The Colorado statesman., 1915-01-09
AM M 0NS' 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.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Denver, Jan. 9.-Governor Ammons
message was delivered at joint ses
sion of the Senate and House, Friday
afternoon. In part the Governor said:
MIR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE
TWENTIETH GENERAL A S + NJ
BLY-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
In obedience to the requirements OF
law / 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-
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
The aggregate of appropri;;
19lS-l914 was .....,.... s,1ee, sO29 80
This amount was reduced
in unexpended balances
and reductions by the
Leaving the net appropria-
tions for the period -. 2,9sS.s2S AS
The total receipts for the
period. including esti-
mates where cash had
not yet been received,
amounted to ............ 3.035. 5.356.S1
Leaving surplus, accord
ing to the auditors re-
port. of ........... 36.72S82
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 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 it's inter-
probation by the courts equalization of
valuations was practically impossible.
To correct this defect and perfect the
present system Il constitutional
amendment was submitted, and voted
by the people, requiring values to be
equaliZed on a 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 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 it's own Off
cials, to place 4%o 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 a 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
ficuties may be adjusted and serious
situations avoided by proper handling
at their incipiency. The constant
watchfulness of such commission, it's
investigation of working conditions.
its fairness in the disposition of COM
plants and its anticipation of threat
ened discord will very generally en-
able il 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 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
abide by the result. Compulsory arbi-