The Meeker herald., 1899-01-21
WHAT THE COLORADO
LEGISLATURE is DOING.

years; fourth. any other data which the
auditor may think valuable for the
members of the legislature TO consider
In connection with the framing of n bill
to revise and adjust the state revenue
laws"
Representative Eugene Engiey has
introduced his pet measure. IL. Is. No.
151, relating to the Encouragement oi
the congressional districts Of the state.
Under his arrangement the First con
gressional district consists OF: Arapa-
hoe, Boulder. Cheyenne. Douglas
Eagle. Elbert, Gilpin. Grand, Garfield,
Jefferson Kit Carson Iarlmer Logan,
Lincoln, Morgan. Park. Phillips. Routt,
Rio Blanco. Sedgwick.. Summit. Wash
ipRton, Weld and Yuma counties. The
Second district is composed OF: Archu-
leta, Baca, Bent. Chaffee, COnejOs, Cos
tilla, Custer. Delta, Dolores. Ell Paso,
Fremont, Gunnison. Hinsdale, Huer-
fano, Kiowa. Lake, La Plata, Las AMI
mas, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma. Mont
rose, Otcro. Ouray, Pitkin, Prowers,
Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache, san
Juan and San Miguel counties.
The House expressed its opinion that
the S1JO.OOO loaned from the internal
improvement income fund to the state
capitol fund should be returned, with
interest A bill will doubtless follow.
detailing how the return - to be made.
Mr.. Montgomery, who evidently spoke
for the Capitol Commission. told the
House plainly there was no money in
the hands of the managers to repay this
loan. and that they We're nearly half
million behind In paying current war
rants. He insisted that the internal i'm
provement fund did not need the
money now, anyway. and that II gath
cred there 1t would endanger the safe
ty of state interests by leaving Il
chance for the establishment Of "cor
ruption fund" The Supreme Court
had decided that the Improvement
fund could be used only on such i'm
proyements ms roads and bridges.
Senate bill 123, introduced by Sena-
tor Crosby, attempts to grapple with
the problem of the state insane asy
lum. 1t provides for a state board of
lunacy commissioners of three mem
bers, one Of them woman. The
board shall be appointed by the gov
ernor and confirmed by the Senate
holding office for six years and serving
without pay. They shall have full con-
troll in every way of the state insane
| asylum; appointing as superintendent
Il fully qualified medical practitioner
Of not less than ten years practice.
| and five years experience in hospital
for the insane. The superintendent
| shall reside in the hospital, giving his
| entire time and attention to 1t, receiv-
| ing $1,000 year and maintenance.
Two resident physicians. one of them
woman. shall be appointed by the
commissioners. to receive no cOnpen-
sation except lodging. board and wash
| ing. The state treasurer shall be treas
urer Of the asylum.
Members OF the committee on elec-
tons, although reticent about the mat
| ter, evidently believe that there is
something to the protest of Lee A. Tan
quarry against Albert 4. Fisher In the
contest for the seat from the Twenty
seventh district, representing Pueblo
and Huerfano counties. Senators POr-
terfield, chairman of the committee,
presented "A memorial to the Senate
asking that power be conferred to
summon Clerk Greer of Huerflno
county before the committee. and also
compelling the clerk to bring certain
records with him. Among the docu-
ments which have been presented to
sion several days ago. is an affidavit
from Lee A. Tanquary. stating that
he was denied permission to see the
poll books, tally sheets and certain
Oaths administered by the Judges Of
election to illiterate voters 1t Is al
legged that although 400 ballots were
marked by the judges in Huerfano
county, that not one-half of that num-
ber Of illiterate voters exist there.
Chairman Porterfield, after the petition
had been read, stated that the commit
tee had not made n thorough inyestiga-
tiOn, but sufficient had been deyeloDed
to show that the complaint was not
without foundation, but what there
was to 1t they We're not ready to make
public. The Senate passed a resolution
empowering the committee 10 issue
subpOenas for Hosea Santa Stepepi
and +. ID. Larned, as well as the cOun-
ty clerk and others the committee NAV
deem necessary.
Through the efforts of NJ. G. Saun-
ders, attorney for the Southern Colo
rndO Cattle Growers Association at
Pueblo. and Attorney George @. Rich
mond Of the Colorado Cattle Growers
Association. a bill will be Introduced
in the Legislature in relation to the
fencing Of railroads and providing for
the payment of damages for animals
killed or injured by railway companies.
The bill requires every road in the
state to erect fences along their lines
within six months of the passage of
the act. The roads shall maintain
suitable gates at crossings and erect
cattle guards where none now exist
In case the companies refuse to COM
ply, the killing of any animal shall be
prima facie evidence of negligence. and
the road shall be liable. In case of
death of any animal the owners shall
present a sworn statement to the near
est ticket agent, with n demand for pay.
The schedule established by the bill
is So for American sheep and 50. 30 for
Mexican sheep. For cattle the sched-
ulc runs from $3.50 for calves and
Texas yearlings to S35 for American
steers 4 years old and over, Higher