Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-10-23
TELLER FOR AND AGAINST.

o
| Senator Teller added an other fea-
ture to his now-famous "Old Dupli-
city act when he wrote letter 10
President Malone of the Denver
Chamber of Commerce declaring his
opposition to the Bucklin amendment
He had either forgotten, or had hoped
Senator Bucklin would forget the let
ter he wrote from Washington to
Bucklin last December in which he en-
dorsed the Bucklin amendment.
From his committee room in the
United States senate on December
"a, 1901. Teller wrote TO Senator Buck.
lin. acknowledging the receipt of
copy OF the amendment, and declaring
that he could see no objection to it.
The letter was called forth by reports
that he was opposed to the single tax
Nine months later, when he saw
the trend of popular sentiment he
wrote President Malone of the Cham
ber of Commerce, declaring his oppo-
sition to the amendment. and express
ing sentiments directly contrary to
| those in the previous letter. Here
are his letters:
oh.
Committee on Private Land Claims,
United States Senate.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec "a.
1901.-"Hon. James w. Bucklin, Den
yer, Colorado. Dear Sir: Through
your kindness l am in receipt of the
| proposed amendment to our state con-
stitution to be voted on next fall
Il had given no particular attention
to this amendment, when l received
letter from party in Denver asking
me if l was in favor of single tax, to
which | replied l was not.
Il had given no particular attention
to this amendment, and it certainly
| cannot be called single tax PROPOSE
| tion-it might well be denominated a
provision for making our tax system
| somewhat more flexible than it now
is, and putting it more completely in
| the control of the people of the sever
al counties of the state. 1t appears to
me to make it possible for the voters
of any county TO determine whether
they would except any particular prop
erty from taxation, and if so what. 1t
does not do that of itself, but simply
makes provision that the people may
do that If they so desire.
1T is quite possible that commun-
ity may desire to encourage manufac-
turers or other enterprises for q GER
tain length of time. / believe that it
cannot be done under the present t2x
system, and l see no objection in CIV
Ing the people that opportunity, as
this amendment will. | am, very re-
spectfully, H. NJ. TELLER"
AGAINST.
DENVER, Colo, Oct. is, 1907
Hon. r, H. Malone, President Cham
Der of Commerce.
Dear Sir: l have yours of the 9Th
inst. concerning the Bucklin amend
ment to the constitution of Colorado.
1t appears that there has been some
question raised as to the propriety of
using my frank.
This amendment was passed by al
most the unanimous vote of the legis-
lature of Colorado, to be submitted to
the people of the state for their con-
sideration and to be voted on at the
coming election. The document re
ceived by you under my frank, was
presented to the senate by Senator
Butler of North Carolina. and ordered
printed. This made it frankable by any
senator or member of congress.
81 was appealed to by membersAot
both political parties to permit my
frank to be used for general distribu-
tion of the amendment. The franking
privilege is given for the benefit of
the people and not as a personal peg
quisite to senators and members oY
congress, | thought then and still
think, that the people of the state are
entitled to have any document that
has been printed in the Congressional
Record, and in which any considera-
Bile number of people take an inter-
est. distributed under congressional
frank of the senators and members.
The granting of the use of my frank
was simply an act of courtesy that |
would extend to any collection of rep
utable citizens, and l did for them
what would do for others under sim
liar circumstances.
The permission to use my frank
bore no relation whatever to my views
tives In the legislature of Colorado for
large number of people believe our
revenue laws are defective and ought
to be revised This may be true, but
do not believe the Bucklin amend
ment will accomplish that end and
| have never, since l examined it,
been able to give it my support.
The amendment has been placed
before the people by their representa-
tives in the legislator of Colorado for
their approval or disapproval. What
should be done with 1t lies with the
people. l believe they will decide
wisely after full consideration of the
amendment, and to do this they must
know what 1t is. Yours respectfully
(Signed) H. M, TELLER"
The honest voters of La Plata must
rally to the prot otectiou or tb, hoiIot