The state herald., 1899-05-19
GOSSIP FROM DENVER
AND THE STATE CAPITOL.

ter man said yesterday in discussing
these changes: "Just watch the smell
ters outside of the trust for little
while. The Guggenhclms are lying low
for the big trusts. They nre equipping
their plants with the most modern mp
pliances for treating ore and spending
Immense sums of money which NO one
hears anything about. They nre after
several of the other men who have
made the smelters, now in the COM
bine, the success they are Equipplns
their own plants as they can from their
rivals, look out pretty soon for close
competition, de pita protests to the con
trary from both Sides
The Colorado Fuel and Iron Com,
pany thinks 1t has found way to
evade the new eight-hour law. Its idea
is embodied in the following notice
just issued to Its employees:
II. On and after May 10. 1899. the
period of employment Of all persons
heretofore employed and paid by the
day, will be by the hour,
''2. Workingmen employed In under
ground mines or workings, or institu-
tions for the reduction of ores or met
ais will be mt liberty 10 work more
than eight hours per day, II they elect.
and will be paid for the number of
hours of actual labor.
-. Except In eases of emergency.
where life or property may be in i'm
minent danger. no such wOrkingmen
shall be required to labor more than
eight hours per day. \ failure to work
more than such number of hours shall
not be deemed II cause justifylng dis
charge from the service of the com
pany.
~. This notice shall be the sole con.
tract of employment for all working.
men so far as relates to the period of
employment. No superintendent or
agent shall have authority TO change
or agree to the violation of any of the
above provisions.
The smelters are considering the
eight-hour law and will probably fol-
low the plan adopted by the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company.
The omission OF the penalty clause
from the law to compel railways to
carry bicycles as baggage has raised
a vast amount Of discussion among le-
gal authorities. One attorney. who Is
closely connected with the League of
American Wheelmen. said that the
statement that the omission made the
law imperative was not true. when
we drew up the BILL he said, 1--WE
carefully considered that clause and
found that 1t would have no effect II IL
passed. AS far back as we could 20
nothing could be- found In the laws
compelling the railways to carry any
baggage ut all. Ii Is n voluntary act on
their part to draw business. 1t has
become a custom to carry baggage.
and that is all the liability the rail
ways have. The buying Of a ticket is
an implied contract to carry not to ex-
ceed certain amount of baggage. For
that reason no penalty could he at
tached to failure to comply with the
law. The only thing that we could do
was to define bicycles MS baggage.
Then II the railways carried any bag
gage Mt all for passengers they were
bound TO also carry bicycles. Now. we
do not by any means consider the law
TO be imperative. There Is only one
way we can 20 after the railways. We
will have every man who Is compelled
TO pay for having his bicycle hauled
sue for the recovery OF the % cents OF
30 cents or whatever II costs. We are
preparing the papers now In the Grip
pie Creek cases. There II absolutely
no doubt that we can compel the rail
ways to refund. and In this way make
them recognize our contention that bi-
cycles are baggage" Another attor.
ney. not connected with wheeling.
states that the law is OF absolutely no
effect. III the carrying OF baggage is.
as has been shown" said he, n gift
from the railway to the passenger, II
Is within the power OF the giyer, and
the giver only. to decide what shall
come under the head OF baggage. The
railways ARE entitled to make rules to
protect themselves from loss. and II
they prove. ns they claim they can,
that carrying bicycles is constant
source OF loss to them. In damages TO
the bicycles or for any other reason.
they can bar them from the privileges
OF baggage. They are entitled TO Ger.
tain rules TO protect their own inter
csts."
Governor Thomas has under consid
Grafton the question OF calling an cx-
tra session OF the Legislature. He IL
being urged 10 do this by the officers
OF several state institutions whose rev.
cnuc. under existing conditions. Is In.
adequate. State Auditor Temple has
compiled the following statement Of
prospective revenues and the nppropri.
ntions:
ESTIMATED REVENUES FROM ALL
SOURCES.
General revenue 1850 .s5ie.ojo
General rcy.nu. 1900. Jh,gi f'2s.Ci,
Secretary state ysufF..... lppfsD