The Lamar register., 1902-03-26
THE LEGISLATURE.

value of intercounty property was re- /
tanned.
In the section relating to the fiat tax
the House provision exempting all cor
porations with capital stock of less
than $25, 600 was reinserted.
The Seldomrldge amendment incrcas-
ing the tax on gross premiums of in
surance companies from two to two
and one-haif per cent was stricken out.
Wednesday was the fifty-third day
of the session. That was the exact
length of the extra session held during
the administration of Governor Waite.
The unanimity with which the fus-
ion members approve of the revenue
bill us passed is surprising. All con.
cede that it is as nearly perfect as an
omnibus fiscal measure could be made.
The session was In session fiftyfour
days, just two days longer than the
extra session held during Governor
Waite's administration. The cost to
the taxpayers will be approximately
100000.
The Senate passed the Ammons tax
commission bill on second reading. The
only important amendment makes the
lieutenant governor n member or the
Board of Equalization, instead OF the
governor, as at present.
Colonel Montgomery was presented
with gold watch by his colleagues,
and silverbo gaycl by the EN-
ployes. Mr.. Mcclure, chairman of the
finance committee, blushingly accepaY
gold-headed cane and flowers and
compliments overwhelmed all the 9TH
ers connected with the extra session.
The insurance companies were made
subject to the tax, but proviso was
adopted that "fraternal societies on the
lodge system or which limit their GER
titicate holders to n particular secret
order or fraternity" should not be sub
ject to 1t. Mutual companies are taxed
81 on each $1,000 of their gross premi-
ums.
Those who claimed that the Pullman
and other car companies had been IA
vOred by the Senate were mollifed by
the adoption of an amendment which
provides that If the companies fail to
furnish the Board of Equalization
with the evidence needed the board
may avail itself of other sources of in
formation which will enable 1t to make
proper assessment.
Mr. Ballnger introduced a joint res
olution authorizing the governor to ap.
point committee of three to draft n
railroad commission bill to be submit
bly,, and appropriating $500 to defray
the necessary expenses. 1t went over,
but 1t will probably be passed after the
appropriation has been eliminated.
After the report of the conference
committee had been adopted, the reve-
enue bill was voted on as amended.
ave have more than complied with all
the requirements of the constitution.
said Speaker Montgomery. Not peg
has been left to hang technical objec-
ton upon. If we have violated the law,
every act passed since the state was
admitted will not stand the test of the
courts"
At the concluding evening session
MFR. Cunningham of Lake appeared
with an enormous band box containing
an Easter bonnet for Mrs. Hearth of
Arapahoe. He was greeted with loud
cheers, and with face suffused with
modest blush made his way to the desk
Of the lady member and presented the
bit of milliner's confection. Mrs.
Hearth donned it and then the applause
shook the walls of the chamber.
The amendments providing that the
proceedings of the Board Of EqualiZa-
ton shall be conducted in public and
that the Governor shall have power to
remove any assessor who shall fail to
make proper assessment were retained.
The provisions that the assessor must
certify to the correctness of the ASSESS
ment roll before it has any validity and
that he shall examine into the opera
tions of all corporations and publish
the results of his inquiry We're elimin-
ated on the theory that they We're inn
practicable Information may still be
obtained as to the workings of the
quasi-public corporations through the
statements which they are forced to
make to the state auditor.
Mrs Hearth, the chairman of the en-
rolling committee, reported the revenue
bill properly engrossed. She then came
down the aisle with the measure. The
chair Is about to sign II. b. l, an act
in relation to public revenues and re-
pcaling all acts in conflict Herewith"
announced the speaker ut $40. Are
there any objectionsy Mr.. Dickerson,
the leader of the minority, shifted ner-
vously in his chair and the speaker
looked inquirngly at him, but he diSn
not attempt to enter the expected oBP
lection. "There being no objection,
will sign.' said the speaker, and he at
tached his signature, while the gal
leries joined in the hand-clapping. The
bill then went to the Senate.
The extra session of the Thirteenth
General Assembly adjourned finally
Friday night. The revenue bill was
sent to the governor as it was reported
from the conference committee The
fusion forces supported it and the Re-
publicans opposed. The latter chose to
make it party measure. contenung
that it would be the leading issue in
the next state campaign. The closing
hours of the session reminded one of
commencement day. AT night the
House chamber was filled with legis-
latorS and their friends who made