La Junta tribune., 1899-08-02

check and prevent to great extent
the low assessments in the coun-
ties. II the county assessor and
the taxpayer knew that the assess
ments if made reasonably low,
would be raised, the assessments
would be made more justly in the
first place; but now the assessor
who endeavors to assess justly
knows that If he does so assess his
neighbor county will be assessed
much lower, and therefore his
county is made to bear an unjust
proportion of the states taxes;
hence, he, too, assesses as low as
his conscience (if conscience has
anything to do with it, and expedi-
ency will permit. The result is
lower and lower assessments in all
the counties and loss to the state.
The county assessors are respon
sible because they violate the law
and their oaths by assessing prop
erty at from one-half to one-fifth
of what the law requires and what
they are sworn to do. H'
The legislature is responsible be-
cause; first, it did not enact more
laws compelling retrenchment and
economy in the states expenses
and in running the states institu-
tions; second, it made extravagant
appropriations. This lastis charge
able to the clique who had control
Of the organization OF the house,
and grew so frantic to squander the
peoples money that they had to
read twenty or more bills at one
time to get them through fast
enough; third, it failed to increase
the states revenue to any extent.
Certain revenue measures were
killed, which, il enacted into laws,
4
would have produced revenue
enough to pay the states expenses,
viz, saloon license, an inherit
ance tax, insurance tax, the Match
er soil inspection bill, and others.
The governor is not responsible
for the present crisis. / am, how
ever, opposed to the plan Of bor-
rowing money. II the revenue OF
the state will not pay her legiti-
mate expenses. (and l am not sure
yet but that they wilD and if an
extra session is to be held, am in
favor OF such session not later than
December next. am opposed to
bonds and borrowing money in any
manner. Borrowing does not pay
debts, but increases them. 1t is
not wise in private business to
create a debt without providing
for its payment; it is unwise in
public affairs. The constitution
wisely requires that appropriations
must be provided for before the
appropriations are made. There
is nothing to be made by a post
ponement, but much to be lost
loss of two years revenues and an
increase OF obligations. l am op.
posed, furthermore, to the COVER
nor's plan, because he has no au-
thority to borrow money for the
objects proposed; and if such loans
were made the legislature would
have no legal right to appropriate
money to repay it.
/ If an extra session is called it
should not, in my opinion, be con-
fined to the question of revenue,
but the legislature should be per
mitted to deal with the whole ques-
ton which, as ] apprehend, en-
braces: first, an increase Of reve-
nues; and second, reduction Of
expenditures.
AS to the former, the assessment
OF railroad, telegraph and tele-
phone property should be taken
from the state board Of equaliza-
ton and placed in the hands of a
board chosen from and by the
county assessors. Thus. all prop
erty would be assessed practically
by the same assessors, uniform
assessment secured and the present