The Ordway new era., 1907-01-04
s TO The LEGISLATURE
eDonald Reviews the Work Of the Last
|ears. and Makes Many Important
Recommendation.


will give you in addition about $780,
900 a year. 30 you can easily see for
yourselves about what amount OF
money you will have at your disposal
for the maintenance OF the state gov
| ernment and the various institutions
dependent upon the state for support.
The report of the State Board OF
Charities and Correction should be of
inestimable value to you In making ap-
preparations. 1t has given the matter
of needs great study and has made rec
ommendation In accordance with Its
observations In visiting the institu-
tions coming under its Jurisdiction.
You will find in the report OF the
| auditor OF state some suggestions for
! new laws and amendments to exist
ing laws. the enactment Of which
would undoubtedly be Of material SER
vice to the state. You will note from
his report that the appropriations
made by the last Legislature have been
| paid in full and that there will be
| surplus in the revenue Of practically
800 1000. which can be used for the pay
ment Of deficiency Indebtedness.
Attention is again called to the out
standing warrants against the reve-
nues of 1887. 1888 and 1889. aggregat-
Ing almost $4,000, 900. including inter
est. A great deal has been said by for
mer governors on this question, but SO
far no action has been taken by the
Legislature looking towrd the redemp-
ton OF these warrants. which bear six
per cent interest This has naturally
increased year by year until now the
interest owed by the state more than
equals the principal.
The state treasurer in his biennial
report recommends a plan for the re-
demption OF this Indebtedness, which
plan seems to me 10 be feasible and Is
at least worthy of consideration and in
vestigation. Such plan. II adopted.
would prevent the possibility OF outside
parties taking advantage OF the situa-
tion to reap great profits for them
selves.
1t certainly seems wise to provide for
bond issue carrying interest at the
rate OF about three per cent. II would
be q business-like proposition and
would enable the school fund to have
the benefit OF large amount Of money
which Is now tied up. The state will
eventually have to pay this indebted
ness. and 1t Is certainly an unwisc
policy 10 allow the interest to accrue
as It is at the present time.
Educational Institutions.
Colorado has every reason in the
world to be proud Of Its educational In
stitutions and for young state 1t is
well equipped with the higher educa:
tional facilities and all OF them are
in excellent condition. The two-fifths
mill levy recently granted the State
University seems to- be ample for the
maintenance OF that college. but addi-
tional buildings are needed.
| The Nnrma1 urhOOo n we'll pnntnnpd
for the training Of teachers and is do
ing an excellent work. the benefit OF
which the children Of Colorado are now
| enjoying. Provision should be made
for assisting the school very mate
rally.
The State School Of Mines has an
international reputation. During the
past few years It has been the reel
pient Of some private gifts OF consider
able magnitude which have been very
helpful in advancing the interests OF
the school. and have also been great
saving to the state. Through the
means OF these gifts It has been en-
abled to erect two handsome buildings
which might not otherwise have been
possible.
The State Agricultural College has
been very eniciently managed and. is
stitutions. Provision should be made
to purchase more land for the use OF
the experimental department and for
farming purposes, as at the present
time they are somewhat crowded for
room, to enable them to properly con-
duct their experiments.
Improvement, both In method and
equipment, has been the watchword OF
all these Institutions. and l am sure
you will be more than gratified with
the work accomplished.
Fiscal Year.
Great distress ia often entailed upon
some Of our state Institutions, particu-
larly those which are not provided with
definite mill levy or continuing ap-
preparation, ON account Of the biennial
period ending ON November both. and
leaving them without funds until the
next Legislature can make approprta-
tions covering the early part OF the
period. This works great hardship
upon these institutions. and believe
could be avoided. Tho last Legislature
was very prompt in coming to their as
sistance, but there have been times
wnen they were without funds for prac-
tically four months.
Il also leaves large number OF the
employees OF the state government
WITHOUT compensation until the short
appropriation bill r. passed. believe
tent by making the appropriations
continuing BY statutory enactment.
The state u now ON Z sound imam |
oial basis, the needs Of the state inetl- |
tutlu6S for maintonauce can BE- pretty |
annsarsfa1v dokMfnlno6 upon and any |