, 1899-01-21
B0NDSFOR0 FF|CERs
BILL INTRODUCED BY FOURT OF
FREMONT COUNTY CON
OERNING THEM.
Provides That Bonds for Public Of
ficials be Obtained in Safety or
Guarantee Companies at Expense
Of State and Officials be Held Abso-
lutely Responsible for Moneys.

Cheyenne, Jan. 21.- (Special.) -
Speaker Davis called the house % or
der promptly at 10 O'Clock this morn
ing. The roll call showed all the mem
bers present except those who have
been regularly excused. After prayer
by the chaplain the journal of Friday
was read and approved.
The following bills were introduced:
House bill No. 40, by Fourt of FIRE.
mont. An act providing for official
bonds of certain public officers and pro-
viding that such bonds may be furnish
ed by surety and guaranty companies,
and that the premium shall be paid
out of the public funds, and providing
thai the state officials shall be abso-
lutely responsible for the safe keeping
of the public funds. Referred to COM
mittee on judiciary.
House bill No. Al, by Atherly of AL
bany. An act to repeal section I'LL of
the revised statutes, relating to certi-
ficates of indebtedness. This bill would
repeal the act giving the auditor power
to issue such certificates. Referred to
the committee on ways and means.
House bill No. AZ, by Roberts of
Uinta. An act to amend and ~re-enact
chapter so of the session laws of 1890
81, relating to mines and mine laborers
and providing for semi-monthly pay
ments. Referred to committee on
mines.
The house then went into committee
of the whole for the consideration of
bills on the general file. with Nowlin
of Uinta county in the chair.
House joint memorial No. 1, by
Fourt of Fremont, memorializing on
gress to treat with the Indians for the
cession of a part of the Shoshone reser-
walton in this state was taken up Mr..
Fourte made a powerful argument in
support of the memorial, and recalled
the Indian troubles in Jackson hole.
and stated that the hungry Indians
must be either fought or fed. Mr..
Fourt argued that it was necessary to
committee reported back the memorial
with the recommendation that it do
pass.
The clerk here read house joint res
olution No. 5, by Fourt, extending the
thanks of the legislature to the people
of Evanston, Rock Springs, Rawlins
and Laramie and to the Union Pacific
Railroad company for the courtesy eX-
tended to the legislature during the
ton of Mr.. Davis the resolution was
reported back with the recommendation
that 1T do pass.
House bill No. IL, by Fourt, relating
to fidelity bonds for municipal, county
and state officers, being next for con-
%sideration, Mr.. Carpenter of Albany,
took the floor in opposition to the bill,
declaring that the bill, as proposed,
would place our public officials at the
mercy of the guaranty companies. Mr..
Davis spoke in favor of IN amendment
concerning the time when the bonds
should take effect, there being, as he
expressed it, a loop hole" in the bill
as printed. Mr.. Fourt defended the
measure vigorously and answered var
ious questions pertaining to the bill as
proposed to him, and explained several
clauses which were more or less OBJ
scure. Section 8 of the bill, which pro-
vides that the cost of obtaining these
bonds shall be paid out of the public
funds, provoked a lengthy discussion,
and Messrs. Atherly and Davidson
Thought If it could be so amended that
the officials must bear the expense it
would be all right. Mr.. Atherly moved
that that section be stricken out, but
the motion was lost, and at 11:50, on
motion of Mr.. Davis the committee
arose and reported, but no action was
taken and the house adjourned to Z
p. m.