The Lamar register., 1893-01-21
THE LEGISLATURE.
A Cosby Letter Regarding the Appear
ance and Doings CT Our
LaWmakera.
DENvER. January 70 is.


I0Hd Lawmakers.
DENVER, January l2 1898
The General Assembly after n wrangie over
spoils that lasted ten days and represented
nearly &, 900 OF state money in salaries finally
broke the deadlock In the Senate and on
Thursday, the l2th, the standing committees
OF both houses were announced. In the Sen
ate, the Populist-White Wing combine organ
lied that body and took all the plums in the
way OF committees for the 'falthful'', giving
the Populists the short end and leaving the Re-
publican members in the consomme. So far
AS the personnel of the Senate committees is
concerned, 1t comprises the most experienced
members OF that body and therefore be
considered equal TO average that could
have been made on more equitable partisan
lines
Senator McGovney sounded the keynote of
the reform element In the Senate, though q
Republican himself, in the introduction of q
number OF resolutions intended 10 restrict the
appropriation OF public moneys. One of these
requires that the state auditor shall furnish to
the Senate within ten days careful statement
OF the probable available resources of the
state for the coming two years, and that the
secretary OF the Senate shall keep the same
on file for reference, that the appropria-
tions made by the General Assembly shall not
exceed the revenue
joint memorial to the Congress of the
United States on the subject OF free coinage
has been promptly presented and passed.
has also one against the closing OF the
worlds Fair on Sunday.
Though economy is the watchword among
the Legislators generally, 1t is significant fact
that appropriation bills form small factor
of the whole number. Among those that
have either been introduced or are being in
cubated by the members preparatory to
springing on their unsuspectlng colleagues,
are one appropriatiDg 100000 for the state
ditch at Grand Junction, and $50 900 for q
reservoir at Twin Lakes which provides for q
body of water six miles long and two miles
wide and forty feet deep. This is in the in
terests OF irrigation of the lower Arkansas
valley and It Is estimated that 12S 900 acres
OF additional territory will be put under Guilt
yation when the new reservoir Is completed.
state road from Steamboat Springs to
North Park in Larimer county and a state
bridge across the Arkansas in ProWers county
are among the smaller items of appropriation
Some of the Legislators are good
deal exercised over the large slice of war
rants on the general fund that hare been
purchased as an investment with money be-
longing to the school fund and n bill has
been introduced appropriating the sum of
sGjO, 900 to redeem these warrants and repay
the school fund, and allowing interest at the
rate of 80 per cent per annum from time of
such conversion. The warrants are chiefly of
lSS1-S-9 and are "reminiscences of the famous
Seventh General Assembly.
The House has provided very strict rules
against lobbying and to protect Itself against
the corruptng influences of the third house.
Consequently the desire to 'see a member"
which has erstwhlle been an open sesame to
the floor of that august body no longer avails,
and the unlucky applicant must pertorce wait
without the charmed circle.
The wheels CT legislation are not moving
smoothly yet they undoubtedly viii in an
other week. but 1t is noticeable fact that the
new members are frequently oyerpowered
with sense of their own Importance and i'm
agine themselves the cynosure of all eyes, or
else they are abnormalIy busy trying to get
their bearings and find where "they are at.''
There are, of course, some leyel-hea led fell
lows who have settled down to business aud
10 uot intend 10 manipulate or be manpu-
lated, to any great extent. 1t is too to
forecast any important legislation, but it is
safe TO say that somc sort of a railroad law
viii be passed.
One difference between the present and
former legislatures, lies in the fact that the
Populist members elected from both the old
parties are u little bit unsettled as to their eN-
act status. They are good deal in reference
TO the old line politicians as the newly landed
Irishnan was In regard to the United States,
'.agin the government So they are ''agin'h
the old politicians on general principles.
Despite the many yaticinations in regard TO
what Gov. Waite has done or is going TO do
in. the matter of appointments, your readers
may feel assured of one thing, that up to
date he has done nothing He has made no.
pledges but listens patiently TO everybody
and allows well-meant advice to slide grace
fully through from one auricle to the other
on limited tickets without any stop-oyer priv
ileges.
The candidates for the important offices
are consequently in unhappy state of un-
certainty, that is very wearing on nerve tissue
as well as their finances.
The mysterious retlcence of those supposed
to be close to his cxcelency is not born SO
much of prudence. an inability 10 tell what
the old gentleman intends to do. 1t is safe
then 10 advise all-anxIous souls to 'swait,
ncekly wait and murmur not.n
In my next letter shall probably be able
to give the names of some of the lucky
aud show some OF the secret springs influenc-
ing the acts of Colorado's law makers.
The bill TO prevent the acceptance of rail-
way passes by members of the legislature and
state officers is not likely to become law by
anything like n unanimous vote. The novelty
of being able to familiarly pull out little
pasteboard which is merely loaned to the
conductor TO register in his little book, as an
equivalent for railroad ride is too sweet to.
be hastily ignored, More anon.
SAND PAPFg-