The Elbert County tribune., 1915-01-15
AMM0Ns' MESSAGE
DELIVERED TO MEMBERS OF THE
TWENTIETH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
Tolls Of Benefits Of Assessments on
Full Cash Basis; Goes Over Indus
trial Conditions, and Treats Of
Many Subjects at Length.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Denver, Jan. Ex-Governor Ammons'
message was delivered at a joint ses-
sion of the Senate and House. Friday
afternoon. In part the Governor said:
MIR. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS OF THE
TWENTIETH GENERAL A q NJ
BLY-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
In obedience to the requirements OF
law l have the honor to submit to
your attention some matters OF i'm
portance suggested by the experience
of the last two years. Previous legis-
Iation had added hundreds of thous-
sands of dollars to the fixed charges
of the state without providing ade-
quate revenues to meet them. By cur
failing some of the departments
through strict economy because OF
greater efficiency secured by placing
the several bureaus under civil sery-
ice, public expenditures were reduced
appropriations were kept down and
were still further reduced more than
5000, 100000 by executive vetoes.
The aggregate of appropri-
ations for the period
19l3-1914 was ....... 49, 90, Sois w
This amount was reduced
in unexpendod balances
and reductions by the
Leaving the net appropria-
tions for the period SO. 2,99s.62S4S
The total receipts for the
period. including st Il
mates where cash had
not yet been received.
amounted to ............ 3.O35,356.S1
Leaving n surplus. accord
ing to the auditors re-
port. or .--...-.-..-..-. So'fzs.Sz
At the beginning of my term the
general tax situation was in a chaotic
condition and circumstances rendered
it imperative that assessments be
made according to law on a full cash
basis. Previously, property had been
assessed on one-tEird of its value. To
provide against undue increase in
taxes the General Assembly provided
by law for a decrease in levies proper
tionate to the increase in valuations.
allowing, however, a small percentage
of increase to meet the demands of
growth and emergencies. Under the
constitutional provision and its inter
probation by the courts equalization of
valuations was practically impossible.
To correct this defect and perfect the
present system constitutional
amendment was submitted, and voted
by the people, requiring values to be
equalized on full cash basis, and to
uoour. that apd tn iucrease or lower
any county assessment or to change
any items to their just figure without
affecting other property or counties.
For the first time in the history Of
the state we are upon a practical, SEN
sible basis of property taxation with a
centralized body of state officials
fully empowered to correct errors
wherever found and enforce equality
of state taxes.
The credit of the state is excellent:
levy of less than three mills on the
present valuation would pay off every
dollar of bonded Indebtedness Even
at time of great financial stringency
the state was able. until interfered
with by some of its own Off
cials. to place 40 certificates at par
for the purpose of suppressing insur-
rection. The nationwide depression
in business and the discouraging eff
fects of the industrial conflict just
closed make it necessary to keep pub
lie expenditures at the lowest point
consistent with efficient service, and
appropriations should be kept down ac-
cordingly.
The report of the bank commissioner
lends much encouragement to the
nope of better business conditions in
the future. Notwithstanding the gen
| eral adverse financial conditions over
| the country, the resources of Colorado
| banks have practically held their own
during the past year while the state
banks have actually made an increase
With no intention of re-stirring the
bitterness of the past but with most
sincere desire to prevent the recur-
renee of trouble in the future the i'm
perative necessity of legislation to CON
troll industrial disputes is urgently
suggested Through the establishment
| of an industrial commission, minor diff
ficulties may be adjusted and serious
situations avoided by proper handling
at their incipiency. The constant
watchfulness of such a commission, its
investigation of working conditions
its fairness in the disposition of com
plants and its anticipation of threat
ened discord will very generally en-
able 1t to settle satisfactorily ordinary
difficulties. Disputes of interstate mag
nitude. or whose control is beyond the
boundaries of the state in which they
occur should be regulated by congress
sional action. Our state is entirely
capable of handling local disturbances
but 1t is just as much the function and
duty OF the federal government to reg
ulate and control interstate industrial
disputes as it is to regulate and con
| troll interstate commerce.
/ have been unable to find any law
now in force which could successfully
cope with a situation such as the re-
cent Colorado strike. Arbitration was