The daily sentinel., 1912-03-19
THE PORK BARREL VETO"

The governors veto message on
the ''rork barrel bill'' was as fol-
lows:
20 the Secretary of State of the
State of Colorado:
Sir-I transmit herewith, with
out my approval house bill No. Pa.
entitled, bill for IAN act to provide
for the importing and bettering of II
wagon road from point on Hard
scrabble creek, at the top of what
is locally known as Crooked hill. on
the road between Querida and Wet
more, Custer county, Colorado, and
making an appropriation therefor"
My reasons for dsapproving of
this measure are as follows:
This bill appropriates the sum of
$4,000 out of the internal improve
ment fund or the internal improve
ment income fund, to improve and
better the wagon road described in
the title, and places the construction
of the same in the hands of the
board of county commissioners.
1t is one of a series of bills ap-
propriating all of the internal i'm
provement income fund, amounting
to about S25O.O00.
The seventeenth general assembly
of this state, by act, established
state highway commission, with
power to construct and improve
roads, highways and bridges. 1t is
composed of three excellent men
| MIR. Charles p. Allen of Denver, Mr..
Thomas Tully of Durango. and Mr..
| William NJ. Wiley of Holly. Their
work has been commended by all of
| the good roads conventions held in
this state since their appointment
| The platform upon which a ma
| jority of the members of the eight
eenh general assembly and myself
We're elected to office, declared as
| follows:
I'VE favor the appropriation of
the money derived from the national
improvement fund TO the use of the
state highway commission to be
equitably apportioncd and distribut-
e.. by il among the several counties
OF the state for roads and bridges"
This clause constitutes a clear and
distinct pledge. The general assem-
bly,, instead of carrying out this
contract made with the people. di-
yided this fund, contrary to the
pledge made, by providing distinct
appropriations for the construction
of roads and bridges by other bod
les, and not where the state highway
commission might deem it best. but
where the individual legislator
might care to have the same con-
structed
Such funds divided among the
counties of Legislators have in all
states generally been designated as
the pork barrel funds" and often
thereby many unworthy projects
have been appropriated for, which
would have been avoided by placing
the money in the hands of persons
skilled in road building.
1t has generally been believed that
in many legislatures such a fund
has constituted a trading basis by
which votes are obtained for other
general measures of an unworthy ma
ture, and against general measures
of worthy nature. Ii at least af-
lords the temptation for such trad
ing, and is, therefore, not conducive
tion.
Many of the measures appropri-
ating the internal Improvement fund
or the internal improvement income
fund. contained in these bills. are
worthy, and, no doubt. will receive
the approval of the state highway
commission.
An act of the eighteenth general
assembly has been passed. providing
that what is left of the internal i'm
provement fund and the internal i'm
provement income fund, shall be ex-
pended by and at the direction of
the state highway commission. The
highway commission should. and no
doubt Will approve and expend mon
ey upon all of the meritorious mea-
sures contained in these bills. But
no matter how meritorious NAV be
the appropriations of this and SINH
lar measures, from the internal i'm
provement fund and the internal i'm
provement income fund. it is clear
to my mind that it is violation of
the pledge we made to the people
concerning the use of these funds.
and this and other similar vetoee
viii effect the fulfillment of such
pledge, and greatly benefit the peo-
pie of Colorado.
|, therefore. disapprove of this
measure.
Given under my hand and the ex-
eeutive seal this - day of June.
A. d. 1911.
JOHN F. SHAFROTH.
Governor of Colorado