The Monte Vista journal., 1899-04-01
WHAT THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.

cent, commencing with the Bear creek
wagon road measure by Smith of JET.
ferson. The appropriation was for
SS,OO0 and motion to cut down the
amount to $6,400 was lost. Those who
voted for retrenchment were Senators
Whitford, McCreery, Adams. Stratton
and Stewart. The bill carrying 5000
passed SECOND reading.
The senate on Tuesday passed the
following bills: Providing that wire for
braces OF telegraph poles on right of
way for public roads he Is feet above
ground; paying the $4,000 advanced
by private parties to pay for the mob.
llization Of the Colorado troops; Fore
ing the insurance superintendent to
pay over monthly to the state treasurer
all moneys received. an annual saving
OF $1,000 on interest; providing thnt
county treasnrcrs nnd municipal treas-
urers shall notify taxpayers annually
py letter OF taxes due. in order to IA
ciiitate the collection OF revenue: fore
ing the reformntory TO obtain supplies
by contract and reducing salaries 20
per cent; allowing 80 cents from each
county FOR each incorrigible girl mt the
State Industrial School for Girls:
amending the Denver city charter so
as to allow the construction OF pub
lie auditorium: regulating the traffic In
petroleum oil and requiring that 1t be
examined md labeled.
The State Board OF Charities and
correction bill TO reorgnniZe the man
agement or the insane asylum Is meet
ing with strong opposition from the
friends Of Dr. Thombs In the Seuate.
The proposed law. which will go
through tho Srpu.n fn-Iur -.
new commission of three. ut 5000
each per annum. 10 manage the insti-
tuition. and places the appointment OF
the superintendent In the hands OF the
commission instead of the governor.
The commissioners ''haye full power
10 control and supervise" and the SUI
perintendent shall hold his office dur
Ing their pleasure" He shall receive
not more than $1,000 n year and main
tehnnce. All assistants and employees
shall be selected by the superintcnd.
ent. The state treasurer shall be ex-
officio treasurer OF the asylum. and
he shall receive MI moneys accruiny
from all sources and apply the same 10
the fund for the insane The bill will
probably pass.
On Monday the Senate passed these
bills:
Parks-To appropriate sT,775 for
paving around the capitol.
Ambmons-To permit the State
Board Of Equalization to decrease or
Increase the assessment of any class
OF property. not TO exceed . per cent.
Felton-To appropriate 5000 for the
state Board of Agriculture.
Maxwcll-T0 transfer 100000 from
the marble account TO the general fund
OF the State Board OF Capitol Mana
gers.
Roe-To appropriate $4,000 for the
maintenance OF the Soldiers and Sail
ors' home
Ehrhnrt-To appropriate $4,000 for
the State Reformatcry.
McCecry-To raise the mill tax for
the State Normal School from n sixth
TO NTH Of n mill. adding about $1,000
annually 10 the fund.
Fclton-To appropriate S1I5.0OO for
the state pcnitentiary maintenance.
Feiton-To appropriate $1,000 for i'm
provements at the state penitentinry.
McCreery-To appropriate $1,000 for
the State Historical Society.
seldOmridge-TO appropriate 81. 800
for the School for Deaf and Blind.
Ehrhaft-To regulate the leasing and
oisUiouuou VI wafer btoFeO IN STATE
reservoirs.
Philp-To allow the State industrial
School for Girls forty acres Of state
school land near Denver for u home.
Senator BucklIn's public utility bill.
which passed the Senate Monday. IL
one Of the most sweeping measures
favornbly considered by that body dur.
Ing the present session. II strikes nt
the valuation Of franchises and Mr..
Bucklln says II will pass the House
this week. Several Representatives"
snid he. shave come TO me and assured
me that they would call up the meas.
ure and push II through. The principal
effect 10 to relieve communities from
paying = fabulous price for the fran.
chisc Of public utility when such utIl.
ity In purchased by the city OF town.
In order y protect capital ventured Ia
new concerns the plants may be pur.
chased for their actual value only at
periods OF ten and fifteen years after
the granting Of the franchise. In Lead.
vile the water company's franchise IL
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 nt the coming election. 1t
mny bc that within few hours after
the measure passes the House the city
of fcadvill. Will have rcaped the nd.
vantage II guarantees. In Grand
Junction. where I live. we shall he
obliged TO walt nine years before We
buy our water works without paying
for the franchise. but we will certain.
ly buy II at the enriiicst opportunity,
because the people OF Grand Junction,
like those Of L.ndvill.. are much In.
ter~stcd In the matter. Municipalities
should not bc compelled TO remunerstc
corporations for franchises which cost
nothing"