The Lamar register., 1916-02-02
Capitol Correspondence

Probably no one greatly enjoys
paying taxes. The average citizen
regards it as a necessary evil, as an
expenditure for which he receives very
little in return, and which he would
gladly cut out if he could. Few are
aware how large a percentage of the
state taxes he pays is returned to the
county and community in which he
lives to help in the maintenance of
schools, the construction of roads and
bridges, and other similar purposes.
Last year the county treasurers
sent to the state treasurer 81 $50, 1902
81. The state treasurer returned to
the couny treasurers 1886, ,294.43 to
help support the schools of the coun-
ty, $l97, ,592.59 to help in the i'm
provements of the roads, $59,2lS.6O
from the revenue derived from forest
reserves and $15,97O to help make
good the minimum salary allowed by
law to teachers. OF the sixty-three
counties of the state, five-Archuleta
Dolores, Hinsdale, Mineral and Pit
kin-received back more than they
sent in. One Of them-Archuleta-
received back more than six times as
much as it sent in. Twenty-three
counties received back more than half
as much as they sent in.
The above figures do not include
what was expended by the state in
support of the various state institu-
tions, such as the University, School
of Mines, Teachers College, Agricul-
tural College, Penitentiary, the Insane
Asylum, etc. These cost hundreds of
thousands Of dollars, and were they
taken into consideration would show
that fully one-half Of the counties re-
ceived back more than they paid in.
Contrary to the general belief,
Denver receives back but a small
portion Of what it pays in. In 1915,
the state received from the Denver
county treasurer $626, ,S2742, ard paid
back SS7,3G3.2O to help support the
schools and nothing at all for roads
or from the forest service.
Larimer county ranks among the
leaders in the amount received back.
1t paid in $50, ,729.1O and received $13,-
O77.27 for its schools, S22, 2,6O9.22 for
its roads, S94555 from the forest re-
serve fund and 81 800 for its mini
mum teachers salary fund. In addi-
tion to these amounts it received a
very large sum to meet the bills Of
the Agricultural College.
Fremont county pays in S31, 1927
and receives back from these various
funds S29, ,22512.
Adams paid in S31,149.63 and re-
ceived back $159IL63.
Boulder paid in S55,714.6O and re-
ceived back S20,144.63.
FL Paso paid in $1O4 ,574.18 and re-
ceived back S26,49O.51.
Huerfano paid in S18,O22.14 and re-
ceived back S12,234.54.
Weld paid in $11O,569.69 and receiv-
ed back S27,47S.79.
The friends Of Prohibition are elat-
ed over the satisfactory working of
the law for the first month. Not only
has there been no concerted effort
against its enforcement, but many Of
those most bitterly opposed to it are
aiding in its enforcement, believing
that the new system is entitled to
fair trial. The police records in Dem
yer show that while there were SOB
arrests for all causes, made in Den
yer in January, 1915, in the month
just closed there was but PIP. While
the police admit that the decrease in
the number of arrests for all causes
cannot be attributed solely 70 the de-
parture of ]. Barleycorn, they argue
that his going has contributed largely
to the falling off of their business.
Fights have been fewer than hereto
fore, desertions and non support cases
have decreased in number and the
"vags" who, in former years have
been wont to fill up the city and coun-
ty jails, have sought more congenial
climes.