Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-03-02
WHAT THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.

trust message. s..
The House has decided to hold three
night sessions each week until the calen-
dar Is cleared.
The bill to abolish the position of
Supreme Court reporter caused long
and warm debate In the Senate Friday.
Senator Philips precinct option bill
has been reported to the Senate by the
Arapnhoe committee without recon-
mcndation. ..-
The bill to make eight hours days
work in mines and smclters has passed
its second reading in the Senate by a
vote Of 10 to 0.
The governor sent message to the
Legislature Tuesday denouncing trusts
and urging legislation to protect the
people against them.
The Senate has killed Senator Philips
usury bill. The measure provided lie.
gal interest rate of six per cent, all
above that amount to be usury.
A bill has passed the Senate provid-
Ing that graduates Of all universities,
colleges and normal schools who have
taken certain courses may teach on
the strength Of their diplomas.
The bill requiring insurance COM
panies to pay the full value of policies
when insured property is totally de-
stroyed has passed the Senate. Mr.
Buckley led the opposition to the meas
urc.
The three women members Of the
House, to whom was referred the res
olution to permit smoking, are not
ngreed In their report. Two Of them
would permit 1t. while the third is op'
posed.
Mr.. Gaughan's mechanics lien Dill
was recommended for passage by the
committee of the whole after being
slightly amended. This bill seeks to
give miners liens upon mining property,
even though they nre employed by
leasers or sub-leasers.
DIR. JudkIns' inheritance tax bill, ns
amended last week In the committee
OF the whole, passed the House OF
Representatives Friday. Other bills
passed were Senator Whitford's meas
,lre to regulate the admission OF evil
dence in civil actions, and that Of Mr..
Ballinger to allow the release Of one or
more joint debtors.
The Teller county bill nearly caused
n fight in the House Friday, the con-
test arising over the proposition to
send committee TO Cripple Creek to
Investigate the need Of new county.
| The committee appointed Is rs follows:
Short, Smith of Chaffee, Rnwalt, Sloan,
Burwell, Castetter, Schroeder, Ken
drlck. Bell.
Everett Bells nntl-scrip bill passet!
the House of Representatives Thurs
| day without dissenting vote. The
author OF the measure had the emerg-
cncy clause added to 1t and both clause
md bill were passed. Mr.. Bell said
the coal corporations would test the
constitutionnlity of the proposed law
md he wanted to give them rs early
m opportunity us possible. The vote
stood 80 to O.
The House committee on canals and
reservoirs has reported favorably on
the measure requesting the United
Stntes to spend 100000 n year for
five years in constructing m immense
system of reservoirs In Colorado. The
point Is made that government that
spends so much to improve rivers and
harbors should certainly do something
for people who have neither rivers nor
harbors to improve.
The finance committee Of the two
houses have decided to investigate the
demand of the citizens of Ouray coun-
ty with regard to the purchase of the
Mears toll road in that county. A bill
calling for Its purchase is before the
Legislature, and the committees are
anxious to know the sentiments Of the
citizens before appropriating money
for the purchase of the road, also
whether the demand Is Just.
Two Of Senator Parks bills were
passed by the Senate on the 23rd. One
OF them is to amend the general stat
utes in regard to the formation of cor
porations. 1t proposes to give power
TO railroad companies to lease or pur.
chase lines not parallel. The other is to
fix the liability of fire insurance com
panics In certain cases. known rs the
valued policy insurance. Senator Buck
ley alone opposed Its passage.
Senator Ammons' bill creating a state
railroad commission and in many ways
regulating the conduct of Transports
ton corporations has encountered 4
snag in the Senate committee on cor
porations, and the ultimate disposition
of the measure Is in doubt. The com
mttee held n meeting Thursday even
ing, and it was told aftcrwnrd that
stormy scenes were enacted on Mr.
Ammons' account. 1t is well under
stood that there will be two reports OF
the measure. 1t is said that the com
mittee is pretty evenly split upon the
proposition.
Sitting in the committee of the whole
last Thursday the House took UP the
bills of Mr. Engley and Mrs. Wright
to restrict the employment of children
The House snt until after o o'clock try
Ing to agree on an age limit but. fnilln-
to do SO, let the question 20 over. The
opinions of the members as TO tht
age of restriction varied from ten to six
teen years. Mrs. Wright and Mr.. Eng
ley both leaned toward Il high rather
than low limit. Those taking the 9th