Gilpin observer., 1899-01-12

nave tloSth W tNtlIlSt cASNu'iNN
and legislative functions for the ell
suing biennial term. Devoted to the
principles we advocate, and trusting
to the sincerity of our pledges to pro-
mote the general interests by prudent
and conservative. but effective and
needed legislation, they have by over
whelming majorites empowered us to
act as their agents within the limits of
the constitution for the advancement
of their welfare. Having done this.
they expect and demand that we shall
assume and discharge our official re-
sponsiblities in harmony with the let
ter and the spirit of our platform and
our promises. We shall be remiss in
the performance of our official duties
if we do not meet their requirements.
We can offer them no excuse for fail
ures or evasions. Upon all questions
of national concern we are practically
n unit: upon issues of minor import
ance there are none which should
serve to embitter or divide us. No
powerful and truculent minority is
present to distract or divide. Upon no
shoulders but our own can be placed
the burdens of our official shortcom-
ings. either positive or negative; to
no others can the honor and credit of
-
ed.
Conscious of these influences, i'm
pressed with a due sense of our re-
sponsibilities. ready and anxious to
share their burdens with you. | am
constrained to invite your careful at
tention to some of the problems which
appeal to us for solution. In so doing
| am not vain enough to assume that l
shall impart a knowledge not common
to all of us. or to suggest novelties
either of criticism or recommendation.
The views of the incoming executive
required by time-honored custom to be
given to the General Assembly may be
useful for the promotion of harmony
in action. suggest desirable methods of
cooperation and focus the work of the
session upon measures and policies
concerning which governor and assem-
bly, should occupy common ground.
On the other hand. differences, if early
developed, may happily be adjusted,
or if that prove difficult. their bad eff
fects may be avoided or minimized.
In his biennial message, Governor
Adams has graphically outlined the
condition of the public finances. Con-
fronted by decreasing assessments.
and increased demands. dwindling
revenues and swelling expenditures,
it is imperatively necessary to provide
by adequate legislation against ap-
preaching financial disaster. This can
be done, in my Judgment. only by
keeping the public expenditures as low
as the demands of Il healthy public SER
vice will permit. and by securing a
system of assessments which will
reach and return at n fair valuation
the taxable property of the common
wealth. The trainers of the constitu-
ton wisely limited our power to bor-
row, and that limit has been exhaust
ed. They have. on the other hand,
granted all authority necessary to the
securing of adequate revenues by tax
alton provided that authority shall be
properly exercised. Our embarrass-
ments do not result from our inability
to exact tribute in excess of 4 mills in
the dollar but from the evasions of
the tax list whereby more than 80 per
cent. of taxable property escapes CON
tribution to the public burdens. The
increased pressure consequent upon
that which is listed naturally provokes
complaint and swells the clamor for
further evasons. Assessors and
boards of equalization unite in the
practice of granting reductions. and as
n result the commonwealth. rich in re-
sources and possessions. finds itself
without adequate means to perform its
normal functions.
We have been warned by the Su-
preme Court that unless the General
Assembly gives relief (which unques-
| tionably either directly or Indirectly IL
within its power) there is nothing less
than financial disaster ahead. To
keep piling up debts without any pro-
vision for liquidation is unwise pol
icy and 1t Is time to stop This warn
ing, deliberately sounded by the high
est judicial authority of the state.
must be needed, and your efforts to
correct the evil it challenges will
surely receive the sanction of all good
citizens.
A fruitful cause of our shrinking
revenue may be found In the fact that
the law imposes no limitation upon
the amount or percentage of levy for
the support of county and other local
/ governments. Prior to 1891 counties
were measurably restricted, but the
General Assembly OF that year saw
fit to remove the limit save as to sun
dry enumerated purposes. since which
| time the only relation existing between
assessments and county levies has
been that imposed by the various
counties each for itself. and all of
them based upon the local require
ments of the particular year. II is ev-
ident, therefore. that except for state
| purposes the amount of the general
assessed valuation Is comparatively
unlmportnnt: for the rate of levy be-
Ing within the control of the taxing
officials, Its amount varies at will, and
sufficient revenue may be secured
whether assessments are high or low.
| Opportunity thus given to the local
official to crafty the general tendency
| to secure low valuations has been utl-
lied. the taxpayer being apparently
oblivlous of the fact that what he
| gains by assessment he loses I'm local