The Holly chieftain., 1900-08-24
REVENUE LAWS
TO BE REVISED

Denver. Aug. lS-The commission of
prominent citizens appointed some time
ago by Governor Thomas to consider
the revenue laws of the state have be-
gun to discuss the subject. Some rad
ical changes in the existing laws are
being considered.
The mere skeleton may perhaps be re-
tained, but radically different super
structure will be erected upon 1t. Al
though the commission took very little
radical action the trend of the discus
sion showed that the members intend
to draw up-a law which will still keep
Colorado within her revenues and keep
her from being n spendthrift debtor
state, whatever changes In her laws
may be involved
The discussion did not hinge always
on how 10 get more revenue, but fre-
quently upon how to make the reve-
nue. at hand go farther. Retrenchment
was the hobby OF several of the men,
bers and they succeeded In impressing
the others with the necessity Of plac-
Ing In the new revenue laws sufficient
restrictions upon the state officials to
make them keep within their appro-
priations. The matter of state insti-
tutions and their management when
discussed showed that n consolidation
Of the penal and charitable institutions
under one set of officers, and a consoli-
dation Of the state educational institu-
tions In the same way to be feasible
and probably advisable.
The main question in regard to state
revenue rose over q proposition to In
troduce in the new laws a clause Civ
ing the State Board Of Equalization
- L.
brought up the old fight Of the county
against the state. The state considers
that 1t is robbed by the present pro-
cedure of county assessors. In order
to make the taxation for the state as
light as possible the assessors make
low assessments When 1t comes to
raising revenue for the county the as
SCISSORS make large levy, probably
three times ms great as the state levy.
The suggested limitation of the state
levy will make Ii impossible for coun-
ty assessors to make such low assess
ments and then make up county ex-
penses by high levies.
On this matter there was difference
OF opinion and Judge +. L. Wells was
appointed to look into the constitution
ality OF the power which 1t is proposed
to put into the hands of the State
Board Of Equalization.
Joseph A. Israel was the chief cham
pion of retrenchment. In the Legisla-
ture OF 1901 Mr.. Israel Introduced q bill
providing for consolidation Of all the
penal and charitable institutions In the
state. He presented practically the
same proposition yesterday and under
took to show by argument the feasibil-
ity Of his scheme and the benefits that
would result from it One manage
ment, he said, could easily run all the
institutions, as the business to be done
for each was about the same. A great
er publicity could be given accounts.
which are now practically kept secret.
By this consolidation he thought near
ly 100000 could be saved to the state.
In the same line Senator Buckley
suggested the consolidation Of all the
education Institutions, provided the
constitution would permit. Should
this plan prove constitutional, boards
of control could be abolished and one
board be appointed for the educational
institutions, to have rooms in the capi-
tol building, and to transact all busi-
ness there. The necessity Of having the
men on this board as far removed from
politics as possible was strongly ad-
VlSeO, anu lie ADVISED AiSO tnat tuOSe
serving on the board should be obliged
to give their whole attention to the
work. and should be remunerated &C.
cordingly.
The taxation of litigants was another
subject taken up. The discussion was
along the line Of making courts self
supporting. Upon those persons using
the courts the sustaining of the courts
should fall. and therefore tax upon
all legal Instruments, would be advls-
able. A levy OF 25 cents for all instru-
ments fled In District Courts was sug-
gested. and 30 cents charge for all In
functions and mandamuses. This, 1t
was calculated. would bring In reve-
nue. OF $4,000.
The following other suggestions were
discussed:
To pay the assessors commission
instead Of salary and thus make
them more likely to make high assess
ments on behalf of the state.
To turn all railroad taxes into the
state treasury, instend Of into the
counties.