Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-10-30
ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS
But Two of Sixteen Worthy of Sup.
port Vote "No" on All but
Prohibition and Good Roads

We desire to call the attention of
the taxpayers to one situation that
we believe should be remedied, name
ly, the ever increasing amount of
taxes that are resulting from the adop-
ton of laws under the initiative and
referendum. Practically all of the So
called reform measures so far adopt
ed have increased the burden of gov
ernmental expense. In some coun-
ties of the state it cost over $1,000 a
vote to hold the primary election.
The initiative and referendum cost
10 advertising alone over $l2 900, and
that does not include this years bills.
The State Tax Commission has treb-
led the value of all property which
has resulted in corresponding in
crease OF expenses of state taxes.
The capitol building pay roll today is
| three times as large as it was six
years ago. In fact, everything we
have adopted in the way OF reform
has increased our expenses and we
believe you will say they have not
increased the efficiency of our state
government.
Notwithstanding all this there are
sixteen more propositions to be vot-
ed upon next election day, each OF
which will increase the cost OF main
tanning state government, thereby in
creasing taxation. Two of them,
4.
amendments, are without doubt mer-
itorious and should be supported.
We are supporting the Prohibition
and Good Roads amendments, but on
all the rest we plead with the voters
OF this community to vote NO"
One OF the measures upon which
you must vote creates commission
on child and welfare and provides for
the sending OF Judge Benjamin b.
Lindsey, Lillian IL. Kerr and Jose
phine A. Roache as commission to
Europe to make investigations and
report. These three people are nam
ed in the amendment.
Another proposed amendment pro-
vides for special elections to be call
ed at the discretion OF any governor
purely for the purpose OF voting up
on measures proposed under the ini-
tiative and referendum. \ special
state election can not be held for less
than 100000 and yet the governor
could, il he so chose, force a special
election on the people merely to sub
nit a proposed law or constitutional
amendment.
Another proposition provides for a
lot OF probation officers in each
county TO do the work now being
done by the sheriff and it does not
reduce the number of employees in
the shcriff's office. Still another pro-
vides for an increase in thG amount
of indebtedness which mavtbc con-
tracted by the officials OF any town
| or city. Another provides that one
board sitting in the capitol shall have
the exclusive power OF valuing Tor
taxation purposes every item OF prop
erty in the state. Under this amend
ment the county assessor becomes a
clerical officer only. Under another
the legislature is given the power to
| submit all OF the laws it enacts to the
| people and to contract for the adver-
| tisIng OF the same in any manner II
deems proper or TO delegate the paw
| er to contract for the advertising OF
| the same to some committee or COM
mission.
There is not single proposition.
save the Good Roads amendment and
| the Prohibition amendment. that
should merit the support of a single
tax payer. Vote NO" on all of them
except these two.