The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1912-11-02

boards, and the fifth, all other appro-
priations.
II the revenues collected are not suf-
ficient to pay all the appropriations,
then the appropriations are paid &C
cording to the class in which they
fall, beginning with the first class. IL
is difficult to determine the amount OF
revenue which will be collected for
the biennial term. The state OF Colo
RADIO has never been on cash OASIS
the taxes collected in July and August
of this year will be the taxes OF 1911
and are applied to the appropriations
OF the Legislature for 1911.
Small Tax Imposed for state Purposes.
The state has not the power. as has
county, to collect all the revenue 1t
needs. The constitution has fixed
limit to taxation on property for state
purposes at four mills on the dollar,
and 1t cannot be exceeded in times OF
peace. The tax in many counties is
thirty TO forty mills on the dollar, of
which the state gets only four mills,
hence the taxes on property for state
purposes have never been Increased,
no matter how large the appropria-
lions have been.
1t is the tendency OF all legislatures
to increase appropriations. In I'LL
nois, at the close OF the legislative ses-
sion of last year, the appropriations
exceeded the estimated revenues by
over eight million dollars.
vetoes Of Appropriation Bills.
Governor Shafroth was compelled to
veto bills appropriating over $780,
600. order to bring the total amount OF
appropriations near to the amount of
the estimated revenues. He believes
that the revenues to be collected will
be sufficient to meet all of the appro-
priations for the first three classes,
which constitute the important needs
of the state, but this cannot be deter
mined with certainty until November
3Oth, 1912, the end of the biennial
term.
Extra Burdens Borne by the shafroth
Administration.
1t has been very difficult to deter
mine as to the payment of all the ap-
preparations because of the additional
necessary burdens placed upon the
present administration. never borne
by that Of any other.
The people, in November. 1916, vot-
ed to pay the warrants issued in ex-
cess of the revenues by past Republi-
can administrations, by the issuing of
biennial period amounts to $4,000.
and must be paid out of the general
revenue before even the salaries of
state officers.
The people voted, in November,
1910. to increase the salaries of the
legislators, which takes $4,000 addi-
tional moneys.
There was universal demand for a
Court of Appeals, as decisions could
not be obtained on appeal for three
or four years; such delays in the cases
of poor people unable to wait, consti-
tuted denial OF justice. The bill Gre
ating the Court of Appeals was passed
by each house, Republi-
cans and Democrats alike recognizing
the necessity. An appropriation of
$4,000 for the biennial term was
made. which constitutes burden not
borne by other administrations.
There was a universal demand for
the establishment and maintenance of
a Home for Mental Detectives. If there
is a class of people in this state who
need assistance, 1t Is these poor. I'M
fortunate mental detectives. The state
for years has been behind other states
IT. that work. An appropriation of
$4,000 was voted for by every Demo
crat and Republican in the legislature.
and constitutes a burden which has
not been borne by other administra-
lions.
The national government offered to
give the state OF Colorado the Fort
Lewis reservation, consisting of build
ings which cost over s25O,OOO and g..
900 acres OF land, underlaid with coal