The Delta independent., 1922-10-27
FAIRLAMB DISCUSSES
AMENDMENTS AT MEETING

last Thursday evening, Millard Fair
lamb spoke as follows regarding pro-
posed amendments No. and No. 4:
No. Proposed initiated law ap-
.portioning members of the general
assembly
This measure is submitted to the
people for approval under the initia-
tive. A like measure was turned
down by the last state legislature.
At the present time the counties on
the Western slope have eight sena.
tors and eighteen representatives.
Should the bill pass the representa-
tion in the legislature from the West
ern slope would consist of only six
senators and ten representatives.
Nearly all of these senators and rep
resentatives that would be taken from
us would be added to the represen-
tation of the city and county of Den
yer. At the present time, the city
and county of Denver has seven SEN
ators. The two that would be taken
from the estern slope would be added
under this proposed measure to the
representation of the city of Denver,
so that 1t would then be entitled to
nine senators. At the present time
the city of Denver has twelve repre-
sentatives. Under this proposed meas
ure 1t would be given sixteen rep
resentatives.
| While Delta county would not be
injured as to its representation in
the house, 1t would be seriously in
jured in regard to its representation
in the senate At the present time,
THE counties OF Delta and Gunnison
iconstitute one senatorial district, and
they comprise approximately one
thirty-fifth of the population of the
state of Colorado. Under the pro-
posed measure. the counties of Delta.
Gunnison and Chafee shall con-
stitute a senatorial district and the
joint population of these three coun-
ties is far in excess of one thirty
fifth of the population of the state.
The bill is exceedingly unfair to
Delta county in this respect and 1t is
far more unfair to other counties on
the Western slope than it is to Delta
county. In fact. 1t would seem that
the proponents of this initiated meas
ure seem to regard the Western slope
as fertile field for taxation for state
purposes without 1t being entitled to
proportionate participation IN the af-
fairs OF the state government.
Not alone on our own behalf but
for the assistance of our Western
slope counties we should vote no. and
we should see that every ballot OF
every voter on the Western slope Is
marked no. as against this propo-
sition. for a more vicious measure for
our injury could scarcely be devised.
No. 4, Proposed Income Tax Amend
ment.
At the present time no property is
exempt from taxation excepting that
OF churches and schools. and other
charitable and fraternal organiza-
tions This constitutional provision
proposes to exempt from taxation, ex-
cepting an income tax. money. notes.
credits. book accounts, tax sale GER
tificates. debentures. and all other
written evidences OF Indebtedness. and
all corporate stocks, excepting the
and in lieu OF direct taxation. to sub
ject to an income tax the holder of
such property with DEDUCTIONS and
exemptions from the income tax to be
established by the legislature.
A bulletin has been gotten out by
the promoters OF this measure, who
are mainly capitalists and bankers. in
which they state their positaion in
the manner OF a QUESTIONABLE. We
quote from this QUESTIONABLE.
"6. Q.-Why exempt intangible
properties. notes. stocks, bonds. bank
deposits and other forms OF credit
fran direct taxation?
A.--First, because Colorado and
every other state has found It i'm
possible to collect such taxes. Second.
because the enforcement of the law
would work an economic hardship on
all borrowing classes by either in
creasing the rate OF interest or driv-
ing money from investment in the
state. This is the real reason why
the law is evaded."
"7. Q-Give an example.
A.-Suppose some industry wishes
to sell securities at 6 per cent to
establish plant in Colorado. The in
come on $4,000 Of these securities
would be $500 In Denver the pres
ent tax would be 1915; in Colorado
Springs $3.50; in Pueblo s490. This
would reduce the income respectively
to 1926 per cent, ESQ per cent and
LILO per cent net. Investors would
either demand more than 6 per cent
or would invest elsewhere.
"S. Q.-would not an income tax
result the same?