The state herald., 1899-02-24
WHAT THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.

100000 would be necessary to COM
plete the canal. 1t was also urged that
the building of the canal would furnish
work for the cOnvicts. Nearly all 9TH
er lines of work had been closed to
them by objections of laboring men,
even the proposition for farm having
met with most determined opposition.
The convicts could be put on the state
canal without interfering with any
branch OF free labor, for II the work
was not done by that labor II might
never be done. The estimate of the
contractor on the work showed that It
might be done for a reasonable appro-
priation. In opposition to the claim
that all the water of the Arkansas was
appropriated 1t was shown that 1,SO0
cubic feet had been appropriated after
that of the canal and none of these lat
er users had complained of not getting
their water; also, that system of res
ervoirs was contemplated for the canal
supply. making It certain.
The Senate chamber Thursday nigh,
was the arena In which the gladiators
| who represented the various medical
schools engaged In sharp and acrim-
onious conflict. The judiciary commit
tee Of the Senate threw the doors wide
open for full and free discussion of
the now famous Senate Bill No. 267,
known as the medical practice bill.
| The gallery of the chamber, as well as
| the body of the room, was filed with
many regular" men and women, but
there was n host OF hypnotists. Christian
scientists, osteopaths, magnet healers.
Christian healers. psychic healers and
representatives of psychlcal and meta
physical therapeutics. The discussion
was opened by DR.. Eskridge. who
spoke in favor Of the measure. explain
ing Its provisions and the scope OF its
influence. He did not believe that II
would in any way interfere with the
man or woman who was really quail
fled to practice healing. but would SIM
ply tend to generally elevate the pro-
fessi0n and practice of medicine. Mr..
Shed sounded the keynatc of the oppO-
sition TO the bill. He did not want to
abuse the doctors. he said. but he want
ed them to let him alone In the prac-
tice of his method of healing. He de-
MED that there was an intention on the
part Of the authors of the measure to
act honestly. The bill gave the medi-
cal board the power TO say what n regu-
lar college of medicine was, what med
icine was. and to play OF these words
all they desired. 1t would be giving a
medical prescription. said he. to advise
a man to take n breath of fresh air or
bath or a morning cocktail. He read
copiously from a work on medicine in
the seventeenth and eighteenth CEN
turtles, when boiled grub worms, hog
lice, ashes of sparrow feathers. pow
der of viper flesh. etc. were healing
agents. Medical science was. he said.
founded on conjecture and improved
by murder, and he described the aver
age doctor coming into the sick room
like condensed death"
The majority report of the commit
tee that investigated the insane asy-
lum has been adopted by the Senate.
This report eNonerates DR.. Thombs.
The following was the vote ON the
adoption Of the report:
Ycas-Adams, Annear, Barela. Buck
ley, Evans, FELTON,, Fisher. Gaymon.
Harris. Hlll, Maxwell. McCreery.
Parks, Porteriicld, Stewart. Swlnk-16.
Nays-Ammons. Bucklin, Ehrhart,
Philip, Roe. Whitford-6.
In referring to the above action
Judge Dixon. the attorney of Dr.
Thombs. says: "rhc vote of the Sen
ate this afternoon Is equal TO nm ac-
quittal. The vote announces the sense
of the Senate ON the charges preferred
and the charges fell To the ground"
Judge Nixon said that owing to the
fact that Thombs' tenure of office IL
fixed by law and he Is bonded officer
Of the state, the governor OF the state
has no authority 10 remove him. The
Senate. which would be the impeach-
Ing body, had eNonerated Thombs. and
Thombs stood absolutely acquitted.
the procedure Of the House being en-
tlrely uncallcd for and wholly without
precedent In the history OF the coun-
try. The speedy action OF the House
In the opinion OF Judge Nixon. lndl.
Gated that the body WAS subscryicnt to
the desires of some people who are
anxious 20 effect n change Ia the Office
of superintendent of the asylum. In
speaking OF the future Of the cnsc the
Judge said: Governor Thomas is one
OF the ablest lawyers Of the state. and
is recognized by those who know him
ms n man of firm character. | have
no Idea that the governor win demand
the resignation of Dr. Thombs nor will
he issue nm order for the removal of
the doctor. The governor knows that
he has no such power. II the political
exlgencles were such That the govern.
or could concelv. that he had power
OF removal. without speaking OF Dr.
Thombs personally. | can only say
his counsel would advise him TO resort
TO the lns' extremity In meeting any
effort Of the executive TO Interfere with
the performance of the duty Of the su.
pcrlntcndcnt OF the asylum. But ns I
have said. ! cannot conceive that Gov
ernor Thomas has amy inclination to
oyerslep the authority conferred upon
him by law. ! believe he win do what
II manly ana fair In the premises"