The Monte Vista journal., 1899-02-25
WHAT THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.

The bill authorizing towns and cities
to tax department stores has been
killed In the Senate.
Senator FELTON, came to the defense
or DR.. Thombs. superintendent Of the
insane asylum. In n speech which oc-
cupied one whole day.
Another disgraceful encounter took
place In the Senate Monday. Senators
Stewart and Philip were the partici-
pants. But for the Intervention Of
friends 1t is believed they would have
come to blows.
A large and enthusiastic meeting
was held in Representative hall Mon
day night, when leading citizens Of
Denver appeared before the temper
nnce committee in behalf of the local
option bill. Although the opposition
had been invited to be on hand, none
Of them appeared. II has been a long
time since the church and moral ele-
ment in the community hnve been so
united on II political measure.
The joint meetings of ilnance aud mp
proprations committees OF House and
Senate bave nearly reached the sought
FOR end-revenue measures that Will en-.
able the state TO meet Its obligations for
| the ensuing two years. The commit
tees have evolved revenue measures
that will. the members think. bring In
81, 100 GOO OF revenue for the two years
coming. This Ia 100000 more than
was at first thought possible. A close
canvass of the bills carrying appropria-
tlons introduced In both branches
places the sum al Sl.3eO.OO.
The residents OF Rio Grande county
favor the passage Of Senator Taylors
bill. No. 235. for the bonding Of judg-
ments against counties. Senator Roe
is in receipt Of letter from his conxtit-
uenis. represented by Chairman W. J.
Clark OF the Board Of County Commits
sioners, in which he IL urged to lend
his aid in support OF the Taylor bill.
Under its terms. the writer states, the
county Of Rio Grandc would be en-
abled to pay OF its judgment indebted
ness within fifteen years. for the rate
Of interest payable would be reduced
from eight to five per cent
Governor Thomas has signed ii. Il.
No. 1lj. TO pay the expenses of the
executive and judicial departments for
the first four months Of the fiscal year
and a portion Of the legislative expen-
scs for the first three months. There
Is Il section added to the bill recreating
the old auditing board and providing
that 1t shall handle the contingent ex-
pense accounts of all state officers. As
there Is no part Of the title that pro-
vides for the board. 1t will have as H.
legal an existence as during the rast
two years. Instead of apportion-
ing contingent funds TO the different
departments one fund of Sl5.OOJ Is
ei's: :" the auditing board. which is
supposed TO DIVIDE IL properly. The
state auditor is TO place In his biennial
report an itcmized statement of how
the contingent fund has been ex-
pended.
Representative Bell Is not satisfied
with the refusal OF the Supreme Court
to pass upon his anti-,ruck system bill,
but believes the action OF that body Is
decidedly in favor OF the bills fulfill
ing all constitutional requirements.
my bill Is, ! think" he said. far
more Of IA public question than is Sen.
ator Thcmns' district consolidation
bill. Workers in mines all over the
state are vital? Interested In II. The
Supreme Court has already twice
passed upon truck system bills. Two
years ago n reason given for not giving
a specific answer was that no question
was asked on n specific point. To COW
or that objection | detailed forty -onc
points In questions and asked them to
decide. Not all the questions We're
necessary. but asked them all so that
all the points might be covered. ! do
not think the court has done as II
should. But the court did not declare
the bill unconstitutional. and evidently
evaded Il point that might come be-
fore II nj some later time. That leads
me to believe the bill is all right"
Sportsmcn OF all classes and from
all parts OF the state are To be seen
about the legislative halls thcs. DAYS
bent on similar missions. all relating
| TO the alteration OF the existing gam.
law. Their infercs, seems to center In
the Senate. In which body three meas.
ures for the relief OF the huutsm,u
have been introduced. The one which
has met with the greatest favor Is that
fathercd by Senator Taylor. II is sim
pie In Its provisions, but strikes the
point that has been aimed M since the
passage OF the law Of 1897. II ex-
tends the open season on deer To No.
vembcr Is, instead Of October 18th.
thus giving the residents Of the west.
crn slope nj least three weeks OF hunt.
Ing. while II Rrrangcs for n sixteen.
day open season OIL elk. from October
.5th To November 9Th. hut one fault
has been found with this bin. II does
not remedy the defect In the old law
which enabled the III Pnso County
Court to declare It unconstitutional.
namely. the title. Fish. Forestry and
Game" the constitution requiring tina,
the title OF one law shall relate to only
Kindred subjects. However. Il l.
promised that this defect shall be re-.
moved by amendment.
Governor Thomas has affixed his sig.
nature Ia measure which many
members Of the assembly believe 10 bc
among the most important likely 10 bc
passed this session. The bin IL =. Il,
No. II. and provides for submission To
the qualified electors Of the stat. Of
amendments To the constitution. The
amendment 10 b" submitted provides
that amy amendment or amendments
may bc proposed In either the House
or Senate. and II III. same shall bc
voted for by twolhlrds Of all the mem.
beers. such proposed amendment. to.
gcihcr with the yeas and nays of each
house shall hc entered In full on the
respective Journals. The proposed
amendment shall bc published with
the laws ~ the session of the general
assembly, nnd the secretary OF state
shall also cause the amendments 10 be
published In full In not more than one
paper of general circulation In cnch
county FOR four weeks previous 10 the
next general election for members of