The Raymer enterprise., 1921-01-13


Ths Colorado RanssrA
Ny expsriencs has convinced No
that there u NO means available to the
state by which these situations can be
controlled In the interest Of all parties
concerned 10 effectively a. BY stats
police. Accordingly, ! have revived the
constabulary under the provisions Of
the act approved August Z. 1917, and II
now b an efficient organization. TO
obtain the fullest safety to the state
and efficiency to that department ]
recommend an adequate appropriation
for its maintenance from the general
fund or from the national defense
bonds. and q revision Of the act under
which It operates, to make It perman.
snt. II manifestly would be In the
Interest Of harmony and efficiency to
place the department under the adju-
tant general and to make that officer
ex-officio it, superintendent Life and
porperty In Colorado must be protected
and I earnestly recommend the con-
tinuation of the Ranger force a. the
surest and most economical agency for
accomplishing this result.
Defense eonda
The state frequently 70 handicapped
BY lack Of funds to meet unforeseen
emergencies when the General A..
sembly II not in session. ] recon-
mend that the issue Of national do
fenss bonds bs extended for the years
1921 and l922 and that a large ap-
preparation BE- made therefrom for
such contingencies - may seriously
involve the welfare Of the state.
National Guard Armerisa
The State ID obligated to maintain
an adequate National Guard for the
defense Of the federal government
Generous appropriations should be
made from the national defense bond
issue for the construction Of armories
where National Guard units have been
organized and recognized.
Better Roada.
Highway legislation Of Z construc-
tion character u demanded By the
people. ! believe that state roads
should bs planned, constructed and
maintained exclusively by the state,
that they should be In the hands Of q
capable, experienced official with wide
authority and that he should be bound
to q comprehensive program Of de-
vslopment and should BE- responsible
directly to the governor for the ct.
flcient performance Of his duties The
state and national governments have
been generous with road appropria.
tions. We must bs careful that these
funds are judlciously expended.
Boards and Bureaus.
For two years I have given attention
to the functioning Of Stats Depart.
msnts, commissions, boards, etc, and
have considered seriously the need for
an effective coordination Of their
activities. The lieutenant and acting
governor recently appointed Senator
Francis J. Knauss Of Denver and
Representative-elect W. B. Gordon Of
Lamar to give the problem special
study. Their examination Of the
statutes Of this and other states and
Of the valuable reports published In
1915 BY the Survey Committee on
State Affairs has led to the prepare.
ton Of q series Of bills which. l am
sure II enacted, will eliminate much
duplicated work by consolidation Of
departments Of similar purpose and
will lessen the cost Of transac citing pub.
lie business.
The committees study led to the in
evitable conclusion that a new code
IL needed to systematixe administers,
tive work.
The experience Of several other
states with board Of control In which
all the powers and duties Of the nu.
merous commissions, bureaus, etc, are
lodged has proven helpful. The com.
mittee found, however. that while such
central board might and probably
would be an Improvement over our
present system, the plan cannot be
worked out comprehensively under the
constitution Of Colorado. In this con.
clusion l am reluctantly forced to con.
cur.
New Constitution.
Our present constitution was adopted
many years ago and under conditions
essentially different from those now
obtaining II has been frequently
amended and each amendment has
been designed to meet specific need
without due regard to Its effect upen
the Constitution as a comprehensive
whole. Therefore, because only new
organic law will meet the actual needs
Of the state, It Is my deliberate con.
viction that this General Assembly
should submit to the people a pro-
posal for a constitutional convention.
Budget system.
The experience Of the budget de-
partment In Its first two years
strengthens my conviction that the re-
concentrations of the head Of that de-