The state herald., 1901-01-11
GOVERNOR THOMAS MESSAGE
SHOWS COLORADO'S CONDITION

ueSS;iSe 10 tHe IHirteeutH pehoi"' 49,
sembly. said in part
"Gentlemen of the Thirteenth Gen
eral Assembly: 1t becomes my duty
under the constitution to inform you
of the condition of the state, and rec
ommend such measures as shall be
deemed expedient for the public well
fare. To do this fully and intelligent
ly, I must unduly tax your patience
and good nature; for our conditions
are far from satisfactory, and meas
ures for relief are imperative.
You are the legatees OF all the acts
and omissions of your predecessors
and must remedy the effects they have
Occasioned. You have been chosen by
the people to exert your constitutional
powers for the salvation of their com
monwealth. 1t is a task you can nell
ther evade nor postpone, one that you
can neither fail to perform nor poorly
reform. You must legslate effective
ly; for public needs are urgent and
public demands have been too long
neglected.
During the present administration,
the state capitol has been substantially
completed. The edifice represents
cost Of about S2,57S,4S47 every dol
lar cf which has been legitimately eX-
pended. deem it n subject of con
graduation that from the day when
the first stone of its foundation was
laid down to that which witnessed the
last finishing touch upon its dome, no
taint or suspicion Of jobbeiy or mis-
appropriation has ever rested upon Its
managers or builders. Such a record
is grnnder than the majes.lc outlines
of its exterior, ,nobler than the exquisite
proportions of its galleries and colon
nadcs.
"Our fiscal affairs are in deplorablc
condition. They demand and should
receive your first consideration for the
treasury is empty and the general rev
enues of the state are wholly made
quate to the public needs. This condi-
tion IL not n novel one; 1t has existed
practically since our admission into
the Union. Its immediate gravity CON
sists in the fact that we have been
compelled to live beyond our means
until the limit has been reached. Our
credit is exhausted, and we are face
TO face with the alternative of relief or
bankruptcy. This result has long
been obvious. was long since foreseen,
and has long been predicted.
"In his biennial message of two
years ago, Governor Adams emphasiz-
ed the significance of the auditors esti-
mate for the fiscal period just ended,
showing probable receipts of S1.12j,-
3i6, as against probable expenditures
of 81 1856. Tj2.61. being n probable def
cit of S231 ,4OG61. He drew vivid pie
ture of the public needs, our growing
wants, and expanding necessities. He
suggested economies on the one hand
and methods of securing needed reye-
nue. on the other. In my inaugural
message to the Twelfth Assembly
supplemented his appeals as best ]
could. but no relief came from Its de
llberations. Hence the administrative
pathway of the last two years has been
strewn with everything but roses. 1t
has been n period of travail and trihu-
lation. one whose problems and vicissi-
tudes have taxed to the utmost the en-
crgy and the resources of the eNecu.
tive. 4 deficiency was inevitable; how
to minimize II. 10 keep the state going
and to avoid the expense of an extra
legislative session We're the factors re-
quiring solution. The thing was done.
but II cannot be duplicated.
'The receipts OF the general revenue
for the fiscal period just ended were
somewhat above the auditors esti-
mates and reached the sum of Sl,2GI,-
oi0.1i. while the warrants issued
against them fell below his estimates,
amounting. approximately. 10 lib
I26.13. Notwithstanding the balance
shown by these figures TO the credit
side OF the ledger. credits were necessi-
rliy authorized beyond appropriations
to the Asylum for the Insane. $4,000:
the Penltentinry. $4,000; the Soldiers
and Sailors Home. 10000: the Unlyer-
sity. $4,000. But for the relief OBJ
iained by the Issuance OF emergency
certificates TO the extent mentioned,
these Institutions could not have been
continuously maintained and have
been kept In fair condition only by
the exercise OF rigid economy.
The Denver Clearing House Asso.
citation, whose public spirit cannot he
too highly commended. advanced the
sum OF ST0OtO In exchange for these
vouchers upon my assurance that the
Thirteenth General Assembly would
promptly recognize Its claim and make
due provision for Its early liquidation.
nm assurance which ! feel warranted
In believing will be honored both In
| tho letter and In the spirit. The board
OF regents succeeded IN raising funds
with which To meet the vouchers FOR
the University. and those who al.
vnnccd them have the same claim TO
your immediate consideration. but
for the commcndnhlc and generous nc.
ton OF the parties mentioned. n
special session OF the Twelfth General
Assembly would have been inevitable.
and while Its deliberations would
doubtless have brought relief. the ex.
pcnse OF the session would have been
considerable nnd mn added burden 10
the public treasury.
appropriations Were enacted by the
Twelfth Assembly ngrrcga,ng StI2..
b55.a5 In excess of revenues received.
These were nll essential 10 the pur.
poses Intended. not one OF them being
In any wise supcrfuous. They were
approved In the hope that increased
nascssmcpis and revenues might en-.
sue. but the hope proved n vain one.
Their re-cnnctmcnt, together with leg.
isintion maxim. them available. IL i'm.
pcrntivc. Ms I shnii demonstrate.
"For the fiscal period ending No.
vembor 10. 1902. the auditor esti,
mates the general receipts ut si.0,is,.
600. ms against expenditures Of si.G2i,.
as3.ia This forrshndows deficit OF
Sbs5. 5.7s.l -. His estimates. however.
with the exception of the Item for The
Soldiers nni Sailors Home nrc con,
fined 10 the requirements OF first nnd
| t.uIltue.ta Or