Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-01-07

tioh ana we should sustain HIM In hi
work. Public sentiment Is in favo
OF such enactment.
consider this to be one of the mos
important subjects on which you vii
be called to legIslate. Colorado bein,
one OF the younger states, it is nov
possible TO protect its CITIZENSHIP
from these monopolies upon theii
rights.
One OF the subjects you will hav,
Tor consideration Is a law providing
for the creation of board OF railroad
commissioners and prescribing Its
| duties.
Personally am of the opinion that
such a board should be elected by the
people for a term of six years. one
member retiring every two years.
| believe the law should be conser-
vative protecting the interests of .he
people, but at the same time not be
such as would cripple the railroads in
their efficiency The people can be
protected without confiscating the
railroads.
| believe that the board of rail
road commissioners should perform
the duties now performed by the state
board OF equalization in the assess
ment OF corporate property. the latter
board being left with the power OF
equalizing as between the counties as
the constitution now provides.
II Is impossible for the state board of
equalization to become sufficiently
acquainted with the values of railroad
ana other corporate property assessed
by 1t In the limited time at Its dis
posal. The board cannst. therefore,
make an assessment that is lust to
the other taxpayers Of the state or
the railroads themselves. board of
railroad commissioners, in the dis
charge of other duties attached TO the
oiilce. would necessarily become nc.
quainted with the railroad property.
It's value. earnings. etc, and could In
telligently make the assessment.
As | am now retiring from Office. [
believe can, with becoming modesty.
recommend that the Legislature make
provision for an executive mansion.
to be maintained by the state. It is
not necessary that such home
should be magnificent, but simply a
good, substantial dwelling, In close
proximity to the capitol building.
While on the above subject It might
not be amlss for me to give the leg.
lslature my views as to the term OF
ONCE as governor. believe a consti-
tutional amendment should be SUBJ
mitted to the people. providing
change In the tenure of Office from
Two TO four years. with provision
that he shall not be eligible for two
consecutive terms.
There is rapidly increasing senti-
ment In this country that United
States senator's should be elected by
direct vote of the people. believe a
large majority OF citizens of Colorado
favor this plan, but, of course. II is a
matter which cannot be regulated by
state legislatures and will require n
national constitution amendment to
bring It about. You can lend moral
force to the movement by memorial
izing congress to give the people the
opportunity to pass judgment as to
whether or not they desire the
change.
desire to call attention to the ex-
position 10 he held at jamestown.
va, from April to November of this
year. commemorating the first perma-
nent settlement OF English speaking
people on this hemisphere, in which
Colorado is invited to participate. II
an appropriation is made for this ex-
position, provision for a certain por-
tion Of It to be used by the Negro De
yelopment Exposition company should
be made.
The time is mewhat short for
making large exhibit. but If the leg
islature deems 1t advisable a small
appropriation could be. made which
would enable Colorado to make a
small exhibit. which, II wisely select
ed, would reflect credit on the state.
have also been requested to call
your attention to the Aaska-Y Yukon
Pacific exposition, to be held at Sc
attic, Wash. In 1909, which is to be
held for the purpose of exploiting the
richness OF our Alaska possessions
and to augment trade with the Orient
The Colorado travelling library com.
mission should receive some support
at your hands. The women are doing
good work In sending out these
books, but have been informed It is
now no longer possible to procure
free transportation for their boxes
and small appropriation should be
made for this purpose. besides the
other incidental expenses which they
Incur.
1t affords me. pleasure to say that