The state herald., 1915-03-26
SPECIAL. MESSAGE
GOVERNOR CARLSON PRAISES
ASSEMBLY FOR ACTION IN
ROWLAND PROBE.
Urges Greater Economy; Pleads for
Elimination Of All Useless Boards
and Asks Prompt Action on
Legislation Now Pending.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Denver.-In his first special mes.
sage to the Twentieth General AS
sembly, Governor Carlson March 10th
commended the membership of the
House of Representatives for the man
ner in which 1t and Its special COM
mittee have conducted the investiga.
tion in the Rowland currency pack
age transaction Of February 0.
Governor Carlson read the message
In person to joint session of the
two branches Of the Assembly in the
House chamber.
The governor pledged the co-opera-
ton of all executive departments with
the house in clearing up the scandal.
IF there be, in addition to perjury.
actual bribery. let us all together, by
every condemnation and mete punish
ment. mari, its end forever In the his
tory of the Colorado Legislature" he
said
The Rowland matter, however, he
declared, should not distract the at
tention Of the Legislature from act
ing on the pressing problems OF state
government.
In calling the Assembly to take ac-
tion upon pending legislation which.
in his opinion will make for greater
economy and efficiency in government
and generally benefit conditions
throughout the state. Governor Carl
son discussed the proposed constitu-
tional amendments to the initiative
and referendum. the half-mill levy of
the State Board of Capitol Managers.
the elimination of public trustees and
deputy game wardens, the proposed
survey OF the state government and
the adoption Of the so-called short bal
lot system in Colorado.
Notwithstanding the action Of the
Senate in killing the bill for the aboli-
ton of the Board OF Capitol Man
ayers, the governor believes the same
end can be accomplished by abolish
ing the half-mill levy, which for more
than twenty years has been the source
Of revenue expended by that body and
which has been responsible largely
for its existence. AS chairman of the
board he urged the Legislature to
psas the bill abolshing the half-mill
levy.
One bill to increase the percentage
OF names required for the Initiation
and reference OF measures was killed
on third reading in the House Mon.
day. The governor, however. urged
the Legislature to pass the remaining
bills to bring about practically the
same end. II adopted by the people
when submitted at the next general
election. He took firm stand In
asking for the elimination Of public
trustees and the abolition OF the stat
utory offices OF deputy game commits
sioners.
House Bill 591 and Senate Concur
rent Resolution No. were both In
dorsed strongly by the governor. These.
he pointed out. are the real efficiency
and economy measures. Tho first.
named provides for n survey OF all
state departments, boards and bureaus
for the purpose Of laying the ground.
work for legislation. to be introduced
Mt an extra session or at the next gen
eral Assembly. consolidating depart.
ments, eliminating useless and dupli.
Gated boards and bureaus. and In
general way bringing about efficiency
and economy In the operation OF the
state government
Senate concurrent resolution pro
vides for the short baliot-a constltu.
tional amendment nbollshing all cleo
tive executive offices except that OF
governor and auditor. The concentra-
tion made possible In this way. he con
tended. Is necessary for real economy
and efficiency In state affairs.
Special attention was given by Gov
ernor Carlson TO the need OF onacting
Legislation to remedy Industrial condi.
tions in the state aud TO prevent. n
possible. the recurrence OF Industrial
conflicts. The tono OF his reference 20
this subject. In the opinion ~ many
members OF the Legislature. indicates
that the governor will not necessarily
Insist upon the passage OF the indus
trial commission workmcn's compcnsa.
tion oil ms originally advocated by
him n he can be assured that tho
samc ends can be accomplished by
measures otherwise framed. He did
not demand thnt tho dual bin be on.
acted. He stated that the subject is
ono demanding considerable though,
and consideration and expressed the
conviction tina, tho Assembly will On
act effective legislation along this
line.