The Elk Mountain pilot., 1915-01-14
AM N M0NS' 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. 9.-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 Il 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 lesis-
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 OIL
greater efficiency secured by placing
the several bureaus under civil serv-
ice, public expenditures were reduced
appropriations were kept down ana
were still further reduced more than
5000 900. 90 by executive vetoes.
The assregate Of appropris;
isis-is14 was -. s,lss, so2.e2
This amount was reduced
in unexpendcd balances
and reductions By the
Leaving the net appropria- 600 -.
tions for the period -. 2,99s,s2s.4s
The total receipts for the
period, including q s. l.
mates where cash mad
not yet been received.
amounted to -........... 3,o35.3ob.sl
Leaving surplus, accord
ing to the auditors re-
port, OF ...-.-.---.- -o"'' 60 D.
At the beginning of my term the
general tax situation was in chaotic
condition and circumstances rendered
It imperative that assessments be
made according to law on full cash
basis Previously, property had been
assessed OIL one-third of its value. TIC
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. small percentage
of increase to meet the demands ol
growth and emergencies. Under the
constitutional provision and its inter
probation by the courts equalization o
valuations was practically impossible
To correct this defect and perfect the
present system constitutions
amendment was submitted, and voted
by the people, requiring values to bt
eQualized on a full cash basis. and Il
secure that end to increase or lowel
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 practical. sen
sible basis of property taxation with {
centralized body of state officials
fully empowered to correct errors
wherever found and enforce equalit,
OF state taxes.
The credit OF the state Is excellent
levy OF less than three mills on tht
present valuation would pay off ever,
dollar of bonded Indebtedness. Ever
at time of great financial stringency
the state was able, until interferet
with by some of its own Off
cials, to place 4ee certificates at pal
for the purpose OF suppressing insur
rection. The nationwide depression
in business and the discouraging eff
fects of the industrial conflict just
closed make II necessary to keep pub
lie expenditures at the lowest point
consistent with efficient service. ant
appropriations should be kept down ac
cordingly.
The report OF the bank commissioner
lends much encouragement to the
hope 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-sttrring 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 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 1t is to regulate and con-
troll interstate commerce.
l have been unable to find any law
now in force which could successfully