The Dolores star., 1902-03-07
THE LEGISLATURE.

l VI,
mltted without recommendation.
The Senate did n notable piece of
work Tuesday. when II passed the Gun
nison tunnel bill by decisive vote.
During the afternoon the measure was
given Its first reading In the House.
and II Is the intention of Its supporters
to press II to an early vote.
The revenue bill is now rendy to
emerge from the house committee OF
the whole. That committee Monday
afternoon completed Its consideration
of the last sections. the amendments
being those necessary in order to trans
form the state board of assessors sec
tions into scheme for state board
of equalization. The amendments were
ordered printed as fast as the clerks
could prepare them for the printers.
] There is strong sentiment growing
In the Legislature in favor OF the Mon
| tana system of taxing mines. In Mon
| tana the full gross production of each
1 mine Is taxed. after deducting the cost
| of extracting the same from the mine,
with the cost of transportation and re-
duction. This catches the great divi-
dend producers. and yet is fair to small
mine owners. 1t will undoubtedly meet
strong opposition from the mining
members. yet may be acceded to as a
compromise measure.
The next important measure to claim
the attention of the House will be the
Gunnson tunnel bill. Mr.. Hammond
claims that it will pass by n substan-
tial majority. The fight over the
Bucklin Australasian tax constitution
al amendment will probably be fought
out on the floor of the House. the Bell
bill repeating the submission clause
| furnishing the theme. 1t would seem
| that the repealers have majority in
the House. while their opponents con-
| troll the Senate
| At its meeting in Pueblo February
| 10Th, the Retail Grocers and Butchers
| Association of Colorado elected the fol-
lowing named officers: George n. Ord
way of Denver. president; j. A. Gal
braith of Fort Collins. first vice presi-
| ient; j. Il. Gardner of Victor. second
vice president; w. +. HaZen of Law
| son. third vice president: A. p. Nelson
Of Canon City. fourth vice president;
g. V. Richards of Denver. secretary;
W. c. Wilson of Greeley, treasurer.
| The next meeting will be ut Denver, in
January next.
The revenue bill passed second read
Ing in the House Thursday afternoon.
The Senate should not take much time
in dispOsing of the bill. Practically
| every point upon which n conflict be-
tween the two bodies was feared has
been adjusted to the satisfaction of the
Senate. The measure should reach the
governor before the close of next week.
Prompt adjournment should follow its
passage. The representatives of the
mining counties renewed the fight on
the Neeley amendment and succeeded
In securing a modification. 1t is sub
stantially the substitute presented by
MIR. Sprague on Wednesday, and which
was once adopted by the House by
majority of one. 1t was then reconsid-
cred and Mr.. Mcclure suggested i'm
portant amendments. 1t was in that
form 1t was adopted yesterday. 1t pro-
rides that producers shall be assessed
on their smelter returns and non-pro-
iucers mt not more than fifty per cent.
IF the lowest producer in the district.
Some of its opponents threatened
% oppose the entire bill on third
'eading II the section We're not
changed. but 1t is not probable that
tney can muster any great strength.
There is n general disposition to pass
fOrm. Insurance companies were ex.
Ampted from the operations of the fiat
lax: the old rates of interest on delin-
luent taxes We're restored. and 1t was
decided that all druggists must nav
the state liquor tax. When the final
vote was reached on the recommenda-
tions of the committee of the whole.
only ten men opposed the bill while
forty-fOur voted for IT.
Wednesday was warm day in the
House. The cause of ii all was the
section of the revenue bill providing
Tor the assessment of mining proper
ties. Two weeks ago the Neely amend
ment had been adopted by decisive
vote. 1t taxed all the mines. deyeloped
ana undeveloped. ut full cash value.
There was general sentiment that
this legislation was too stringent. and
yesterday the attempt was made to
modify 1t. BY close vote the Briscoe
substitute. taxing producers at fifty
per cent. of their gross proceeds and
non-producers at not more than the
smallest producers, was beaten. Some
Of the Arapahoe members were absent
ana 1t was charged that they were en-
deayoring to dodge the record-making
vote. These charges were renewed
when few minutes later the mining
contingent sprung surprise on their
opponents by securing the adoption of
the Sprague amendment by vote of
~ yeas to p nays. This proposition
had been prepared by Senator Hallett.
and when presented its supporters had
no idea II would carry. Mr.. Mcclure
Of Fremont arrived in the chamber.
however, in time to east the deciding
vote for the amendment. The situation
was dramatic in the extreme and pro-
duced some ill-feeling. A call of the
house was ordered and all the alb
sentees except Mr.. Bradley secured.
His opponents charged him with pur-
posely absenting himself. and it was
resolved at 4 o'clock I'm the afternoon
that no more business would be trans
acted until he appeared. The House
remained In session, with the exception
Of an Informal recess, until 8 o'clock,
while the sergeant-at-arlns, aided by
The police, secured the city for the miss
Ing member. At the hour named 1t