The Ordway new era., 1915-01-15
AMM0NS' MESSAGE
DELIVERED TO MEMBERS OF THE
TWENTIETH GENERAL.
sH ASSEMBLY.
Tells Of Benefits Of Assessments on
Full Cash Basis; Coos Over Indus
trial Conditions, and Treats OF
Many Subjects at Length.

Many Subjects AT Ien9tn.
Western Newspaper Union News Service,
Denver, Jan. Ex-Governor Ammons
message was delivered at joint ses-
sion Of the Senate and House, Friday
afternoon. In part the Governor said:
MR.. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS OF THE
TWENTIETH GENERAL A s 70 M
BLY-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
In obedience to the requirements OF
law l have the honor to submit 10
your attention some matters OF I'M
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
falling 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, 900 90 by executive vetoes.
The aggregate of appropri,
| 1sisi., asisns for va. the perioa, a,s1ss,so2. 90
This amount Was reduced
in unexpended balances
and. reductions by the
| Leaving as the net 'aipoppropiria:
tions for the period 49,. 2,9sS,62S.4s
The total receipts for the
| period, including esti.
mates where cash had
not yet been received.
| amounted to ..........;. 3.oS''Soo'oi
LeRving a surplus. accord
ing to the auditors re-
port, OF .....-........ S"'i i<o.SS
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 on one-third of its value. To
provide against undue increase in
taxes the General Assembly provided
by law for 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 It's inter
pretation by the courts equalization OF
valuations was practically impossible.
To correct this defect and perfect the
present system constltutlohai
amendment was submitted, and voted
by the people, requiring values to be
eaualized on full cash basis, and to
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 OF
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 equality
OF state taxes.
| The credit Of the state is excellent;
a 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 ef-
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
| 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-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 dif-
! 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-
| frn1 int prSfata 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
| impracticable. The strike was called
to unionize the mines, and neither side
| to the controversy would submit that
| matter to arbitration and agree to