The state herald., 1893-02-17
our DENVER LETTER.
Tho Legislature Proceeding with De-
liberation which is Gctslng

for the past week has been negative II doing
practically nothing can be called ''work."
The fcfctcres hles In the two houses show
hat nearly $50 bills have been introduced
since the beginning Of the session. Nearly
SIX weeks has elapsed and but ten bills have
been passed and signed by the governor One
Of these was an appropriation to pay salary OF
members and employees Of the assembly and
the other appropriating 100000 for the
Worlds Fair exhibit at Chicago. or course
out Of this mass of proposed legislation there
are n large number Of merltorious measures,
some of which should become laws.
When the Senate is not engaged In discuss
Ing constitutional questions or windy memo
rials on national questions, II Is considering
the propr!cty Of adiourning OF arranging for
u junkct somewhere Many OF the senators
have n good deal OF private business and
''pairh with those Of opposite political faith
with rs much c0mplaccncy as II the State
we're not paying the bills Just the same.
"Commiitce work. In both houses has be-
come farce and humillating confession
was made by Speaker Ammons, who an
nounced that unless some reports were made
by tic various committees the House would
eordngly at tile noon hour to-day an ad-
)Uiirnnient was taken until 10 o'clock to-mor-
row and al! the committees were supposed to
be animated by 4 strong desire TO work"
One OF the members qucrulously stated that
there were thirty-dve clerks on the rolls and
yet when one was wanted he could not be
found. AS clerks were appointed rs rule In
payment Of political services, and MS the COM
mittcc rooms have not been haunted very
closely by members OF the various committees
1t Is not very strange that tho clerks have not
thought II necessary to do more than sec that
theft names were properly on the pay roll
There Is, Of course working contingent In
both houses who mean TO make n record and
seci.tc e.nic good legislation. The political
middle In Colorado this year Is more or less
responsible for the peculiar condition of af-
fairs. No measure is wholly considered on
It's merits but on It's political bcarins TO
great extent.
measure Ia now pending Of Importance to
| ,niall farmers In Eastern Colorado and other
portions of the State where timber Is scarce,
| entitled. "a local option Herd Law 10 protect
cultivated lahds from trespass by stock"
| Though 1t is introduced by Representative
Carnnhan of Eastern Colorado, 1t applies with
equal force TO n very large portion OF the
State. The chief provision, arc that all own
ers Of stock shall he liable for damage done
thereby upon cultivated lands. That In eases
| Of trcspass the party dalnagcd may take up
and impound the stock so damaging and the
owner thereof on notification shall appoint an
| arbitrator to act with enc named by the
owner of the crops or trees SO damaged, they
| two 10 select third who shall make al award
| Of damages sustained. Provision is made for
| local option by which the question as TO
| whether the provisions OF the act shall apply
| TO nny given county may be submitted 10
vote Of the people Mt any general election. II
| the majority OF votes cast are IN favor Of the
Herd Law Il then will become applicable in
| all Its provisions 10 that county. Tbis Will
| give the newer sections Of The State an oppUr.
tun,y To improve their lands ut minimum
pcnsc for fences. II will also require stock
men TO close herd their stock as Is nov done
In Kansas and some other states. The bill
will undoubtedly encounter good dcs! Il
opposition but has a fighting chance TO be
come law.
Another very important measure 10 all sec
iions Of the State Is the bill OF Senator llar,s-
ell OF Arapahoc County concerning mechanics
liens and 10 repeal all other acts on the sub
jcct that conflict Herewith. Section one pro-
vide. that all mechanics, material men, con-
Tractors, sub-con,rae,or., builders and all
persons of every class performing labor upon
or furnishing material. TO he Used In the con.
struct.on or repair Of any buildings, bridge,
ditch, flumc, acqucduct, tunnel, fence, rail-.
road. wagon road or other structure or I'm.
prcyefncnt upon land and also architects, en-.
| ginocrs and artisans who have furnished plans,
designs, drawings, specifications, estimates Of
cost, surveys or superintendent shall be u
lien upon the property, upon which they have
rendered service or bestowed labor or fur
nlshed materials for the value thereof, whoth-
CT done or furnished at the Instance Of the
owner or of any other pcrsoa acting By his
authority or under him as ngcn,, contractor
or othrral.c.
| In case uf contract for work between the
| rcpuicd owner and contractor the lien shall
extend to the entire contract price aud such
contract shall operate ~ lieu In favor ~ all
persons excrp; the contractor until all claims
agnlns, the latter are satisfied aud Ia hi, favor
rs 10 any balance II provides that all con.
tracts exceeding 500 shall be In rltlns
settling forth the names Of all the parties, u
description Of the property affected aud u
general statement Of the character OF the
work To be done tl;clher with the terms Of
payment, And such agreement shall be flied
for record In tho office Of the county recorder
Of the county where the property Is situated.
| 1t also provides that upon failure TO file
such contract for record, the labor done and
materials furnished by all pcrsons, except
the contractor. shall be deemed TO have been
done and furnished ut the Instance Of the
owner aud they shall have a lien therefor.
| Section . prohibits rny advance payment
on the work but only upon estimates and In
| inst1,m'nts aftir tnl commsnccmsnt or on
| completion OF the whole work. A prOylso
also requires that at least Is per cent Of the
whole con,rnc, price shall be paid within
tniriy.Eye days after completion OF the con.
tract No payment made prior to the time
| v Is due .hall release or defeat any lien, even
should tho contractor abandon his contract
and become indebted TO the rcputed owner In
any amount for damages. The bill provides
also that all Hens, csecp; ns TO contractor,
shall be paid In money aud shall not he dl.
mlnlshcd by cointcr-olalms on recount Of
| price or subsequent indebtedness Any per.
sons except the contractor may give written
notice 10 the owner or agent or architect OF
the kind Of labor done or material fIrnlshri
10 the contractor, and Il shall be the duty Of
the owner. agent or architect TO Withhold from
such contractor the amount Of ,uih labor or
| materials.
Section provides that every original con.
tractor shall Within sixty days after the CON.
plciion Of hl' contract, aud every person OK.
| ocrt the contractor within thirty days after
the completion Of the contract, hlc with the
county recorder clalm continuing n sworn