Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-03-30
THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.

was one OF the bills that passed second
reading In the House of Representa-
tives Thursday. There was only slight
opposition to the bill. and 1t went
through by vote of 4S to O. Mr..
Relchard was the only Arnpahoe men,
ber who opposed the measure. He said
afterward that the people In the east
end Of the county had repeatedly be-
sought him to fight against division.
The probabilities of the bill becoming
a law hinge upon the decision of the
Supreme Court as to Its constitution
ality. 1t is expected that the judiciary
will pass upon before the Sennte takes
action. The question Is whether an
additional article to the constitution
would constitute an amendment there
to or not.
Senator Alexander T. Stewart OF Pu-
eblO. n Democrat. last Saturday night
forcibly and energetically denounced
what he called the grab bills" of the
present Legislature. He declared that
the contemplated appropriations from
the Internal revenue fund would not
only consume nll the money available.
but would more than anticipate the In
coming funds for the next two years.
He made his remarks in connection
with the second reading Of House ap-
preparation bills. and Senator STRAIT
ton followed up the speech with "A mo-
tiOn to scale the bills down 20 per
cent. commencing with the Bear creek
wagon road measure by Smith of JET
ferson. The appropriation was for
$1,000. and n motion to cut down the
amount to SO. 400 was lost. Those who
voted for retrenchment were Senators
Whitford, McCreery. Adams. Stratton
and Stewart. The bill carrying 5000
passed second reading.
The State Bonrd of Charities and
Correction bill to reorganlze the mnn-
ngement of the insane asylum IL meet
Ing with strong opposition from the
friends of DIR. Thombs In the Senate.
The proposed law, which will go
through the Senate today, provides for
new commission of three. Mt 5000
each per nnnum. to manage the insti-
tuition, and places the appointment OF
the superintendent In the hands of the
commission instead OF the governor.
The commissioners 'hnve full power
to control and supervise" and the su-
perintendent "shall hold his office dur
ing their pleasure" He shall receive
not more than 5000 year and main
tenance. All assistants and employees
shall be selected by the superlntend-
ent. The state treasurer shall be ex-
officio treasurer OF the asylum, and
he shall receive all moneys accruing
from all sources and apply the snme to
the fund for the Insane. The bill will
probably pass.
On Monday the Senate passed these
bills:
Pnrks-To appropriate S7,T75 for
paving around the capitol.
Ambmons-To permit the State
Board Of Equalization to decrease or
Increase the assessment OF nny class
OF property, not to exceed per cent.
Felton-To appropriate 5000 for the
State Board Of Agriculture.
Maxwell-To transfer 100000 from
the marble account to the general fund
of the State Board Of Capitol Mana
gers.
Roe-To appropriate $4,000 for tho
maintenance of the Soldiers and Sail
ors' home.
Ehrhart-To appropriate $4,000 for
the State Reformatory.
McCreery-TO raise the mill tax for
the State Normal School from n sixth
to a fifth of mill, adding about $4,000
annually to the fund.
Felton-To appropriate $145.OOO for
the state penitentiary maintenance.
Felton-To appropriate $4,000 for i'm
provements Mt the state penitentinry.
McCreery-To appropriate $1,000 for
the State Historical Society.
Seldomridge-TO appropriate So, 900
for the School for Deaf and Blind.
Ehrhart-To regulate the leasing and
distribution of water stored in state
reservoirs.
Philp-To allow the State Industrial
School for Girls forty acres of stnte
school land near Denver for u home.
Senator Bucklin's public utility bill,
which passed the Senate Monday, fs
one of the most sweeping measures
favorably considered by that body dur
ing the present session. 1t strikes at
the valuation of franchises and Mr..
Bucklin says 1t will pass the House
this week. Several representatives"
said he, "have come to me and assured
me that they would call up the meas.
ure and push 1t through. The principal
effect Is to relieve communities from
paying a fabulous price for the fran
chise OF public utility when such util-
ity is purchased by the city Of town.
In order to protect capital ventured In
new concerns the plants may be pur-
chased for their actual value only Mt
periods of ten and fifteen years after
the granting of the franchise. In Lead.
Vile the water compnny's franchise is
over twenty years old and the town
can Immediately purchase the works
for actual value. The City Council Is
not dominated by corporate Influence
and has agreed to submit the question
to the people Mt the coming election. 1t
may be that within few hours after
the measure passes the House the city
of Leadyille will have reaped the ad.
vantage 1t guarantees. In Grand
junction, where I live, we shall be
Obliged to wait nine years before we
buy our water works without paying
for the franchise, but we will certain
Iy buy It Mt the enrdliest opportunity,
because the people of Grand Junction.
like those Of Leadville. are mucm IN
terested in the matter Municipalities
should not he compelled to remuneratc