The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1923-04-27
Rockweli's Letter

This will be the last letter written
this session of the legislature and
probably the last letter that l shall
have the privilege of writing to the
papers on any subject. ] wish to
take this opportunity to thank both
the papers that have been SO cour-
teous in publishing these hastily got
ten together little essays and the good
readers who have taken the trouble
to read them. My purpose has been
to transmit first-hand to the people of
the Western Slope what they would
have known or learned themselves had
they been attending this assembly.
have made a very distinct effort to
stay away from political subjects, and
with the exception of the Code Bills
there has been no subject that have
discussed on which there has been
any partisan differences.
AS to the Code Bill. as all of you
are aware, the Administrative Code
Bill prepared by the Municipal Re-
search Society of New York was de-
feated in the lower house on account
Of lack of sufficient votes to pass it.
The Republican Code Bill or the Lam
bert Bill which consolidated the vari-
GUS departments and boards within the
state under elective offices passed
both houses, but has been vetoed by
the governor. Governor Sweet states
in his veto message that he expects
he will have to answer to the public
for having vetoed the measure and ex-
IN 10 ION Por
next election. It Is we'll, therefore,
that the voters Of Western Colorado
inform themselves as to the merits of
these two measures, in order that they
may intelligently vote upon them at
the next election.
Another interesting coincidence is
the fact that two weeks after my let
ters regarding the segregation Of the
various expenditures for departments
of state government, followed by the
conclusion to which I came that tax
on intangibles or state income tax
seemed to offer the solution for a no.
ticeable reduction in property tax for
state government, Governor Sweet
read a message to the joint assembly
urging the passage of such a measure
as the only practical solution of our
present high property tax. 1t, of
course, is my duty to preside at these
joint assemblies of the house and sem
ate and when Governor Sweet had fin
ished his message he asked me if
would not state that | also was in
favor OF a state income tax and a
tax on intangibles. I told him. how
@l,.t ~ .
alive to address the two bodies and
while I agreed with him absolutely in
his conclusions and was already on
record to that effect. it was question
in my mind whether the assembly
would pass these measures at this
time. due to the fact that at the last
election the people voted down a state
income tax by something like sc, 900
against 1000 for or by a vote OF s to 1.
Under those circumstances it is
scarcely to be expected that the rep
resentatives Of these same people will
pass the bills to which the governor
referred. 1t was my purpose in the
analysis OF the present state taxes to
inform our readers as to my views on
the subject without the idea OF any
immediate relief, but for the purpose
of having them concentrate upon this
subject OF taxes so that by the next
general assembly public opinion would
be crystalized either for or against
state income tax
Very briefly wish TO call attention
OF this assembly and the more impor-
tant measures which they have passed.
1. The Water Compact Bills. This
is an attempt on the part Of seven
Western states to stop the constant
litigation between states with the con-
seQuent expense on the part Of Colo
RADIO in the defense OF her water
rights. It can in my opinion be com.
pared to the Disarmament Conference
which President Harding and Secre-
tary Hughes called in Washington. and
II ratified by Arizona and passed by
congress will be one OF the greatest
generation.
g. When the gath General Assem-.
bly, concludes its work it will have
passed laws reducing the property tax
in Colorado several hundred thousand
dollars or perhaps a million dollars a
year. This Is in the face of constant
increasing demands from our educa-
tional. penal and charitable institu-
lions and other state departments.
3. Practically every important bill
asked for by the farmers and stock
men OF Colorado will have been pass
Cd Included in these will be:
(a) Cooperative Marketing Law.
There is no question but what in many:
states cooperative marketing has prov
ed to be the salvation of the farming