The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1901-02-23

Denver. Colo. r eD. lo--lne huSu
bill to consolidate the city of Denver
and the county of ArapahOe has been
ordered by the Senate to be sent TO
the Supreme Court for Its consideration
on points raised US to its possible I'M
constitutionality. Senator Whitford at
tackled 1t in n set speech. declaring II
to be unconstitutional. His first point
was that under the organic law of the
state new article could not he pro
posed Amendments must be germane
to the articles already in existence
The only way in which new article
in toto could be submitted was in the
event of constitutional convention.
The author himself admitted that there
was no article to which his bill could
be made amendatory by Introducing
new article. The Taylor bill permits
only amendments to six articles. not
the proposal of new matter.
II, on the other hand. the Rush bill
be considered as amendatory. how
many articles does 1t amend! The SEN
atpr then reviewed the constitutional
amendments, pending and said that il
he could prove that the proposed arti-
Gle materially amended seven articles
1t would be considered sufficient ground
for reconsideration. He claimed that
1t amends section eight of article six
teen, by wiping out the board Of county
commissioners. The second and eighth
and eleventh sections Of article fifteen,
relating to charters. franchises and the
right Of eminent domain, were also
amended.
Senator Taylor asked whether Sen
ator Whitford's consolidation Of cleo
tons bill was not open to the same
criticism.
The senator thought 1t might be and
then commended Senator Taylor for
having made his constitutional amend
ments separately instead of in IAN
omnibus bill" He then went on with
article nineteen. sections six, fourteen
and fifteen providing for the election
or appointment of county officers. and
their salaries. all of which he said were
materially affected by the Rush bill.
Article thirteen. section three, regulat-
ing the removal of officers for malfeas-
ance in office was also amended. Art
Gle twelve. section five. dealing with
the county treasurer was changed. and
he cited decision to show that there
was no power to change the name Of
an officer.
Article eleven. section six. limiting
county Indebtedness, had. he said.
been amended by an amendment TO
the Rush pill. comforting the power to
Issue bonds in any amount. as pro-
vided by the charter. This was also
the case with the eighth section. deal
with the city Indebtedness. Article
ten. sections seven. took away the right
of the General Assembly to permit
counties to levy taxes for certain pur-
GonftnI, fffasan WI q alsn n vnanh-
ed by abOlishing the county board OF
equalization and the Jurisdiction of the
state board. Article nine. section four
was greatly modified, more county Off
GERS being wiped out of existence
Section fifteen. concerning school dis
tricts. was amended.
Marvellous, marvellous" exclaimed
the senator. He didn't find anything
to change in article eight
The senator from the First also ad
mitted that the Rush hill did not affec,
articles seven. but Senator TaylOr's bill
did. and was a very important meas
ure. Article six. sections twenty-one
and twenty-five were amended by tbs
wiping out Of yet more offices. Section
| fourteen was amended by taking away
the power of the General As
sembly TO determine the number Of dis
trict judges and their term OF Office
| Section twelve was seriously impaired
| and altered. Article five. section thir
ty. regulating salaries of distric
! Judges. was changed. Article four wa.
| passed Article three. defining tbs
| branches of government. was amended
by taking from the Legislature tbs
| right to govern Denver and other cite
| of the first and second class. creating
1 fourth or municipal department Of gov
eminent.
The Rush bill amends eleven art
cles.- he said. IF you can pass tina
Rush bill. amending as II does clever
articles Of the constitution. you cal
tack on every other amendment pro
posed in this body. II you can lump to
| gether this school clause and this con
.olidation clause, you can get an you
amendments. the eight-hour law. tn
Taylor bill. the Parks bill and all tn
rest OF them. In one omnibus bill ant
pass them all At once. The section Of