The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-02-01

amendments ptzpeak your sarnasx
considera ton. This IL an intricate mat
ter that will require your careful and
serious thought. Should you find that
any amendment has been proposed by
inadvertence or by reason Of Its char
acter and effect not being fully ap-
parent at the time of Its passage, 1t
should be repealed. However, l am
strongly convinced that the people Of
this state are able to handle the funda-
mental law Of the state in q most satis-
factory and Intelligent manner, and
that when once committed to them they
will take such action upon It as the
best interests and rights Of the people
demand.
In regard to corporlte legislation. 1t
must be remembered that whatever
materially affects the interests OF the
corporations correspondingly affects
the welfare Of the people Of the state.
but we must also remember that 1t Ia
from the state and Its resources that
they derive their great wealth and
power, and that the people should have
something to say as to how that power
is used and that wealth acquired. In
the early days, when our state was
new, and It's development had not
reached that unprecedented stage upon
which we now fnd ourselves, there
may have been some necessity for
charging high freight and passenger
rates. But since the state has devel-
oped, with Its multitudinous farms,
cities and villages, with the opening OF
new mines and new Industries, with an
enormously increased traffic In both
freight and passengers, the tribute
these corporations lay upon our people
ID. tvo1 nd nva af i
believe that this session Of the Legisla-
ture should take steps to remedy this
great evil and curb, at least to some ex-
tent, the aggresslOns Of our great rail-
road corporations. The future pros
perity and welfare of our people de-
mands that this session Of the Legisla-
ture take cognizance Of this serious sit
uation and that the necessary relief be
afforded them.
However, the matter Of the greatest
and utmost Importance for your atten-
ton Ia the enactment of a revenue law
that will insure sufficient revenue for
the necessary expenses of the state gov
eminent and of the state institutions.
This is primarily the object in calling
you together. The state looks to you
for the needed relief, and do not be-
lieve that the appeal will be In vain.
believe you will enact q law that will
he just and fair to all, in the operation
OF which no one will have just cause
for complaint. sincerely hope and
trust that as few bills will be intro
duced as possible. only such bills being
introduced as are actually necessary to
properly cover the matters mentioned
In the call. also wish to express the
hope that you will complete the work
as speedily as possible, and with as lit
tie expense to the state as may be.
However, In the performance Of your
duty do not desire such expedition a.
Will embarrass you In the right per-
Torrance of your duty, or such expedi-
ton as Is Inconsistent with the passage
Of carefully considered and absolutely
constitutional measures. Do not be
turned from the plain path Of your
duty by those who see In the assem-
blage Of the people an Investigation
into affairs that may disturb their par
ticular monopoly.
The calling of the Legislature to-
gether IL a most solemn occasion. You
should not he unmindful Of the fact
that as representatives Of the people
great responsibility rests upon you. The
matters before you cannot be treated
in a light or frivolous manner. be-
lleVe Lne lnteilSeuce huu P0ttlottSu VI
the Thirteenth General Assembly 10 Of
such high character that 1t will be
enabled to Complementary grasp the
situation and deal with 1t In an eQuita-
| BILE and unswervable fairness to all con.
| cerned.
| 1t is your sworn duty to cOnscien-
tiously and earnestly consider the mat
tiers herein presented. and give heed to
| your own conBciences as to the right
and Justice of such matters; then you
will have discharged your duty to the
state and your constituents.