The Lamar register., 1901-03-06
HON E RULE.


Denver VIII Not Get 1t From This Fusion
Legislature-The Rush Bill is Regarded
as bad Medicine" by Many Democrats.
Denver, March 4.-The state Senate,
under orders from Patterson, has
passed the Rush bill, which consolidates
part of Arapahoe county with the
city of Denver. All the Democrats
but four voted for it, being driven by
caucus dictation. Whitford, who is
probably the ablest lawyer on their
side, would not vote for 1t at all.
neither would Parks. One Of the hard
est hits the bill has had was the
speech of Senator SeldOmridge in eN-
planning why he had to vote for the
bill against his conscience and judg-
ment. I quote from the report in the
Gazette, Mr.. Seldomridge's home pa
per:
In explaining his vote, Senator Sell
domridge pleaded guilty to negligence
and carelessness in having failed to
study the bill as he should. He said
he had depended upon newspaper re-
ports until during the past few weeks
he had devoted some time to its con-
sideration. He did not feel that the
bill, as it now reads, can ever become
| n law because of its unconstitutional
ty. He did not think that 1t would ever
accomplish the purpose for which 1T
is intended. His objections were not
because it proposed home rule, but
because of the means adopted to get
it. He gave n complete history Of
the attempts that had been made in
| the past to obtain home rule for Den
yer, all of which proved failures. He
contended that the tendencies of the
people were to place large cities under
the control Of legislative parties. He
said he was opposed entirely to the
spirit of the consolidation Of the
county and city of Denver He con-
tended that the bill, If adopted, would
Great a confusion in state affairs. He
contended that there was no provision
for that part of Arapahoe county which
Is left out of the county of Denver.
He protested forcibly against the re-
consideration of the vote which was
intended to refer the bill 10 the Su-
preme Court for its consideration. In
concluding. Mr., Seldomridge said that
he would bow to the will OF the eau
Gus majority and vote for the bill, but
he did not consider it along the line
of true Democracy. nor did he believe
it would bring home rule. uF
When an iron-clad Democrat like
Seldomridge talks about a Democratic
measure like that it must be a pretty
bad one,
"2There is a real "home rule bill be-
duced by Senator Parks. 1t provides
for the appointment of city officials
that is, of those who are not elected
by the mayor instead of the governor,
thus taking Denver city out of state
politics, as it has never been out since
the present charter Of the city was
passed. Such measure has deep
interest not only for the people of the
city, but for those of the state at large,
for under the present system so much
of the governors time is occupied with
attending to his functions as boss of
the Denver fire and police board that
his usefulness as governor has been
seriously impaired. Besides, the pres
ent system is undemocratic, and not
in accordance with American ideas of
] selfgovernment. 1t divides response
bility, so that the blame for bad ad-
ministration may be laid by the mayor
to the governor or his appointees, and
nobody is really responsible. The gov.
ernor ought to have no more to dc
with the internal affairs of the city
of Denver than with those of any
other city in the state. He ought tc
be governor of the whole state, and
not n city boss. But the patronage
connected with the present system is
so great and gives to a governor Sc
much power that it does not seem like.
ly that, any governor will really favor
q change.