The Elbert County tribune., 1899-03-16

the entire morning rellnshIng the ques-
fion OF the constitutIonality OF the
measure
The constitutionnlify Of the roads and
bridges appropriation bills that call for
money from the general fund u under
discussion in the House committee OF,
revision and constitution. Member
Montgomery holds that the bills are
clearly unconstitutional. and Chairman
Ballinger was at first inclined to side
with him. But after the latter had read
the constitutional provisions over very
carefully he expressed his doubts and
said he really believed the bills were all
right. Mr.. Montgomery has offered to
convince him OF his error. and the ques-
tion win be further discussed. The
committee will report about fifteen ap-
preparation bills that call for money
from the Internal improvement fund.
The Teller county bill passed the
House Wednesday by a vote OF 81 to
%, and the emergency clause received
vote of GO to 3 n few minutes later.
The bill of Senator Ammons now wnifs
the concurrence OF the Senate in the
amendment whereby Teller county is
left In the Fourth judicial district. and,
lastly, the signature OF Governor
Thomas. The bill was not allowed to
reach third reading without another
fierce struggle on the part OF the oppo-
sition, but they were defeated by the
following vote: Ayes: Adams, Ballinger,
Barnard. Barry. Bradley, Byron, Clark,
Drumin, Dunlnvy, Elliott. Engley, Far
ris. Gaughan. Hammond, Harter, Her
mofd, Hollenbeck, Judkins, Kendrick,
Kennedy fOuray). Lee. LItz. Montgom-
cry. Moore. Morris, Murray. hatcher.
Ovington. Patterson, Rawalt. Ryan,
Short, Smith (Chaffee), Steele. Turney.
Ug1ow. Wright. Nays: Bartels, Bell.
Briscoe. Browning, Burwell. Cannon,
Castetter, Dickerson, Diltz. Duncan.
Estes, Garcia. Hughes, Jefferson. Jones,
Kamm. Kennedy 0ake), Lawrence.
McLain, Pine, Reichnrd. Sanchez,
Schroeder, Severance. Sloan, Smith
tMesa,. Taylor, Mr.. Speaker.
The Tanquary- Fisher election contest
Is occupying great deal of time in the
Senate. Senator McCreery made long
and able argument Friday. In which he
declared that the facts adduced did not
Mt all carry out or substantiate the
charges that the Democrats were de-
frnuded In the appointment of election
judges. and furthermore, said that
made no difference In this case as the
lists furnished the county commission
ers were not legal. hence the appoint
ment OF judges would have been illegal.
Testimony was read at length. This evil
dence was construed by Senator Nc
Creery to show that the Colorado Fuel
and Iron Company was not implicated
MS charged by the confession. He snid
all the so-callcd evidence wns to the Of
feet that some one heard say" that the
company Ind instructed Its men, or
some OF them. to vote the Republican
ticket. hut no one knew OF this being
done. Senator Whifford retorted that
II wns proven before the committee
that the men were told to vote that way
or take their walking papers. Senator
McCreery declared most emphatically
that there was no Republican gang In
Huerfano county and read many pages
of testimony TO prove that the so-called
gang wns only the regular organIza
tion OF the party and no worse than that
Of the Democrats.
Friends OF the anti-scrip bill which
has been tied up In committee of the
State Senate for several weeks past,
are beginning to wonder whether the
bill will have chance for its life. A
peculiarly about the measure Is that IL
passed the lower house by unanimous
vote, ffty-nlne members being present
when the roll was called. On reaching
the Senate the document was con.
signed to the tender mercies of the
finance committee and there 1t has re.
mnined. 1t is claimed that four mem
bers OF the committee are In favor OF
the bill, one is Indifferent and one is un-
alternbly opposed. claiming that the
bill Is unconstitutional Several amend
ments have been insisted upon and Rep
resentative Bell, the father of the meas.
ure. accordingly drafted five minor
amendments, which are acceptable to
majority of the committee The
amendments relate to warrants issued
by ditch. canal and reservoir companies
Those companies are accustomed, In
Colorado. to issue warrants In the
spring to be paid in the fall and this
feature is permitted In the amendments
The bill has NOT reached vote in the
Senate. but strong efforts are being
made by Mr. Bell and others of the low.
er house to bring the bill to the light OF
day before II IL too late.