The state herald., 1900-08-24
REVENUE LAWS
TO BE REVISED

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 IL. Al
though the commission took very little
radical action the trend of the discus
sion showed that the members intend
to draw up law which will still keep
4. Colorado within her revenues and keep
her from being Il spendthrift debtor
state, whatever changes In her laws
may he involved.
The discussion did not hinge always
on how TO get more revenue but fire.
quently upon how to make the reve-
nue. at hand 20 farther. Retrenchment
was the hobby of several of the mem
bers. and they succeeded in lmprcssing
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 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 proposition 10 in
troduCe in the new laws clause Civ
ing the State Board of Equalization
Ia lt.,E. 90, I.,sG..y fTIf.
brought up the old fight of the county
against the state. The state considers
that II Is robbed by the present pro-
cedure OF county assessors. In order
TO make the taxation for the state as
light ms possible the assessors make
low assessments. When II comes 10
raising revenue for the county the as
SCISSORS make a 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 10 make such low assess.
ments and then make up county ex-
penses 10y high levlcs.
ON this matter there was difference
OF opinion and Judge l.. 4. Wells was
appointed to look into the constitution
nllty Of the power which II Is proposed
TO put into the hands OF the State
Board OF Equalization.
Joseph A. Israel was the chief cham
pion OF retrenchmcnt. In the Legisln-
ture Of 1891 Mr.. Israel introduced n hill
providing for n consolidation OF all the
penal and charitable institutions In the
state. lie presented practically the
same proposition yesterday and under
took To show by argument the feaslbil-
ity of his scheme and the benefits that
would result from II. one manage
ment. he said, could easily run all the
institutions. ns the business To he done
for each was about the same. A great
or publicity could be given accounts.
which are now practically kept secret,
by this consolidation he thought near.
ly SlOO,OJo could he 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 he abolished and one
board he appointed for the educational
institutions. TO have rooms IN the capt.
tol building. and to transact all bust
ness there. The necessity Of having the
men on this board as FAR removed from
politics ms possible was strongly al.
vised. aud he advised also that those
serving ON the board should he obliged
TO give their whole attention 10 the
work. and should he rcmuneratcd ne
cordlnely.
The taxation Of liilgnnts was another
subject taken NJ. The discussion wns
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
nll legal Instruments, would be ndvis,
able, 4 levy Of - cents for NIL instru
mcnts filed In District Courts was sug.
rcsted, and 80 cents charg. for all In.
functions nnd mnndnmuscs. This. II
wns calculated. would bring In rcyc.
nu. OF sioDDo.
The following other suggestions were
discussed:
To pay the nSsessors n commission
instead OF n salary and thus make
them more likely to make high assess
mei,H on behalf of the state.
10 turn all railroad taxes Into the
state treasury, instead OF into the
| counties.
10 mike lcssccs of state land pay nn
nnnunl tax on Il.
10 save the amount usually nppro.
prin,ed for Internal Improvement by
| turning IL over Ia ~" capitol fund.
The board VIII meet this murnin. nj
10 o'clock and viii continue It's sessions
until some sur, of revenue laws nrc
framed.