Gilpin observer., 1899-02-16
WHAT THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.

states excess warrants; Mr.. Balling-
er's bill creating n committee to inves-
tigate the existence of and cause for
the excess warrants; Mrs. Wright's
measure levying poll tax of 30 cents
for the support of the state institutions.
and that of Representative Ballinger
levying 81 poll tax for the same
purpose. The poll tax bills are deemed
by the committee to represent imprac-
ticable and undesirable legislation.
A delegation of district judges ap-
peared before the Senate committee
on judiciary last week to protest
against the passage of the bill reduc-
ing the number of judicial districts in
the state. Judges Dixon, Armour,
Overs and johnson. from Pueblo,
Leadville and the Thirteenth district.
were present and all protested against
the bill. Ex-senator Painter led del
egation from the Thirteenth district to
protest against that district being
abolished and its five counties added
to the Arapahoe district. All speak
ers. including Senator Adams. were
against the bill. The committee. how
ever, favors it and is likely to make Il
favorable report.
Representative Murray has in the
hands of the House committee on Den
yer city charter a resolution calling
| FOR Il committee of three representa-
tives and two senators to consider the
needs of the Denver city charter dur
ing the vacation of the Legislature and
report to the Thirteenth its findings.
Chairman Browning of the charter
committee says he is not so much op-
| posed to the resolution if it were pro-
posed in good faith. THE resolution
was only introduced TO make STIR
he said. in speaking of it. ''Of course
we will not consider it seriously, but
if we can be made to believe the reso-
| luton is in earnest. we will be willing
to consider it in that light. But l do
not see where Denver could gain any
thing by selecting members of this
Legislature in preference to citizens of
Denver to make some charter amend
| ments."
The finance committees of the two
branches held joint meeting Tuesday
night. The appropriations committee
of the House presented a report show
ing how much the members expected
for roads. bridges, reservoir sites and
other similar improvements. A SINH
lar report was submitted by the finance
committee of the Senate. Both were
considered together, and with an eye
only to the conservation of the finan-
cial resources of the state and the max
interested To appease demand of
over $1,7JO,OO0 there is about S2OOOOO
available in the internal Improvement
fund. At this time the exact sum in
the fund is $163.576.54. With the nat
ural increase this will probably be in
creased by $4,000. The Senate report
of the finance committee showed that
bills have been introduced asking ap-
propriations for internal improvements
ff thn mt Of I,, u
ton to this sum the members of the
House demand $54S.7O worth of i'm
provements. This has no connection
with n demand for S945, 5,961.55 by the
House from the general fund. The
prevalent sentiment in the committee
was that several of the larger appro-
priations asked for should not be con-
Sidered. such as that for state canal
No. 1. for the Paris Exposition and for
extensive road projects. such as Sena-
tor TaylOr's for n state boulevard from
Denver to Grand Junction. 1t was al
so emphasized that none of the internal
improvement fund shall be spent for
improvements or additions of any of
the state institutions. The committee
went on record as rigidly adhering to
the principle that the internal improve
ment fund shall he reserved exclusively
for the purposes for which it was ere
ated
The Sunday amusement bill of the
House came back from the judiciary
committee with two reports. The ma
jority asked that it be referred to the
committee of the whole without rec
oinmendation. This was signed by
Messrs. Hammond, Murray. Hollen-
beck, Ballinger and Bartels. The mi
nority report was Il lengthy document,
as follows:
THE undersigned members of the
committee on judiciary. to which was
referred ii. h. No. 81. n bill for an act
declaring the first day of the week,
commonly called Sunday. a legal holi-
day and n day of rest. recreation or
amusement; TO repeal all laws in con-
flict herewith and providing penalties
for violation of the provisions of this
act beg leave TO submit the following
minority report:
I'VE recommend that further consid-
Grafton of the said bill by the House
be indefinitely postponed. because
"First-lt is against the general and
social welfare of the people.
"Second-lt would destroy the value
of the Sabbath as a day for rest.
"Third-lt Is against the interests of
the laboring masses of the people,
tending to ultimately rob them of their
only day of rest.
"Fourth-lt would bring II day of eX-
cess and exhaustion rather than II day
of rest.
"Fifth-The opening of all places of
amusement would ultimately result in
the opening of all work shops and 9th
or avenues of toll and bring all to n
common level Of universal profaneness
and continuous toll.
"SiXth-lt would be injurious to and
l..,. ~,
'Seventh-lt would encourage and
prOmotp uunrillpl license and omen