Cañon City record., 1900-10-25

RuQuCH4 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. III PVWch PAAoA
to 1901.
The Collier 4 Cleveland warrants
were declared illegal by the Supreme
court and are not included in the above
list; but 1t Is not true that the Supreme
court has ever declared any Of the
above warrants Illegal. But, on the
contrary, In communications published
in the Denver press during the month
Of October, 1896, the then judges Of
the Supreme court unanimously agreed
that ninety per cent. of the foregoing
warrnnts were legal and valid. and
that, for the other ten per cent the
state had received value and was
morally bound to pay the same.
Supreme Courts Opinion.
It is true that, In an opinion deliv-
cred In answer to question pro-
pounded by Governor Cooper. the Su-
preme court said in 1889 that the ap-
preparations must be kept within the
revenues OF the state and that war
rants issued In excess OF the revenue
were void, but, in the same opinion.
the Supreme court also said that ap-
propriations for the salaries OF legis-
lative. executive and judicial officers
were entitled to n preference and
should be first paid. The principal
OF the unpaid SALARY warrants amounts
to 500, 2,67S43. and among the number
are to be found warrants payable for
the salaries OF governors, Judges OF the
Supreme and District courts and other
state officers. or the remainder there
were issued for the maintenance OF
the state penitentiary and State indus
trial school, now outstanding. $24I,-
7OO.51. In reference to these warrants.
Governor Adams. in his last message
to the legislature. said:
II again call attention TO the JUS
tice of making some provision for the
repudintcd. or so-callcd excess wnr1
rants:' they may he illegal. but they
are Just debts, paid for the support OF
state institutions. for salaries of cxecu-
tive, judicial and other departments.
"a man who. by hiding property,
should Invoke the bankrupt law to
avoid payment OF debts would be
looked upon as dishonest. ShIrking
paymcn: OF honest claims by the state
Is as reprehenslbls as In an individ-
unl. God did not make one code of
morals and integrity for the individual
and another for states. Twice have
ortr people voted against the payment
OF These obligations. only u misconcep-
tion OF the facts could have Induced
the negative vote. ms | would pledge
my faith In humanity that the citizens
OF Colorado would not knowingly re-
pudinte just and honest debt.
The Record Since 1890.
Since 1880 the following y the rec
ord OF the several administrations:
Eighth General Assembly, Gov.
, Mout,, second % term. fiscal years w..
Ninth General Assembly. Gov.
Waite. emergency warrants. fiscai
Tenth General Assembly. Gov. Me.
intire. fiscal years isss and isss.. None
Eleventh General Assembly. Gov.
Adams second term. emergency
,s,u warrsn,s n.cai years iss' and ,omo
Twelfth General Assembly. oov.
fiscal years 1883 and 1900. approsi-
mntely ..-...s.-..--.-...s.-s.s. .s.+s..s.. ispS,S
From the foregoing. II viii he seen
that OF the five governors who have
been elected since 1850. the two Rcpub-
lIcan governors are the only ones who
squared the appropriations with the
revenue. while. to the credit OF Gov
ernor Waite. the only Populist. II u
found TINT he came within 10000 OF
keeping The expenditures within the
revenues during his term.
A Plea for Payment.
or course the constitutional provi-
sion with reference to excess warrants
applies as well to emergency warrants.
and II was so held by the present at
torney general OF the stntc. In reply TO
question propomnded by Governor
Thomns. This opinion Is now ON file
in the attorney generals Office. md
will. l am told. bc published In his
next report ! have not made the fore
going comparisons for the purpose of
refiecting upon any individual or par
ty. but for the purpose OF calling aitcn-
ton TO the fact that the question OF
the payment OF these warrants is one
that arises above party and should mp
peal TO every citizen. When the consti-
tutionnl amendment making provision
Tor the payment OF the excess war
rants" was pending before the people
In 1896. the statement that seemed To
weigh the most strongly against Its
adoption was to the effect that if these
warrants were valid the holders should
sue the state. the people not realizing
that the state, being sovereign. nm ac-
tion could not be maintained ngainsi
1t. unless authority therefor should
first be granted by the Legislature.
However. ut the last session OF the leg
islnture Senator Seidomridgc intro
duccd bill authorizing the holders OF
these excess warrants TO test their
validity In the courts. This bill was
defeated. The only reason then given
by the opposition wns that the war
rants were valid md would he paid In
time, and therefore an net OF the leg
islnturc wns unnecessary. The nom
payment Of these warrants is blot
upon the financial integrity and stand
ing OF the state OF Colorado that should
be wiped out.
CHARLES ID. HAYT.