The state herald., 1899-03-17
WHAT THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.


ern0r Thomas will not commit himself
on the measure. He says the bill has
not yet officially reached him and he
has had no opportunity to examine Its
provisions In detail. The Senate spent
the entire morning rehushing the Ques-
ton of the constitutionality Of the
measure.
Senator Ammons' bicycle path bill.
after n long debate. has passed second
reading. and WIS ordered to final pass
age, which by this favorable action is
now certainty. An appropriation of
so.uoW is involved. In explaining the
measure, Mr. Ammons said the path
from Denver 10 Palmer Lake was only
beginning Eventually the path would
feach Pueblo. More people were in
terested In the path than in any other
road in the state. Senator Whitford
urged that the bicyc.c path would be rs
merltorious Improvement as any
made by the present Legislature. The
money spent from the internal revenue
) FUND would he ms well expended as any
or the money of that fund.
The constitutonality of the roads and
bridges appropriation bills that call for
money from the general fund is under
discussion in the House committee on
revision and constitution. Member
Montgomery holds that the bills are
clearly unconstitutional. and Chairman
Ballihgcr was nt first inclined to side
with him. But after the latter had read
the constitutional provisions over very
carefully he expressed his doubts and
said he really believed the bills were all
right. Mr.. Montgomery has offered to
convince him of his error and the qucs-
tion viii be further discussed. The
committee viii report about fifteen ap-
preparation bills that call for money
from the Internal Improvement fund.
Governor Thomas has sent to the Leg
lsiattre statement of his views rcln-
tive 10 the management of the insane
asylum. His conclusions are that the
institution has been badly mnnngel
but find that he has no authority TO re-
move the superintendent or the men,
bers of the board of control. He says:
The management of the State Insane
Asylum for the past few years has
been most negligent. For this negli-
gcnce the Board of Commissions and
the superintendent are alike RESPONSE
bic. rigorous and systematic admin.
istration of the affairs hy the board
would of necessity have resulted in a
similar administration by the superin-
tendent." The governor recommends
larger appropriations for the asylum.
The Teller county bill passed the
House Wednesday by vote of 81 10
~. and the emergency clause received
n vote of 60 10 > few minutes later
The bill of Senator Ammons now waits
the concurrence of the Senate in the
amendment whereby Teller county is
left In the Fourth judicial district. and.
lastly. the signature of Governor
Thomas. The bill was not allowed to
reach third reading without another
fierce struggle on the part of the oppo-
sitlon. but they We're defeated by the
following vote: Ayes: Adams. Ballnger.
Barnard, Barry. Bradley. Byron. Clark.
Drumm. Dunlavy. Elliott, Engley, Far
rls, Gaughan. Hammond. Harter. Her
mond. Hollenbcck, Judkins, Kendrick,
Kennedy tOurayl, Lee. LltZ. Montgom-
cry, Moore, Morris, Murray. hatcher,
Orlngton. Patterson. Rawalr. Ryan.
Short, Smith tChaffee). Steele. Turney.
Uglow, Wright Nays: Bartcls. Bell.
Briscoe, browning. Burwe,i, Cannon.
Castetter. Dlckcrs0n. Diltz. Duncan.
Estes, Garcia. Hughes. jefferson. Jones.
kamm, Kennedy hakel, Lawrence,
McLain, Pine. Rcichard. Sanchez.
tAIesa). Taylor. Mr.. Speaker.
Friends OF the antl-scrlp bill. which
has been tied up In committee of the
State Sennt" for several weeks past.
nrn beginning TO wonder whether the
hill viii have chance for Its life. A
peculiarly about the measure Is that II
passed the lower house by n unanimous
vote. fifty-ninr members being present
when the roll was called. ON reaching
the Senate the document was con.
signed TO the lender merclcs Of the
finance committee and there It has re-.
malncd. II Is claimed that four mem
beers of the committee are in favor of
the I'LL, one is Indifferent and one Is mn.
altcrnbly opposed. calming that tile
bill X unconstitutional. Several amend
ments have been Insisted upon and Rep
rcscntativc Fell. the father OF the meas
urc, accordingly drafted five minor
amendments. which are acceptable 10
n majority OF the committee. The
amendments relate 10 warrants issued
by ditch, canal and reservoir companies.
Those companies are accustomed, IN
Colorado. to issue warrants In the
spring TO bc paid In the fall. and this
feature Is permitted IN the amendments
The bill has not reached a vote In the
Sfnult. nut Strong rHoftN ARE bclng
made by Mr.. Bell and others of the low
or house TO bring the bill 10 the light OF
day before II is too late.
The Taulnnry. Fisher election contest
Is occupying great deal Of time In the
Senate, senator McCrccry made long
and able nrruTeni Friday. IN which he
declared that the facts adducrd did not
NJ all carry out nr suhSnntlnic the
charges that the Democrats were de.
frnrded In the appointment of election
Judges. and furthermore. said that
mndc no difference IN this ease ~ the
lists furnished The county commission.
"rs were not legal, hence the appoint.
mrnt Of judges would have been Illegal.
Testimony was read nj length. This evl.
dencc was construed by senator Me.
crccry TO show that the Colorado Fuel
aud Iron Company was not implicated
ns charged by the contcstor. lie said
all the so.callcd evidence wns 10 the Of.
feet that some OIL" heard say" that the
company had Instructed lis men. or
some Of them. 10 vote the Republican
Ticket, Int no one knew of this being
done. Senator Whltford rctortcd that
II wns proven before the committee
that the men were told 10 vote that way
or take their walking papers. senator
Mcctccry declared most emphntically
that there WINS no Republican gang In
lIucrfnno county and read mnny pages
nf Testimony to prove that the sO-cnllcd
gnng wnH only the regular orgnnlzn.
llun of the party nrd no worse than that
] ths hnfunpputg