Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-06-21
Do NOT SIGN PETITION
Alleged "0ood Roads Bill' Not Ap-
proved by Association

Alleged Good Roads Bill' Not Ap-
proved by Association
The following statement issued by the
State Association of County Commission
ers. the Colorado Good Roads Association
and the Greater Colorado HIGHWAYS
Association. is sself-explanatory:
To the Voters of Colorado:
In re-initiating an amendment of the
Highway Commission Act to take the
place of House Bill No. 200, Governor
Shafroth has issued an open letter state.
ment to the State Association of County
Commissioners, the Colorado Good
Roads Association and the Greater Col.
orado Highway Association, in answer to
their unanimous request that he call a
special session of the legislature to re-
enact House Bill No. 200, and declining
to do so.
Such disposition of the road fund
would. as matter of fact. have made it
Immediately available upon the signing Of
the bill by the Governor, as every county
in the state would have commenced work
at once. carrying the expense of same
for the ninety days interval before which
the state treasurer would pay warrants
out of the fund.
Even If not available before November,
each board of county commissioners of
the state at its November meeting would
have been able to intelliRently make its
tax levy for 1918, based upon some GER
tainty Of what would be available from
the internal improvement fund. In pas
sing. the proposed highway bill is defeo-
tive. in that it obliges the highway COM
mission to apportion its funds in March.
while county tax levies must be made in
November, the county commissioners not
being advised of the requirements of the
highway commission so as to meet it by
levy.
The members Of the legislature, it is
proposed. would meet in conference and
agree upon bill satisfactory to the Gov
ernor, the highway commission and the
state and county road organizations.
which could be passed in two or three
days.
We earnestly urge you not to sign or
circulate any petition for attempting to
initiate a bill to appropriate the internal
improvement fund, for the following rea-
sons, to-wit:
Owing to the governors veto Of large
number Of most meritorious road bills.
and the irregularity Of House Bill No.
200, there has accumulated in the inter-
nal impro vement fund the sum Of $780,
928. which should be applied TO road and
least expensive and most intelligent man.
ner possible.
The most conservative estimate Of the
cost of initiating the bill as proposed is
$4,000. The amount would doubtless
exceed this figure. This sum would pay
all the expenses OF the highway commits
sion's office. including salaries Of COM
missioners, engineer. stenographer and
supplies. for two years.
An initiated bill would be in direct con-
fiict with the federal statute which Great
ed the internal improvement fund. BY
this federal law the legislature Of Color
ado is clearly made the trustee for the
Government and the people Of Colorado
in the application Of this trust.
To the best of our advice, we do not
believe that the governor or highway
commissioners themselves think that an
initiated bill would. of itself. be legal. but
would serve as an expression of the peo-
Pile. or be in the nature Of petition to
the legislature, which would thereupon
try to pass law to legalze the initiative
attempt.
No state auditor or treasurer. under
the bond involved by the great RESPONSE
bility Of their respective offices. would be
warranted in paying out this money un-
der an initiated bill until the United
States supreme eonrt had passed upon
the validity Of such a law.
The question involved affects federal
statute. hence would have to be deter
mined by the United States court Of last
resort.
Why all this rigamarole, enormous ex-
pense and tying up Of our road fund for
years?
Why all these repeated and offensive
aspersions upon our legislators9
The remedies are simple, inexpensive.
safe and sure. and would involve no in
trioate legal questions nor place the large
and increasing internal improvement fund
within the pale Of long-drawn-out litiga-
tion.
Let US at once stop this work on pc
titions.
Let US arrange for the biggest and
best State Good Roads convention for
Denver that has ever been held in this or
any other state. Let US arrange for this
meeting in the week commencing Sept.8.
Let US then and there formulate a
highway bill which shall be satisfactory
to the highway commission and to the
state at large. and. returning to our
homes. elect only such senators and rep
resentatives as will carry out the wishes
of the people IN regard to / highway bill.
Such time and occasion would also
afford the best possible opportunitY for