The Springfield herald., 1897-02-19
THE LEGISLATURE.
wednesday. February 10th.

the Senate the result of the investiga-
tion made by the committee upon the
question of the legality of the law of
1891, by which the salary of state treas
urer was increased from $1,000 to
$1,000. The report set forth that the
bill referred to was properly passed by
both houses and that 1t was signed by
Governor Cooper at / :45 p. m. o'clock
on the day of the end of his term, and
| while his term expired at noon on that
day 1t was the opinion of the commit
tee that Governor Cooper was still act
ing governor at the time the bill was
| signed and that 1t was legal. The Sen
| ate agreed to discuss the report to-
morrow.
The salary bill came up for second
reading with the amendments proposed
by the finance committee, which pro-
vides for the payment of the illegally
employed clerks of both houses, and the
minority report was considered. No
action.
Senator Stratton's bill, No. Is. appro-
priating SS.GO5 for the payment of
vouchers in the office of the auditor for
unpaid salaries of officers and en-
| ployes of the State RefOrmatory at
Bucna Vista, was recommended for
passage.
Senator Taylor's bill authorizing
| judges of District and County courts
to adjourn court sine die or to a GER
tain day as they may deem advisable
was recommended for passage.
Bill No. ia, by Senator Taylor, pro-
viding for the prosecution of cases by
public officials without costs when act
ing in an official capacity, was recom-
mended for passage, as also was bill
| No. 1I5 by the same member, which re-
lieves public officers from giving bond
in cases of appeal taken by such Off
GERS acting in an official capacity.
Senator Groves bill fixing the fees to
be charged by sheriffs of the several
counties was recommended for pas
sage.
A bill giving police magistrates ex-
elusive jurisdiction in vagrancy cases.
| introduced by Senator Porterfield, was
favorably reported.
The bill to abolish the Board of Char
tiles and Corrections was defeated by
vote of sixteen to twelve.
! House-A bill by Mr.. Gardner to pro-
vide for counties in the fourth and
fifth classes Joining to form n high
school district passed second reading.
The bill to place Mineral county in
normal district No. 10 also passed Sec
ond reading without objection.
Wolfe's vagrancy law. providing that
vagrants shall not be required to work
more than eight hours n day passed
second reading.
A bill allowing county superlntend-
ents in the larger counties to employ
assistants passed second reading.
Senator Reuters bill to amend the
| election laws requiring objections to
forms of ballots to be filed within three
days after filing of the ballots, etc,
was read second time. The bill
| Is to hasten n settlement of anti-elec-
tion contests and to prevent recur-
renee of the squabbles of last fall.
Thursday, February 11th
Senate.-Senator Gordon's bill pro-
viding for bounty on beet sugar was
killed: the report of the finance COM
mittee recommending that the bill be
laid on the table was adopted.
Senator CannOn's bill placing Delta,
Mesa, Montrose, Gunnison, San Mi
guel. Ouray and Hinsdale counties in
the Seventh judicial district and rcgr-
lating the terms of court therein, was
fayorably reported.
Mr.. Thomas mileage bill prohibiting
state officers from accepting more than
the actual amount paid for railway
fare as mileage from the state, was the
subject of much discussion. Senator
! Carney offered an amendment forbid
ding the acceptance of passes by Off
cials. The bill was recommended for
| passage.
Senator Wheeler's bill requiring all
moneys received by the deputy super
intendent of insurance to be paid to
the state treasurer and providing that
/ all expenses Of the insurance depart
ment shall be paid by the state treas
urer, was recommended for passage.
Senator Thomas school bill, which
provides for the payment of all the
debts of outstanding school districts by
the consolidated district, was consid-
cred as amended by the committee of
the whole on Tuesday. 1t was re-
referred for engrossment.
House-About twenty members were
absent on n tour of inspection OF the
state institutions.
The House went into committee of
the whole on unimportant bills. The
principal measures and those in dis
pute We're put over on account OF the
very slim attendance.
A bill by Mr.. Ryan, to reduce the
number of persons who can form mu-
tual fire Insurance company from 100
TO So passed second reading.
The most important matter discussed
was bill by Mr.. Helbig requiring
notes and other debts to be liquidated
only out of property on which the debts
are secured. No action was taken be-
fore adjournment.
Friday. February 12th.
Senate-The salary bill was dis
cussed at length and passed second
reading.
Senator Thomas bill requiring sher-
ifs to transport at one time all the
prisoners in their respective counties
awaiting transportation. passed second
reading with the amendment that in
sane asylum commitments should be
excluded from the provisions of the
act. This bill was before the Senate
on Thursday and was agreed to and
was re-referred for the purpose of en-
bodying the above amendment. The
purpose of the bill is to prevent sher-
ifs from unnecessarily incurring large
expenses for the transportation of pris-
oners.
Senator Reuters bill giving District
courts jurisdiction over the property of
assignors and authorizing the court to
order Il distribution of the property
among creditors when such distribu-
ton may be deemed advisable, passed
second reading.