The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-02-04
PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXTRA
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE

history, which contained the scurrilous
attacks upon the admiral, be barred
from the public libraries of the state.
Mr. Cannon accepted the amendment.
Without a dissenting vote Colorado's
lawmakers then went on record as IA
voring the minority report of the court
of inquiry into the destruction Of the
Spanish fleet. The speaker announced
that the author of the resolution, Mr..
Insley, was recovering from the attack
of pneumonia which had prevented his
attendance on the sessions OF the
House.
There is strong sentiment among
the senators against reducing the num-
ber of Senate employees. The corps
consists of thirty-seven men, women
and boys. 1t is thought the least num-
ber possible for the transaction of bus
iness is about twenty-five. Last year
the work of the Senate was consider
ably hampered by some Of the clerks
being incompetent. The senators do
not care to experience the same this
session, and for that reason may en-
ploy the same number as during the
regular session. THAT will insure the
business of the Senate not only being
kept up, but properly attended to-"
said senator. while / am in favor
of economy, l think 1t is poor economy
in the end to limit the number of en-
ployes when we cannot secure compe-
tent ones. / voted to give each sena-
tor positively the same patronage he
had last session"
Thirty-five of the fusionists members
pf hn fn
caucus in the printing room of the
House Tuesday Pochon of Pueblo
was continued as chairman and Piatt
of Boulder was made secretary. 1t
soon developed that those present were
agreed upon the proper policy 30 adopt.
Everyone, however, was given an OPP
portunity TO express his views and
then motion TO support the present
organization of the House was carried
unanimously. 1t was then decided to
empower the Speaker with authority
to name committee of five which
should select the employees of the
House. An adjournment was taken
subject to the call of the chair. The
reorganizers We're waiting outside the
caucus to learn the result and when
they secured the news they abandoned
the fight against the Speaker. The fol-
caucus: Ballinger, Beatty. Bradley, Ca
ley. Cannon. Chisholm. Davis. Dun
lavy. Eaches, Fall, German, Ham,
mond. Heartz, TIollenbeck. Judkins,
Kennedy, Lorber. Madden, Martin. Nc
CURE, Meredith, Montgomery CTeller),
Morris. Neeley, O'Connell. Ong, Pitschke,
Platt Pochon, Raney, Rawalt. Schwei-
CERT. Sprague, White, Willis. Mont
gomery of Larimer was unable to be
present on account of another engage
ment, but sent word that he was in
sympathy with the movement.
Dickerson's resolution, fixing Feb
runry 18th as the date of final ad-
journment. was called up and indeh-
nitely postponed by Il vote of 40 to o.
Prior to the vote being taken the fusion
leaders announced that it would be i'm
practicable to determine the exact
number of days required to consider
the amended revenue law and the other
measures mentioned in the governors
call Business would be transacted
with all possible dispatch consistent
with the proper consideration of the
important legislation under discussion.
Senator Graves of Arapahoe has pre-
sented to the Senate n constitutional
portant bearing upon the revenue laws
of the state. 1t provides that the state
board of equalization shall assess cor
porate property. In arriving Mt the
valuation the board shall be guided by
the market price of the stocks and
bonds of the companies. In the abb
sence of such data, the cost of duplica-
ton of the plant and its earning power
shall be considered. In case the board
undertakes TO deviate from these direc-
tions, any county assessor is authorized
to sue out n writ of mandainus in the
Supreme Court compelling an observ-
ance of the law. The case shall be ad-
vanced to the head of tie docket and
be given an immediate hearing. In
case any corporation shall have avoid
ed the payment of its taxes for any
year, past, present or future, the gov
ernor is empowered to make an assess
ment of its holdings, proceeding in the
same manner as the state board of
equalization. For the purposes of the
law. the corporation which shall fail
to pay in its taxes within six months
of the time required by law shall be
deemed to have avoided the same.
The fact that the constitutionality of
the law under which it is attempted to
collect the taxes is being tested in
court shall not protect the company
from the operations of the section. If
the governor fails or neglects to per.
form his duty, he may also be man.
damused.
The meeting of special agents and
route inspectors of the rural free deliv-
cry service of the Postoffice Depart
ment which has been in session in Den
yer during the last week was the larg-
est and most important gathering of