The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1901-03-08

The Rush BILL to amend the constitu-
ton by adding n new article to be en-
titled article Twenty, City and Coun-
ty of Denver" finally came up in the
Senate rs n special order and was
passed by vote of 30 to 4.
Senator Taylor has finally carried his
point in regard to night sessions, the
Senate voting to hold sessions hereafter
on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The
House has been holding meetings
nightly for some time. 1t is apparent
that 1t will be impossible to properly
consider all the important measures be-
fore the Legislature.
The cline up on different sections
of the revenue bill battles any classih-
cation on the lines of any so-called
majority" or minority" Members
divide either upon their own judg
ment or the interests of their constit-
uents as they see them. The majority
in one section is rarely composed of
the same persons as that on another
section. There is evidently no com
bine" for or against the bill as
whole.
The state board of capitol managers
will reverse one of the policies of the
last administration. For the last two
years the positions of janitors, watch
men and the like have been given out
largely for political influence. From
now on, according to the decision of
the board, politics, save in very linn
tied degree, will not be permitted to
enter into the selection of employees at
the state capitol under the supervision
of the board of managers. The present
force will be kept SO long as it is eff
cient.
The coal strike committee reports as
follows in regard to the Independent
mines: Your committee wishes to say
that most of the independent mines in
the northern fields are now working
under an agreement with the men as
members of the United Mine Workers
and are paying an increased price for
mining, which, as the testimony shows,
is q 2-3 cents per ton more than they
were paying prior to the strike. Some
of the independent operators testified
that they can pay the advanced price
and make n reasonable profit, and such
mines are now being operated to their
full capacity, many Of them working
two shifts -
Senator Buckley's bill, Senate bill
POI, opens an important question, the
granting of the right of eminent do
main to electric companies. In defend
ing it the author said that in the near
future. from Mexico to Canada, every
line of railway will be propelled by
electricity. The Telluride Power
| Transmission Company. for the benefit
of which this bill is introduced, is /;
large one, with branches operating in
| Provo, Utah, Washington and Mon
| tana. 1t furnishes power to all the
mines within Il radius of twenty-five
miles, taking in the towns of Telluride,
Ouray and Ophlr. and is mt present OPP
Grating without law and without any
right Of domain. 1t asks for this, eX-
| pecting, rs the bill provides, to make
Just compensation" for such right of
way.
The Arapahoe senators. to whom was
referred Senate bill 1OI (WhitfordD,
will recommend the following amend
ments: In case school districts 1. =
and IL, known as East Denver, West
Denver and North Denver, are consol-
dated, the tax rate for general school
purposes may reach n maximum of q
mills on the dollar, provided the reve-
nue. derived thercfrom shall not exceed
100000 for any one year. This is the
amount mills would produce on the
present valuation. The salary of the
superintendent is fixed at $1,000 annu-
ally, and no person is to be employed
rs n teacher, or otherwise, in any
school unless he or she be n bona fide
resident of Colorado at the time. All
books and supplies shall be purchased
only upon open competitive bidding,
after advertisement for bids for ten
| days. All meetings of the school board
shall be open to the public, and notice
of all such meetings shall be given III
the daily press at least three days prior
| to holding the same.