The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-10-16


last two years has passed through the
most disreputable and dishonorable ad-
miniStration that has ever diSgraced
us since we have become a common
wealth. 1 want to call your attention
to some facts that are self-evident
We are going to have another govern
or, and when the record of the differ
ent executive departments of the state
of Colorado are opened TO the eyes of
the people of the state, they will find
some very curious reading. They will
find that we are slow in learning, but
will be slow to forget.
During Governor Routt'S admins
ration in 1872 there was IA surplus
of revenues in Colorado of IA very mod
crate amount. In Governor Waite's
administration in 1891 there was a
deficit of approximately $4,000. Dur
ing Governor McIntyre's administra-
ton in 1896 the surplus was over
$4,000. During Governor Adams ad-
ministration in 1878 there was II $780,
600 surplus. During the present ad
ministration there will be u deficit of
approximately 100000. This will be
lowered somewhat by the fees obtain
ed from filing articles of incorporation
III the once or the secretary OF STATE,
and the correct amount at the end of
the present administration Will be
about $4,000.
las a result of Governor Thomas
administration our state institutions,
which are the pride of our state, and
some of them are becoming the pride
of our whole country and known all
over the world, have had to borrow
money at the banks to keep them run
ming. In order to reach this extra eX-
pense, but not in any degree to lessen
our expense, he appointed a committee
of undisciplined and indiscreet people
to devise a way, not for cutting down
the expense, but whereby the people
of the safe pay additional taxes to
the amount of 100000. You and l,
and all of us whose homes are here,
are Interested in the tax of the state.
This additional tax is to be levied on
land values only. Fellow citizens, the
present administration has been the
most expensive we have had in the
history of the state. Allow me to call
your attention to some of the depart
ments.
"A brand law was passed some two
years ago which provides that all
brands must be recovered and re-re-
corded from time to time at the eX-
pense of $3.50 each, with the under
standing that the money thus raised
would give a fund of $4,000 n year
LOT tHe eAlerlHlHatloH Oh cOyoies anu
mountain lions. Many of you have
doubtless paid his tax. In a year and
a half it yielded $4,000. out of which
$4,000 has been paid in salaries.
This does not include the salary of
the secretary of the state. 1t does in
clude S1,S0O per year to the wife of
the secretary of state, who Is chief
brand clerk. 1t includes the salary of
81 200 paid to the daughter of the sec
retary of the state, who is assistant
brand clerk. 1t includes the salary of
four more clerks and L think Ii In
cludes also two cousins, but as to
whether or not that is true l am not
,ble to verify.
"1'he adjutant general. who spends
aot more than enough work to equal
two days in n week, has spent over the
Limitation provided by the Legislature,
$4,000 per year, and he has taken polit-
ical trips from Washington 20 Cali
fornia, for which you, the taxpayers of
Weld county, have to pay.
I'VE have a collection of minerals
in our state house-any one of you
would be glad to do this work for 5000
year. They paid in Two years $17,-
GOO in salaries.
There is also n land board which has
done some very scandalous leasing of
land in North park and in the south
western part of the state. This land
board has, for nominal sum, sold the
timber growing on state lands in large
quantities to spectators. This land
board Is paid Si,SOO per year, and has
three extra clerks employed at SO, 900
per year. l could go by the hour over
the records and ! could show you that
there are employed in and about the
state house at Denver not Tess than
fifty employees at salaries of from ST.
200 upwards, whose sole business has
been to further the attempt to elect
the governor of this state TO the Unit
ed States Senate.
when l say that the state warrants
have not been worth over 80 cents ON
the dollar, | take it from the columns
of the Denver Republican of July 24th
and September 9th, when these war
rants We're offered by advertisements
for 30 cents on the dollar"