, and
no fees or salaries shall 10 paid out of
such contingency fund"
The bill, as introduced, provides for o
classification OF the counties into five
classes, with maximum levies of 5, 10, l5,
20 and % mills, respectively, Us follows:
First Clsss--Arapaboe, El Paso, pueb-
10, Weld.
Second Class-Boulder, Douglas, Kio-
Wa, Las Animas, Morgan. Saguache, Rio
Grande, Park, Chaffee, Jefferson, Mesa
and Otero.
| Third Class-Clear Greek, Corejos,
Kit Carson, Fremont, Sedgwick, Yuma,
Costilla, Ebert, Lincoln. Mineral, Pitkin
and Summit.
Forth Class-Archuleta, Bace, Chey-
enne, Delta, Dolores, GilpIn, Grand,
Gunnison, Hinsdsle, Huerfano, Lake, La
Plata, Logan, Mantrose, Montezuma,
Ouray, Phillips, Prowers, Rio Blanco,
Routt ana Washington.
Fifth C.Gss-Bent, Custer, Eagle, Gar
field, San Juan and San Miguel.
Amy person who is conversant With the
financial condition 1.-THE several counties
of the state cannot fail to see that, II
this bill is passed by the general assem-
bly, as introduced, great injustice will be
done some of the weaker counties. We
have always opposed the placing Of
limit upon The levy for general county
purposes, Gu the ground that 1t would
be very difficult matter TO secure the
passage of u bill Tor that purpose that
would do justice tn the weaker counties
OF the state and this bill shows very
plainly that our fears in that respect
have rot been without foundation. II
viii be seen from the classification pro-
y.dcd in this bill that Phiilips county is
plncad IN the fourth class with other
counties that have all the way from
twice to six times the property valuation
that Phillips county has. The assessed
valuation oi Lake county for 9s was s..
91i,G79, In Plata s2,2i5,4S0, Gunnison
Sl,ol9,U72, Gilpin el,el0,4T9, Logan ST.
5ls,774, Prowers Sl,35s, ,256, Rout 1920
5Is, and Philips s659,j6l. Any person
who is acquainted with the property OF
Phillips county knows that the assessed
valuation for 1898 was as high as it-could
safely be made and still the advocates OF
this bill arc asking that this valuation
shall be raised till a 20 mill levy for gem
eral county purposes wall pay the run
ming expenses Of tho county. Such
proposition is simply an outrage upon
the taxpayers Of Phillips county. AM
other very peculiar feature o; this bill is
the tact that two counties have been
placed in the flltb class that have u prop
eriy valuation Of about twlce that Of
Phillips county. The assessed valuation
OF Eagle county for 50 was sl,lT3,33I anu
Garfield s2,os2,539. Senator Taylor is
the author OF this bill and it so happens
that he represents a senatorial district
composed OF Eagle and Garfield counties.
Ihv gentleman has been very careful
to take good care OF the counties OF his
own distric'ln the proposed classification
He places them IN the fifth class and
places some other counties with from
one-third to one-halt the property valu-
ation in the fourth class. This NAV be
the gentlsman's idea OF fair treatment
TO the Taxpayers OF the several counties
but, II so, he 10 not safe leader for leg.
ialptcrs to follow In important lcg.sla-
tion OF tins character. We 90 not hosi.
tate TO say that the present condition OF
the finances OF the state is disgraoo TO
the people OF the state. Tho taxpayers
OF Colorado are able ito furnish ample
funds tor taking care Of the state instl.
iuiious and deiHylng tue expenses Of
the state government, IN manner salts.
factory TO oil without impoaing any
heavy burden upon them. The
tax-payers Of tho weak counties lave
boon paying more state tax Ia proportion
TO their property than those OF the
Weather coantiea and, II measure oil
this nature must DO paced - secure
sufficient state revenue, they will make
no opposition 10 the measure provided
they are irea,ed fairy. They will, how.
ever, be found protecting IN very dc.
eidod manner against my suoh unjust
determination az 10 shown by tho pro.
yiaionu Of this bill Of Senator Taylote.
II the countios arc to be claaaiaed, tho
classification should bo mada upon a ba
sin fair to all and not in an arbitrary
munner os In th!G hill and tho inembe,a
OF the general assembly from tho weaker
counties ahould Insist upon such fair
treatment.
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All Eyes Turnod 70 Lincoln.
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