The Elbert County tribune., 1913-01-17

source within the boundaries of this
state.
The gold had remained undiscovered
in the hills, and useless for untold
centuries, the Inhabitants had no use
for coal, the forests were burned to
make way for berry patches and hunt.
ing grounds. The streams ran use
lessly and undisturbed to the sea, and
all were worthless. II required the
venturesome pioneer, with his intrepid
zeal. to lay the foundation of a great
state. His laws and customs were
built on experience and justice. Upon
the foundation SO well laid by him. our
hardship and genius and industry have
measured every dollars worth of value
in our natural resources by dollars
worth of human toll. We have a right
to these resources with which to build
our state.
A sensible solution of the public do
main question is to turn the public
lands and resources over to the states
in which they lie. The citizens Of
these states have a better understand
ing of their needs than outside people
possibly could havc. They have a
greater interest than anyone else in a
proper administration OF these lands.
The General Assembly should me-
morialize President Wilson and Con-
gress, setting forth In detail sugges-
tions of changes in administration OF
the public domain to comply with the
best requirements for settlement, de-
velopment and local taxation.
Employees Compensation Commission.
The Employees Compensation Com
mission appointed by the Eighteenth
General Assembly, | am told, has not
completed it's investigations, and
should be continued either to report
at the next session of the General AS
sembly or to initiate law covering
the subject.
Fairs and Expositions.
If we are to make creditable show
ing at the Panama Exposition in 1915.
the present General Assembly must
provide for 1t. | am advised that all
the western states are making unusual
efforts to advertise their products and
opportunities at this great fair. Tho
people of Colorado VIII not want to
be left behind. Our financial condition
VIII prevent our doing as much as we
would like to do, and the situation Ia
complicated from the fact that the
exposition will in reality be divided
INTO two parts-one portion located at
San Francisco and the other at San
Diego In addition to this, Colorado
intends TO provide an attractive pa.
geant to induce visitors to the big
SHOWS on the coast to stop in this
state, view our mountain scenery, en-.
Joy our unequaled climate, and inves
tfgate our splendid opportunities
ANhqtnVav. funds hn Notn
for--this great exposition should be
placed in the hands of a most compe
tent board, that they may be used tc
the best possible advantage. To pro
mote this work the several counties o
the state might be authorized to as
sist the general exhibits by financia
aid
Grand Jury.
When the present law relating Il
criminal prosecutions was passed /
was not intended that district attor
neys should be given SO much power
| am of the opinion that It should b,
mandatory upon the District Courts
to call grand jury at least once eacl
year in every county, and that distric
attorneys should not be permitted [,
dismiss prosecutions without the con
sent of the courts.
Fee offices.
l have always been opposed to pub
lie offices being supported by fees.
realize there are many offices, unde
present conditions at least, that cal
have no support otherwise, but | Sc,
no reason why such officials shoul,
not be required to collect fees with
out favor, turn them promptly int,
the public treasury and draw sucl
salaries as may be allowed by Law
| in the same manner In which salarie
are usually paid
Slxty-day Session.
1 have never known a session of tn
General Assembly at which the worl
could not have been completed withil
sixty days, and | see no reason VIII,
the present assembly cannot finish IL
business within that time. So lon,
as the Legislature is in session
changes In law constantly occur an,
business conditions are more or les
disturbed. | therefore hope this as
sembly will hasten its work to the ut
most. can conceive OF nothing tha
would bring more credit to the mem
bers than the accomplishment O
needed legislation and an adjournmen
within sixtyd ays.
Economy.
With s126.000 of interest on tn
state bonds in settlement OF old debts
with $4,000 to pay for advertisinJ
the initiated and referred bills at tn,
last election. with demand for 800
600 for the big expositions of 1916
with added expense to keep pace will
the growth Of our educational an,
other institutions. and with the neces
sity OF keeping taxes within reasonabi,
bounds, there is every obligation [.
hold appropriations and expenditure
OF all departments OF the state at tn,
lowest possible point consistent witt
efficiency. The estimated state reve
nues for the Dresent .neriod are N,