The Colorado statesman., 1911-07-01

I citation of Stock Growers, OF Lumber
men, of Forestry. of Irrigation; each
Horticultural or Agricultural organi.
zation. may appoint ten delegates.
Each governor is requested to ap.
point a state executive committee OF
five, to cooperate with the Colorado
executive committee-J. Arthur Eddy,
chairman. Denver, Colorado.
II should be known that there is
now seriously proposed, and may be
| crystallized into law at the next regu.
lar session of Congress, a new and
revolutionary National policy pertain
ing to the public lands, and their at
tendant natural resources, that de-
mands the serious and earnest con-
sideration of every citizen of the Re-
public. Not only does this new sys-
tenn affect our economic and business
interests, but It seriously threatens
the principle of home rule in the con-
duct of our local affairs.
The real issue is, plainly and dis
tinctly, whether the public domain
other than the little remaining farm
ing lands-shall be held in perpetuity
by the National government free from
taxation by the states, to be admins
tered through leasehold for revenue
for the federal treasury, and under
bureaus at the National capitol.
AS taxes upon property in the west
ern states for thirty years equal its
value, perpetual ownership by the Ma
tional government free from taxa
ton, would effect deprivation of
tax revenue to the states equal to the
value of those lands every thirty
years. In other words, it would cost
those states the value of the public
domain every thirty years and yet
the states never own the same.
A rental or lease based upon the
output of natural resources is a tax
upon production, and a tax upon pro
duction is invariably paid by the con-
sumner. Such policy would compel the
western states to bear an undue pro-
portion of the burdens of the Ma
tional government No other states
have ever been compelled to pay roy
alties upon their natural products,
why should we? Our wealth must
consist, very largely, in those very
features, the tax revenue from which
is so essential to the maintenance of
state government Even the raw land
itself is withdrawn from state taxa
tion.
If our people are to pay tax on
the product of our natural resources,
viz: Coal, oil, gas, phosphates, and
upon water powers, grazing. etc.
equity demands that tax should pass
into the treasures of the respective
states, where it is so greatly needed.
These are the conditions which con-
front us 1t rests entirely with the
people of the West whether they will
acuuiesce in this proposed new order
of things.
The President is our authority,
through the medium of his message of
December 6, 1910, that these are not
questions pertaining to partisan poll
tics Hence, those of all political
faiths can unite on common ground
for the defense of the West. This
convention is designed as an instru-
ment through which the will of the
people of the public land states can
be expressed.
With cordial urgency, | respectfully
press this invitation upon those of
the states which are included in the
foregoing list and apportionment.
Given under my hand and the Ex-
ecutive Seal this Goth day of June,
A. d. 1911.
JOHN F. SHAFROTH,
Governor of Colorado.