The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-02-19
SUMMARY OF THE WORK OF
THE COLORADO LEGISLATURE

Cnelr names TO Governor Orman FOL
the position, and as many more are
canvassing their friends for signatures
to recommendations. Professor Lakes,
the well-known teacher of geology, is
one of the early comers. A. NJ. Wells
is also in the race, and John w. Finch,
Victor expert, is making an effort to
secure the place. Mr.. Wells has lived
in Denver for a number of years, and
is now on the Pacific coast doing eX-
pert work. While the position does not
carry any salary, it is said to be valu-
able from the prestige that goes with
1t. In Europe such honors are highly
priced. The News adds: 1t is un-
derstood that the new state geologist
will not be installed until April, and
that he will be Democrat.
There was considerable excitement
among Senate employees recently upon
the discovery of what was apparently
an attempt to steal bills. The desks of
Secretary Kelley, Docket Clerk Con
molly and the clerk of the judiciary
committee bore marks of having been
pr1ed open with n chisel the papers in
them were disarranged and everything
went to show that some one had gone
through them. All the bills, however,
were locked up in the safe, so that no
harm was done. In the House Mr..
that wooden desks are unsafe recepta-
cles for important bills and he would
not trust them. He said the Senate
had steel box in which II locks up
bills, and urged that the House pro-
cure one so that he might empty his
pockets and rest of nights. 1t was dis
covered that the House possesses n
steel box, but the key is lost. On Mr..
Sprague's earnest appeal the sergeant
alarms and the committee on House
expenses were specially charged to find
the key at once.
| Under the provisions of Mr.. Martins
| registration bill, elsewhere noted, new
voters sign an affidavit setting out the
necessary facts. All the data required
| by the present law is noted. The pre-
cinct books have stubs, which are torn
| or and delivered to party chairmen.
| The books themselves are delivered to
the county clerk. who corrects his per-
manent registration books thereby. The
bill provides that when n dispute
arises as to who is county or city chair
man of political party. the state
chairman makes final decision. Be
| cause of opposition of some members
from Arapahoe county the bill was
amended so 1T does not apply to cities
under special charters. The amend
ment was vigorously opposed by
Messrs. Bartels, Cannon and Dicker-
son, who favored the bill as it stood,
but the amendments prevailed. The
measure is urged as one of the most
important in the House. Its friends
claim that 1t simplifies registration.
| greatly reduces the cost and effectually
prevents fraudulent registration.
There was n spirited debate in the
House over amendments to ii. b. 81,
which, Introduced by Mr.. Martin. pro-
poses radical changes in the registra-
| ton of voters. Under the present law
voters nre registered at great expense
to parties by system Of vouching,
| which not only opens the way for
fraud, but sometimes prevents registra-
tion of voters of the minority party.
After the election the clerk strikes off
the list the names of all who have not
voted, so that registration must be
made again. The system is expensive.
and is claimed to be Intellectual Mr..
Martins bill provides that the county
| or city chairmen of the two largest
| parties shall certify to the county COM
missioners the names of two persons
for each precinct to be appointed reg
istrars. These two take a registration
book especially prepared and list
from the permanent books of the coun-
ty clerk. With these they proceed
from house to house, ascertain the legal
voters there, and each must vouch with
MS initials. III voter moves into the
precinct the former address is noted
The joint resolution introduced by
| Senator Taylor of Glenwood Springs,
to combat the claims of Kansas in re-
gard to the waters of the Arkansas
river reads rs follows: "Whereas. the
| Legislature of the state of Kansas has
adopted Senate concurrent resolution
instructing the attorney general of that
state to employ legal assistance and
bring suit at once against the state of
| Colorado and our citizens to prevent
the further diversion of the waters of
the Arkansas river for irrigation pur-
poses; and, whereas, it is the sense of
| the Thirteenth General Assembly of
| the state of Colorado that the citizens
or this state have an unQueStiOned lie.
| gal and moral right to continue to di.
vert the waters of said stream for ir.
| rigation purposes in this state: now.
| therefore, be it resolved, by the Senate
the House of Representatives concur.
| ring, that the attorney general of this
| state be and he hereby is instructed to
| employ such counsel and take such fur
| ther steps as may be necessary in the
premises and to protect the legal rights
of Colorado to the use of the waters OF
| the Arkansas river"
The Senate has passed the Ammons
road bill which proposes to inaugurate
| system of permanent road improve
| ment in Colorado. The bill provides
that "the boards of county commission
| ers of the several counties of the state
| may levy property tax for road pur
| poses which should not exceed 81 on
each 500 to be levied and collected in
the same manner and at the same time
as other property taxes are levied and
| collected each year. Boards of county
| commissioners shall appropriate at
| least twenty-five per cent. of such road
fr,Iad for. n oil,