The state herald., 1899-03-31
WHAT THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.

cent, commencing with the Bear creek
wagon road measure by Smith of JET
ferson. The appropriation was for
$4,000, and motion to cut down the
amount to $6,4OO was lost. Those who
voted for retrenchment were Senators
Whitford, McCreery, Adams, Stratton
and Stewart. The bill carrying $4,000
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 be 10 feet above
ground; paying the $4,000 advanced
by private parties to pny for the mob
ihzation OF the Colorado troops; Fore
ing the insurance superintendent to
pny over monthly to the state treasurer
all moneys received, an annual saving
OF $4,OOO on interest; providing that
county treasurers and municipal trens-
urers shall notify taxpayers annually
by letter of taxes due, In order to fa.
cilitate the collection of revenue; fore.
Ing the refOrmatory to obtain supplies
by contract and reducing s,flnries 20
per cent; allowing 80 cents from ench
county for each incorrigible girl mt the
State Industrial School for Girls;
amending the Denver city charter so
as to allow the construction of a pub
lie auditorium: regulating the traffic in
petroleum oil and requiring that 1t be
examined and labeled.
The State Roard OF Charities and
Correction bill to reorganize the man.
ngement OF the insane asylum Is meet.
ing with strong opposition from the
friends Of DR. Thonbs In the SENATE.
ihe proposed law. which will go
through the Senate to-day. provides for
n new commission of three. at 5000
ehch per hnnum. 10 manage the instl-
tuition, ana places the appointment OF
the superintendent in the hands of the
commission instead of the governor.
me commissioners have full power
to control and SUPERVISE" and the su.
perintendent shall hold his office dur
Ing their pleasure" He shall receive
not more than $1,000 a year and main.
tenance. All assistants and employees
shall be selected by the superintend.
ent. The state treasurer shall he ex-
officio treasurer of the asylum. and
he shall receive all moneys accruiny
from all sources and apply the same TO
the fhnd for the insane. The bill will
probably pass.
On Monday the Senate passed these
bills:
Parks-To appropriate SI.7I5 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.
| Maxwell-ro transfer 100000 from
the marble account TO the general fund
Of the State Board of Capitol Mana
gers.
Roe-ro appropriate $4,000 for the
maintenance of the Soldiers and Sail
ors' home.
Ehrhart-To appropriate $4,000 for
the State Reformatory.
McCreery-To raise the mill tax for
the State Normal School from a sixth
TO fifth OF mill, adding about $1,000
annually 10 the fund.
| Felton-To appropriate Sli5,000 for
the state penitentiary maintenance.
Felton-To appropriate $1,000 for i'm
provements at the state penitcntlary. -
McCreery-To appropriate 81 600 for
the State Historical Society.
Seldomridge-To appropriate 800 900
| for the School for Deaf and Blind.
Ehrhart-To regulate the leasing and
distribution OF water stored In state
reservoirs.
Philp-To allow the State Industrial
School for Girls forty acres of state
school land near Denver for home.
Senator Bucl;lin's public utility bin,
which passed the Senate Monday. is
one OF the most sweeping measures
favornbly considered by that body dur.
Ing the present session. II strikes Mt
the valuation OF franchises and Mr..
Bucklin says 1t will pass the House
this week. Several representatives.
said he. have come to me and assured
me that they would call mp the meas
ure and push II through. The principal
effect In TO relieve communities from
paying n fabulous price for the fran.
chise Of public utility when such util-
ity Is purchased by the city OF town.
In order y protect capital vcnturcd In
new concerns the plants may be pur.
chased for their actual value only nj
periods OF ten and fifteen years after
the granting OF the franchise. In Lead.
Vile the water company's franchise Is
over twenty years old and the town
for actual value. The City Council Is |
not dominated by. corporate influence
and has agreed to submit the question
to the people Mt the coming election. II
may be thnt within few hours after
the measure passes the House the city
OF Lcadviilc VIII have rcapcd the AL.
vantage II guarantees. In Grand
junction, where l live. we shall he
obliged 10 wait nine years before we
buy our water works without paying
for the franchise. but we win certain.
ly buy II at the carilicst opportunity.
because the people OF Grand Junction,
like those OF Lendvilic. nre much IN.
tcrcsicd In the matter. Municipalities
should not he compelled TO rcmunerntc
corporations for franchises which cost
nothing"
CARltSTS MEAN BUSINESS.