The state herald., 1902-10-03

ator Taylor Edward II. Taylor gives Il
lucid and detailed explanation Of the
objects sought to be effected by the
.wo constitutional amendments, known
as the Taylor biennial election amend
ments," Of which he is the author, and
which are to be adopted or rejected by
the voters of Colorado at the next cleo
tion. These amendments, it will be
remembered, have been strongly en-
dorsed by both the Republican and
Democratic parties ut their state con-
ventions. Mr.. Taylor says:
II have had two main objects In
view in proposing these changes In our
organic law. There are, however, n
score of lesser beneficial features. In
the first place 1t occurred to me good
many years ago that the frequency Of
elections were very great Interior
ence with the business interests OF the
state. With out spring municipal cleo
tions, ~ school elections and We an
nual fan elections we have a continual
round of political turmoil. One cleo
ton Is no sooner over than prepara-
tions begin for the next There is no
respite In Colorado from our constant
continuous performance year in and
year out. There ispo opportunity for
political animosity. ISighborhood feuds
and i'll will, that is generated and per-
meates all business and social func-
tions, to become allayed. 1t occurred
to me that n period of years rest
between elections would be of the ut
most benefit to the general public in
hundreds of different ways; that quite
numbsr Of people in every cilg who
thrive by political strife might be re
Quired to seek some legitimate voca-
ton, md that the peace and quiet that
would reign in each community during
the non-polltical year would be of In
calculable benefit.
1.-THE first thing that i discovered In
taking up the Investigation OF the sub
ject was that our constitution would
have to be amended in three particu-
lars to accomplish this result. That is,
all officials whose term Of office was an
odd number OF years would haze to be
changed TO an even number Of years,
ard all county officials who We're elect
ed in odd years would have TO have
their time of election changed 10 the
even years. In other words, all state,
district and county officials would have
to be elected in the even years and NJ
the same election. first introduced
these measures In the Eleventh Gen
eral Assembly. But as our constitution
Mt that time only permitted of one con-
stitutional amendment being submitted
by the Legislature at any one session,
and as there Were some twenty-five
hills nrnrf1fnU constitutional
amendments before the Legislature, all
OF the measures failed and no amend
ment was submitted. In the Twelfth
General Assembly / introduced an
amendment providing for the submls-
sion Of six amendments by each Lesls-
lature. That measure was adopted
and submitted to the people and car
rled by an overwhelming vote In the
fall OF 1900
'In pursuance of that provision, the
last Legislature passed bills providing
for six constitutional amendments.
which appear In the session laws OF
1901, extending from pages 95 to 1l5
inclusive. They are all Senate bills
and are as follows:
"Flrst-The Bucklin bill. called
modification of the Australasian tax
system.
''Second-The Rush bill. consolidat-
ing the city OF Denver with Arapahoe
county, giving Denver home rule and
containing many other provisions with
which the public is familiar.
"Thlrd-The Barcla bill, providing
that all foreigners shall take out their
final naturalization papers before they
are entitled TO vote or hold Office In
this state.
"Fourth-The Moore bill, providing
that eight hours shall constitute a
days labor In underground mines or
workings. blast furnaces, smelters, ore
reduction works, etc.
"Fifth-The Taylor district attorney
and county Judge bill, providing that
those officials shall hereafter hold of
flee four years instead OF three ms Mt
present. and shall be elected In the
even years. This amendment will not
affect the term OF office OF the present
county Judges, but will extend the term
OF the office Of the present district at.
torneys for the period OF one year.
"Sixth-Thc Taylor county election
bill, providing that all county officers
shall be elected In the even years when
the state officers are elected. This bill
makes county commissioners hold
office for four years instead OF three ms
nt present. But the term OF office OF
all other county officials remains two
years as at present The only change
ms to their term OF Office being that
they are elected In the even years In
stead OF the odd years. These last two
amendments are commonly called the
biennial election amendments. They
have been lndorsed by both political
partltS and II they are adop' vr1t this
falls election there VIII hereafter be
no election whatever In the odd years,
excepting the city ana town elections
and the May school elections. These
amendments have nothing 10 do with
municipal or school elections. They
win be conducted the same US hereto.
fore.
"rhorc Is only one exception TO the
above statement. We have three Su.
prcmc Court judges whose term OF OF.
iicc Is nine years. One Il elected every
three years. Once In every six years
a Supreme Cour, judge viii be elected
IN ap odd year"
Mr.. Taylor here explains ut,t n bill
10 cure this difficulty was lost In the
final scramble nt the close OF the scs-
sion. He then says:
''in order to obvlntc amy short terms
Of office and 10 get the elections started
or right. provided In this last blll that
all Of the county officials who were
elected last fall shall hold Office for
three years. nnd their successors be
elected In the fall Of 1901. The county
commissioner elected IN the fall OF 1900