The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-02-01
VERNON ORMAN'S MESSAGE
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

After the decision of Judge Riner,
holding that the provisions of the reve-
nue. law providing for . state board Of
assessors was In contravention to the
constitution, the State Board Of Equal
ixation met and instructed the at
torney-general to withdraw the writ
of supersedeaa In the mandamus case,
and the board IL now proceeding to
make the assessment ON corporate
property. This, in brief, II the status
OF the litigation up to the present time.
The Thirteenth General Assembly en-
acted a law which. in its 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. 1t was 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
that were not accorded to all. 1t was
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 ruthlessly attack
ed in the courts by the corporations,
and the hands of the administrators Of
the affairs of the state have been SO
effectively tied that they are unable to
proceed with the collection of revenues
necessary to conduct our institutions
Of learning, our great bulwarks OF
American citizenship and freedom. Our
penal and charitable Institutions are
now suffering for the want of funds,
with which to properly conduct them.
yN11i1a vvo do mot fnr a moment con-
tend that the corporations do not at all
times have a perfect right md privil-
eye to test the constitutionality and
validity of legislative enactment, yet
their manner of procedure has been
such as to delay the speedy determin-
alton Of the cause now pending before
the Supreme Court until the interests
of the state in the matter Of the assess
ment and collection Of taxes have be
come seriously jeop0rdized. The dill
atory tactics they have pursued are
more than convincing that they are en-
deavoring to escape their just proper
ton Of taxation.
Since the passage of the law we
have had ample opportunity afforded
US to determine its practical effective
ness. 1t may be that there are some
provisions contained therein that can
be improved upon, which will add
very materially to it's efficacy. As
whole. the law Is most satisfactory,
and I have but one recommendation In
the way of change to make, and that
is the provision providing for the as
sessment of mining property. whether
producing or non-prOducing. 1t seems
to me as though, when the assessing
powers OF the state are required to
list and value the other property Of
the state at full cash value, that legis-
lation Of this kind. where the assessor
ID compelled to take one fourth Of the
gross output for the year previous as
the value Of the property, that 1t GER
tainly Is class legislation. 1t is also
provided THAT nothing In this act con-
tanned shall be construed as giving
the assessor any right to assess nom
producing mining claim ut q greater
sum per acre than v aaaaased against
the lowest producing mine, or mining
claim, situated in the same locality"
thus taking away the authority of the
assessor to use his own Judgment and
discretion as to its real and true value.
1t may be that such non-producing
claim may be actually worth thou
sands upon thousands Of dollars, yet
the assessor has no authority what
ing compelled to place an assessment
upon 1t of not more than that placed
on the lowest producing claim or mine
in the same locality. 1t does not ap-
pear to me that this ID Just or right,
and earnestly recommend this fea-
ture to the Assembly with the hope
that 1t may receive your thoughtful
attention and such remedy ms may
suggest itself to you as being Just
and fair to our mining industry.
Next to the Important duty OF pro-
viding for state revenues, Is the neces-
sity Of providing the proper protection
| to that large class of our citizens who
| are compelled to undergo dangers and
ha1ards in the performance Of their
duties. They should have ample pro-
lection afforded them in a proper lia-
bility bill against the negligence they
are powerless to prevent, and of
| which they have no knowledge until
overtaken by some accident, and 1
trust that the Senate will, as speedily
as possible, remove the cloud that
now hangs over the employers liabil-
ity bill passed by the Thirteenth Cen
erar Assembly.
The people Of the western slope are
vitality interested In the construction
and completion of state canal No. 3.
The completion of this canal will add
many beautiful homes and prosperous
citizens to our fair state, and COM
mend to you such liberty Of judgment
and action as will enable those who
have this work In charge to complete
their work ut the earliest date practi-
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 commemorate the Louisiana
purchase, of which Colorado formed a
part. 1t Is the desire that this state
shall make an exhibit which shall sur
pass that OF any Of our sister states.
Our natural resources are such as to
enable us to make q most gratifying
exhibit and me that will attract fha