Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-05-14
GOVERNOR SHAFROTH FINALLY
D|SP0SES OF ALL BILLS PASSED

Denver.-The News Thursday morn
ing reports as follows the last days
consideration of bills:
Governor Shafroth took q long, deep
breath of relief at IL o'clock last night,
when he concluded consideration Of
bills passed by the Seventeenth Gen
eral Assembly.
The thirty days granted by law for
the governor to approve, pass without
signature, and thereby allow to be-
come q law, or veto. expired at mid
night.
Governor Shafroth transmitted to
the secretary of state twenty-one bills
of the fifth class without signature,
which thereby became laws.
The governor vetoed the bill pro-
viding for a commission to draft
revenue law. the bill for an arts COM
mission. the bill for a normal school
on the Western slope, and the bill for
certain agricultural experiments.
All of the bills passed without sign
ing were of minor Importance and car
ried small appropriations. Owing to
the enormous press Of work Of con-
sidering the more important measures,
the governor was unable to investigate
the details aud permitted them to pass
Unsigned.
Unless some way Of increasing the
state revenue is devised, 1t Is unlikely
that any Of the bills OF the fifth class
carrying appropriations will become
operative. In the opinion Of the gov
ernor, the same may be said OF many
OF the bills OF the fourth class.
Bills Of the first, second and third
class, approved by the governor, carry
total appropriation Of $3.O76.462.03.
The estimated revenue of the state to
meet these appropriations Is $3.007.-
925. leaving a deficit Of $GS.437.O3.
The estimated revenue Is consid-
cred conservative. and may run higher
than the figures given above.
The governor said last night that
he intended to take personal supervis-
ion, as far as possible, OF the expendi-
ture of moneys appropriated for other
than fixed charges, and in this way he
expects by careful and judicious man
agement to save 100000 to the state.
II the governors hopes in this direc-
ton are realized. there will bs more
than enough money to meet the est.
mated deficit on appropriation bills OF
the first, second and third classes.
BY vetoing bills carrying varied ap-
propriations and by vetoing various
items in bills approved. tho governor
cut off $282,300 from the legislative
budget as submitted to him.
Bills in the fourth and fifth class
either approved by the governor or al.
lowed to become laws by reason Of his
failure to act In them. carry q total ap-
propriation Of about $350.000.
The governor says that II the county
assessors Of the state who meet with
the board Of equalization on May gath
will agree to increase their assess.
ments fifteen per cent. on the taxable
property In their counties, this can be
met without difficulty.
The governor expressed the opinion
that In many Of the counties the as
SCISSORS Of the state who meet with the
Board of Equalization on May 24th
will agree to increase their assess
ments fifteen per cent. on the taxable
property in their counties, this can
be met without difficulty.
The governor expressed the opinion
that In many OF the counties the as
sessments were ridiculously low and
that an increase Of fifteen per cent.
would still leave them below what
might be considered q Just assess.
ment.
II am opposed" said the governor.
ito legislative measures which provide
for the direct appropriation OF even
the smallest part OF the four mills
levy.
"A number OF the state institutions
have cut into the four mills. thus cur.
failing the amount at the disposal OF
the administration.
1T was for this reason that l ve-
toed the proposed one-twentieth OF n
mill provided for In the Greeley Nor
NAL School hill
Governor Shafroth has been at work
almost constantly since January 18th,
considering bills. He has read and de-
liberated upon every bill passed Many
OF them he has read several times be-
fore approving or exercising his veto
power.
II realize that Colorado is a growing
state and each year brings a demand
for better equipment at state institu-
TONS" remarked the governor. in 60
ing over bills OF the first and second
class, I have had these things in view.
but In order to keep as near as posi-
BILE within the states revenue. I have
been obliged to curtail appropriations
where, in my judgment, was best.
Several OF the bills which / vetoed
provided for the creation OF commits
sions. I am cognizant OF the fact that
commissions are all right where they
are needed. but they are expensive and
I am not in favor OF creating offices
carrying Jobs and salaries which can
be dispensed with.
This was one Of my reasons for ve-
toing House Bill No. 20. providing for
a commission to draft a revenue bill
This commission would have cost the
state $4,000. and I figured that the
president OF the Board Of Equalization
could draft such a bill, II needed"
Among the important bills approved
by the governor last night was Senate
Bill 240, by Senator Cove. providing
for the purchase or condemnation OF a
eyto poar tho ofate canifo1 for the con-