Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-11-22

After the decision Of Judge Riner,
holding that the provisions OF the reve-
nue. law providing for state board OF
assessors was In cOntrnvention To tho
constitution. the State Board Of Equal
ization met and instructed the At
torney-sencral Ia, withdraw the writ
OF ~upersedcas In the mnndamus case.
and the board Is now proceeding to
make the assessment on corporate
, property. This. In brief. IL the status
OF the litigation up TO the present time.
The Thirteenih General Assembly en-
acted law which. In It's operations.
was the wisest. most efficient and
effective revenue law that has yet been
provided for the collection OF the reve-
nues OF the state. II was "A law that
appealed TO the people. irrespective
OF party, by Its equity and impartial
ity. Under its provisions all persons
and all corporations were treated alike;
none received benefits and privileges
thar were not accorded ga all. II was
n law that was demanded by the
people. by the business interests. by the
educational Interests and by the charit-
able interests OF the state.
The law has been ruthiessiy attack
cd In the courts by the corporations.
and the hands OF the administrators OF
the affairs OF the state have been NO
| effectively tied that they arc unable 10
proceed with the collection OF revenues
necessary 10 conduct our institutions
OF learning. our great bulwnrks OF
American citizenship and freedom. Our
penal and charitable Institutions are
now suffering for the want of funds.
with which 90 properly conduct them.
While we do no. for n moment con.
tend that the corporations do not nj nli
II q I,ux "a ttsls "a IL
crc to test the con-titutionnliiy and
validity Of u legislative enactment. yet
l their manner OF procedure has been
I such as TO delay the speedy dc'crmin.
alton OF the cause now pending before
the Supreme Court until the Interests
OF the state In the matter OF the ASSESS
mcnt and collection Of taxes have be-
come seriously jcopurdixcd. The dil.
ntory tnctics they have pursued arc
more ,hnn convincing that they are cn.
ticavorins TO escape their just propor-
tion OF taxation.
Since the passage OF the law We
have had ample opportunity afforded
tis TO determine Its practical effective.
ness. II may bc thn; there nrc some
provisions contained therein that can
he improved upon. which Will ndd
very materially to Its efficacy. As n
whole. the law Il most satisfactory.
and I hav. hut one recommendation In
the way OF change TO make. and that
Il the provision providing for the ns-
srssmcnt OF mining property. whether
producing or non-producinE. 1t seems
/ to me rs though. when the assessing
powers OF the state nrc required to
list and value the other property OF
the sintc nj full cash value. that icgis.
lntion OF this kind. where the assessor
Q NN...u r..Na.
gross ouipu, for the year previous rs
the value Of the property. TINT II Ger
tninly Ii class legislation. II Is also
provided ',hn; nothing In this act con.
inincd shall he construed ms giving
the nsscssor any right TO assess non.
producing mining claim Mt greater
sum per acre than IN assessed against
the lowest producing mine. or mining
claim. situated In the same locality"
thus taking away the authority OF the
nsscssor TO use his own Judgment and
discretion ns TO It's real and true value.
II may bc that such non-producing
claim may bc actually worth thou.
sands upon thousands of dollars. yet
the assessor has no authority whit
ever to assess II mt Its true worth. be-
Ing compelled TO place nm assessment
upon II OF not more than that plhccd
on the lowest producing claim or mine
In tho same locality. II does not mp
pear TO me that this II Just or right.
and I earnestly recommend this fcn-
turc to the Assembly with the hope
that II may receive your thoughtful
attention and such remedy rs may
suggest itself to you rs being Just
and fair TO ou- mining Industry.
Next TO the important duty of pro-
vidinc for state revenues, Is the ncccs-
sity of providing the proper protection
to that large class OF our citizens who
are compelled to undergo dangers nnd
hazards in the performance of their
duties. They should have ample pro-
lection afforded them In n proper lia-
bility bill against the negligence they
are powcrlcss TO prevent. nnd OF
which they have no knowledge until
ovcrtnken by some accident. and 1
trust that the Scnatc will. rs speedily
rs possible. remove the cloud that
now hangs over the employers liabil-
ity bill passed by the Thirteenth Cen
eraf Assembly.
The people of the western slope nrc
vitally interested In the construction
md completion of state canal No. 3.
The completion of this canal will add
many beautiful homes and prosperous
| citizens to our fair state, and 1 COM
mend to you such liberty OF judgment
and action us will enable those who
have this work In charge TO complete
their work ut the earliest date prac,i.
cable.
| As citizens Of the state OF Colorado,
we all take great interest and pride In
the worlds fair to be held in st. Louis
| in 1908. to commensurate the Louisiana
/ purchase. of which Colorado formed n
part. 1t is the desire that this state
shall make nn exhibit which shall sur
pass that of any Of our sister states.
Our natural resources are such ss TO
enable us TO make most gratifying
exhibit, and one that will attract the
attention of investors of capital. event
ually adding greatly to our material
welfare. Through some inndvertencc
| tho L Inrislnfurn In nas sinc n liberal