The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-02-22

scented compromise for the mining
section, which met with considerable
favor. 1t provides that the producing
ml:ies shall be assessed for 0ns-half
Of their yearly output. instead OF one
fourth, as the original bill directs.
Non-producing claims are to be as
sesscd as other real estate, and the
assessor shall take Into consideration
the claims proximity TO producing
property and their market value.
Speaker Montgomery, on behalf Of the
mining interests, has consented that
producers be valued at half their out
put. but he wishes to define u producer
ms mine which outputs not less than
5000 worth of the precious metals
annually, and he insists that non-pro-
ducers be valued Mt not more than ths
smallest producer. which would be rot
more than $500 for claim Of ten
acres.
The Senate finance committee has
reported the Buckley Gunnis0n tunnel
bill. The original bill has been amend
cd In numerous places. The principal
amendment IL that the water script
will not bear the signature Of Governor
Orman and State Auditor Cr0uter. AZ
the father of the bill and his suppGt-
ers hoped for. There was feeling
among some of the senators that the
presence Of the state officials sigma
lures on the script on bonds might
technically involve the state. Instead
of the governor signing, the Board
Of Control will be compelled to report
to him each month. The gid bill pro-
vided a salary Of ST. 500 forithe superln-
tendent. The amended bin makes the
salary 1880 year. THE question Of
bonds for the members Of the Board of
Control and the treasurer caused con-
siderable debate In tie committee
room. The members of the board will
give bond In the sum of$1 GOO and the
treasurer $4,000. There Ii a DISPOSE
tion among the senator's TO make the
members give bond about that equal
to the treasurer, and the latter bond
somewhere betwn $5OO, 600 and $1,000
600. 1t liz argued that from the time the
tunnel is begun until 1t il completed
lie will handle about $780, 900, and he
should give bond equal to that sum.
The House committee on corporations
held an important meeting on the night
OF Feb. II to consider the BailingeF and
Pitschke bills creating railroad COM
missions to regulate rates within the
state. Mr.. Ballinger explained the
provisions Of his bill and stated that
their constitutionality had been passed
upon by the highest court In the land.
Assistant Attorney General Roberts
was on hand and supported the gestle-
man from Park. The committee was
about to vote favorable report when
someone suggested TINT courtesy for
Mr. 10 Hnna Mod that ahnr1vA
be heard in support of his measure. A
resolution was then adopted express
ing the sense of the committee that the
principle embodied In the Ballinger
and Pitschke bills was worthy the APP
prevail of the assembly and agreeing
that Mt subsequent meeting one Of
the measures. would be reported out
and pressed on the floor Of the hot1se.
Mr.. Ballinger said that another meet
ing OF the committee would be ar
ranged for after the revenue bill had
been disposed Of and that the best
points Of the two bills would be en-
bodied In one act. II have no doubt"
said he, that the present session will
enact a railroad commission law which
will be fair alike to the people and
the corporations, and which will stand
the tests of the courts"
Attorney General Post has advised
the Legislature that In his opinion they
have no right to alter or repeal any Of
the constitutional amendments passed
at the last session. The opinion Is IS
follows: 1T Is my opinion that this
special session has no power to recall,
repeal. rescind, amend. or in any nah-
ner affect or modify any of the six ceil-
stttutional amendments passed by the
regular session Of the Thirteenth Geh-
eral Assembly. II the proposal Of con-
stitutiOnal amendments were strictly
legislation, no one, think, would con
tend that the General Assembly had
not the power to alter, amend, modify
or entirely repeal the action of prior
session In Its proposal. before people
had voted thereon, but since the con-
stttutiOn has given to the Legislature
merely the power to propose, and the
people the power to reject or ratify,
when the proposal has been made,
further authority over the proposal has
passed ont Of the hands of the Legisla-
ture and into the hands of the people.
The people have, SO to speak, acquired
a vested right to, action upon the pro-
posal which the Legislature cannot, by
subsequent action. take away. In my
opinion 1t is entirely within the author
ity Of the General Assembly to pro-
pose constitutional amendments at this
special session, but their object must
be confined to those stated In the por-
ton of the governors call quoted. II,
in the opinion of the General Assem-
bly,, II will require six constitutional
amendments to do the work outlined
by his excellency in the paragraph
mentioned, then 1t has the power to
propose the same, or II there Is In Its
! opinion no necessity for amendments
1t is at liberty to refrain from pro-
posing them"
Senator Bucklln won a victory for
his much attacked measure when he
objected to bill introduced by Sena.
tor. Barela, repeating the submission
clause Of the Australian tax amend
lnent measure, being taken from the
constitutional amendment committee
Il