The Colorado statesman., 1919-01-11
COLORADO'S WAR WORK .
STATE PROVES LOYALTY, GOV
ERNoR TELLS LEGISLATURE.
6unter Praises Soldiers and Urges
Highway Development in Out
going Message.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Recounting the events OF
a commonwealth which under his ad-
ministration had put on the armor of
war and eighteen months later laid 1t
aside again for peaceful pursuits, Gov.
Julius G. Gunter suggested in his out
going message Jan. that the period
of construction is only less important
than the period involving the very life
of the state and nation. The chief eN-
ecutive addressed the Twenty-second
General Assembly in the afternoon
during joint session of senators and
House members in the representa-
tives' chamber. His message. which
contained 10000 words and reviewed
the many phases of an unusually ac-
tive administration, required more
than an hour in the delivery.
The governor urged that Colorado
keep abreast Of other great common
wealths in the reconstruction period,
thereby paralleling the equally envia-
BILE record OF service rendered in fac
ing the perils of war.
which Republicans have prepared for
enactment in the present Legislature
and execution under the Shoup regime
were touched upon by the outgoing
governor as representing sound prin-
ciples of prosperity and efficiency to
which the commonwealth is entitled.
In his concluding remarks he
touched upon the financial obligations
as follows:
Il understand your difficulties, the
many meritorious calls, the limita-
tions on your resources. In meeting
the many financial obligations of the
state, the constitution places limita-
tions upon your powers.
THE total levy last year for all
state purposes was a little less than
2s4 mills. Our constitutional limit is
4 mills. The levy of an additional
mill-s100 on $l0O,000-would provide
an additional revenue of approximate
ly s1,5O0,0O0.
You will regret to lay it, but if it
be necessary in meeting our duties to
the unfortunate, if necessary In the
wise. development of our state, if nee
essary in providing vocational train
ing for the returning soldiery, the
reclamation of our lands and the con-
struction of needed highways, to go
to this 4.mill limit, then let us reach
that limit
IF the bond issue is necessary for
the development of our state in high
ways and otherwise, let us move with
other great progressive common
wealths and make that bond issue.
The period of reconstruction in our
state is only less important than the
period involving the very life of the
state and the nation.
Let us meet the great responsible
tiles of this reconstruction period
as generous in meeting the duties of
peace as in meeting the perils of war
and make our commonwealth. as its
resources and its splendid citizenship
justify, one of the greatest-and in
time the est-commonwealth of
the American union"
The governor outlined for the bene-
tit of the legislators the many prelim-
inaries which had been accomplished
prior to the call to the extraordinary
session, and the resultant war activi-
ties that included passage of $780,
900 bond issue. The session con-
vened July IS, 1917, and among other
things, gave official recognition to the
war council which the governor had
organized at the moment the declara-
ton of war was proclaimed by the
President.
His tribute to the men and women
on the two war councils was voiced
in eloquence.
He spoke of the able direction
which manifested itself in the hand
ling of the selective service system,
the food and fuel departments, and
the many other calls made upon Off
cials and individuals in private life
and by them answered with untiring
zealousness.
OF the Colorado National Guard and
its part in the regular army which
later made history at st. Mihiel and
at Chateau Thierry, the governor
spoke in the highest terms of praise.