The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1915-01-14
Am MONS MESSAGE
DELIVERED TO MEMBERS OF THE
TWENTIETH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
Tells Of Benefits Of Assessments on
Full Cash Basis; Goes Over Indus
trial Conditions, and Treats Of
Many Subjects at Length.

|
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 SIS L NJ
BLY-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
In obedience to the requirements OF
law l have the honor to submit to
your attention some matters Of im
portance suggested by the experience
of the last two years. Previous legis
lation 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 serv'
ice. public expenditures were reduced
appropriations were kept down and
were still further reduced more than
$500, 100000 by executive vetoes.
The aggregate of appropri-
| atoms for the period,
| l913-l9l4 was ......... 50, 1863, 30Z. 81
| This amount was reduced
in uneNpended balances
| and reductions by tho
auditor, ................. 17o.S74.44
Leaving the net appropria-
lions for the period 49,. 2.99s. 62s. AS
The total receipts for the
period. including csti-
| mates where cash had
not yet been received.
amounted to ............ 3.035,356.Sl
| Leaving surplus, accord
| Ing to the auditors re-
| port, OF .......,....'... 36.72S.3
At the beginning of my term the
general tax situation was in chaotic
1t imperative that assessments be
made according to law on n full cash
basis. Previously. property had been
assessed on onethird of its value. To
provide against undue increase In
taxes the General Assembly provided
by law for decrease In levieB proper.
tionate to the increase In valuations
allowing, however. n small percentage
OF increase to meet the demands OF
growth and emergencies. Under the
constitutional provision and it's inter
probation by the courts equalization oil
valuations was practically impossible
To correct this defect and perfect the
present system "a constitutions
amendment was submitted, and voted
by the people. requiring values to b.
eQualfzed on full cash basis. and Il
secure that end to Increase 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 o.
the state We are upon u practical. sen
sible basis Of property taxation with Z
centralized body of state officials
fully empowered to correct error,
wherever found and enforce equality
of state taxes.
The credit of the state Ia excellent
levy OF less than three mills on thu
present valuation would pay off every
dollar Of bonded indebtedness. Ever
ut a time OF great financial stringency
the state was able, until interferet
with by some Of Its own Off
cials, to place 40 certificates at pal
for the purpose Of suppressing insur
rection. The nation. wide depression
In business and the discouraging Of
fects Of the Industrial conflict JUS
closed make II necessary to keep pub
lie expenditures ut the lowest pOin
consistent with efficient service, ant
appropriations should be kept down nc
cordingly.
The report OF the bank commissions
lends much encouragement to thu
hope OF better business conditions II
the future. Notwithstanding the gen
cral adverse financial conditions owe
the country. the resources OF Colorado
banks have practically held their owl
during the past year while the stat,
banks have actually made an increase
with no intention OF rc.stirring thu
bitterness OF the past but with mos
sincere desire to prevent the recur
renee OF trouble In the future the i'm
peratiye necessity OF Legislation to con
trol industrial disputes ~ Urgent.
suggested. Through the establishment
OF an Industrial commission. minor dit
ficulties may be adjusted and seriou
situations avoided by proper handiin,
at their incipicncy. The constan
watchlulness OF such n commission. III
investigation OF working conditions
It's fairness In the disposition OF com
plants and its anticipation OF threat
enod discord will very generally On
able Il to settle satisfactorily ordinnr.
diffcultios. Disputes OF Interstate mag
| ,,lt uvh al Il a q 4,
bounaarioR Of the state in which the!
occur should be regulated by congrcr
sional action. Our state Ia cn,Irel!
capable Of handling local disturbance
but II Is Just m much tn" function AM
duty OF the federal government 10 reg
uln'e and control Interstate industrial
disputcS as II In TO regulate aud con
troll Interstate commerce.
have been unable 10 find any Law
now in force which could successfully
cope with n situation such nB the r.