The Elk Mountain pilot., 1899-04-11
THE ANTI-SCRiP BILL.

pressed as to whether or not those
companies issuing scrip will sue
ceed in evading the law just made.
Hon. Everett Bell, the Las Animas
county representative, who was the
author of the bill, has evinced Il
determination to have the effective
ness of it tested in the courts, and
in connection states:
"The drafts which the Colorado
Supply company are issuing to the
miners, in lieu OF scrip, are Just as
Objectionable as the scrip itself.
The drafts are just as Objectionable
in every way as the scrip and the
companies now attempting to dodge
the law by whipping the devil
around the bush will soon find
themselves brought into the court.
The plan which has been adopted
is simply an evasion and no court
will decide otherwise.
THE law was drawn up with the
object of positively wiping out the
very practice which the supply
companies are now attempting to
perpetuate. No sooner was the
bill signed by the governor than
the companies resort to new plan.
When a miner presents himself at
the Office of the company for part
payment upon his wages before the
end of the month, he is obliged to
make out draft, which becomes
an order upon one of the stores.
The draft is used as the scrip was
used, except that it cannot circulate
to the extent of scrip. The com
pany stores are perpetuated by this
plan and the truck stores will con-
tinue to flourish unless the law is
invoked. | have no doubt that a
proper resort to the courts will be
had"
Mr.. Bell says he had in mind
this very system when he drew up
the bill, and if the English Ian
guage means anything, it means
that the draft signed by the miner
is prohibited by law. He cites the
case of the Kansas Commercial
Coal company, Pacific Reporter,
October, 1898. in which the same
principle was passed upon by the
court of appeals of Kansas. The
company made use of ticket
which contained various figures
which were to be punched out as
supplies were drawn from the store
by the employe. The Kansas
anti-scrip law is practically the
same as that enacted in this state,
and the court held that the ticket
presented by the miner was in
violation of the law. A violation
of the law in this state may be
punished by a forfeiture of the
charter of the company issuing the
order. The law is aimed especi-
ally at the truck system. The
definition of the truck system as
laid down in the act is as follows:
"The words truck system as used
in the preceding section are defined
as follows: Any agreement,
method, means or understanding
used or employed by an employer,
directly or indirectly, to require
his employee to waive the payment
of his wages in lawful money of
the United States and to take the
same or any part thereof in goods,
wares or merchandise belonging to
the employer or any other person
or corporation"
This is Mr.. Bells opinion of the
matter. Now it remains to be seen
whether he can do as he claims.
The Colorado Supply company is
not the only corporation in the
state issuing scrip, for there are
several others, and it is needless to
state that a hard fight in the courts
will result. In the meantime the
end will be awaited with interest.
------- ------
Irwin will experience greater
lO..ro1, oe nntirit,r Hi G s,1rn mar u an