La Junta tribune., 1899-08-02
PATTERSON on seyemve LAWS.
otsre county's Representative on the
Ststs eiasness sWd 'ths Present
csisis In State Affairs.

The Denver Times recently sent
out a circular letter to the repre-
sentatives OF Colorado requesting
their opinions of Governor Thomas
plan Of calling an extra session in
December, 1900, and for state
ment OF their views in regard to
the best method of relief from the
impending financial crisis in state
affairs. The following letter writ
ten by Hon. r. w. Patterson to
the editor OF the Times, will be of
interest to his constituents and
friends in Otero county and it is
given below in full as follows:
LA JuNTA, Colo, July 81, SO.
EDITOR TINES: Agreeable to
your request | submit some OF my
views regarding the states finances
and the present crisis. l do this
not for notoriety nor political ef-
feet, but because an exchange Of
views will assist in a better under
standing and solution of the diff
cult problems forced upon US, and
because the public have a right to
be taken freely and frankly into the
confidence OF their representatives.
Our motives should be the highest,
the purest and the most patriotic.
The eager rush into print by GER
tain Legislators for the sole purpose
Of making partisan capital out Of
our unfortunate condition is culpa-
BILE in the highest degree, unwor-
thy OF the least patriotic sentiment
and basely unworthy OF the solemn
responsibility resting upon them.
This is a question of business, not
politics; OF patriotism, not parti-
zanship, and warn that party Of
its folly, and TO look well to it's
record in this and previous legisla-
lures, which dares make capital Of
the present crisis.
The state is living beyond it's
income. Upon whom or where
does the responsibility rest3 First,
upon every resident of the state,
with scarcely. an exception; second,
tine county assessor; third, the
state board Of equalization; fourth,
high salaries, extravaganza, too
many state institutions. Every
man and woman, and every person
who owns any property (save the
few who are exempt, either vio-
lates the law by failing or refusing
to schedule his property, or il he
schedules, violates both the law
and his oath by secreting and
withholding great part OF his
property, and by not giving an
honest valuation to what he does
schedule. indict every resident
and property owner Of f1agrant and
wilul violation OF the laws OF the
state and of their oaths, the Judge
and the prisoner at his bar, the
preacher in the pulpit and the peo-
pie in his pews, the president of
the university, crying for funds,
the political buzzard whose breath
is fouler than the carrion he seeks
they all lie, swear to lies, and
are poverty stricken only when the
assessor enters their doors. II
every person scheduled .his prop
erty at its full cash value, there
would be an abundance of revenue
to meet the states expenses,
economically administered. The
taxpayer is the first and chief Grim
inal. He cheats, he steals, he lies,
and he perfumes himself, and the
state suffers even if his conscience
does not.
The state board of equalization
stands next in degree of guilt.
They violate the laws and their
oaths in two respects. First, they
assess railroad, telegraph and tele-
phone property at from one-sev-
enth to one-tenth Of their cash val
uations, instead OF their full cash
value; second, they have failed and
refused to equalize the assessments
ih.e,a.,, eha sro,rt;eS For theae