The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-03-04

| pOneQ, ana the BalllnSer Dill was SUD-
mitted without recommendation.
In the House Judge Schweigert on
behalf of the committee appointed to
! redraft the sections of the revenue bill
relating TO the fiat tax presented a
, report. 1t recommended that domestic
| corporations pay cents and foreign
corporations 4 cents on each $1,000 of
capital stock; no domestic corporation
with capital stock of less than $685.
900 to be taxed. Foreign corporations
with stock of par value of less than 81
, to be taxed 21a cents per 900 shares.
this last is intended to affect Colorado
promoters who are Incorporating com
panies in Wyoming in order that they
may issue stock CT par value of less
than 81. The committee also recon-
mended that insurance companies op-
Grating under the laws of the state be
exempted from the tax. Mr.. Sprague
wished all domestic interpretations
with less than 100000 capital be ex-
empted. Mr.. Mcclure objected. con-
tending that one object of the law was
! to force corporations to make annual
reports to the auditor. The Sprague
| proposition was defeated.
Wednesday was warm day in the
! House. The cause of it all was the
section of the revenue bill providing
for the assessment of mining proper
| ties. Two weeks ago the Neely amend
ment had been adopted by n decisive
| vote. Ii taxed all the mines, developed
and undeveloped, at full cash value.
There was a general sentiment that
this legislation was too stringent, and
yesterday the attempt was made to
modify it. By close vote the Briscoe
substitute, taxing producers at fifty
| per cent. Of their gross proceeds and
non-producers mt not more than the
smallest producers, was beaten. Some
of the Arapahoe members were absent,
and it was charged that they We're en-
deavoring 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
y yeas to q nays. This proposition
had been prepared by Senator Hallett,
and when presented its supporters had
no idea 1t would carry. Mr.. Mcclure
of Fremont arrived in the chamber.
however, in time to cast 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
His opponents charged him with pur-
posely absenting himself. and it was
resolved ac o'clock In the afternoon
that no more business would be traus-
, acted until he appeared. The House
remained in session. with the exception
of an informal recess, until o'clock,
while the sergeant-at-arms, aided by
the police, secured the city for the miss
ing member. At the hour named 1t
was resolved to 20 on with business.
BY very close vote the Sprague vote
was reconsidercd. This left the Necley
amendment still in the bill. Various
| substitutes were offered, but all were
voted down. Finally II wss determined
that the debate should be postponed
until this r1orning. In the meantime
Mr.. Bradley had walked into the
House and had been taken into Gus
tody by the sergeant-at-arms. He was
put on trial and declared that he had
been attending TO private business and
did not know that he was required in
the House. The excuse was not ac-
ccpted. By n large majority he was de-
| clared in contempt and his punishment
fixed at fine of $40 and reprimand
by the Speaker
The Buckley canal blu was taken up
by the Senate in committee of the
whole. The first important amend
ment was the striking out the portion
OF the bill that permits the employ
ment of convict labor, SO that the tun-
mel must be constructed by free labor.
| Another change provides that il the
board employs n superintendent he
shall have n competent mining engi-
| neer of mt least five years experience.
| Senator Arthur thought that If the
state was in no way liable, there was
no reason why the governor and audit
or should sign the certificates, and
asked for information. Senator Ward
| explained that the governor received
| monthly reports on the construction of
the tunnel. and If any time he found
any reason for doing so, he might with
| hold his signature. Senator Stewart
objected to the considering of the bill
Mt all. He thought ii should have
been left out OF the call, and that the
members were going to get into seven
| different kinds of trouble if they We're
not careful. He wanted to amend the
the bill so as to let the board be ap-
pointed from any part of the state.
Senator Buckley made a strong appeal
to the members to grant this. almost
the first request the western slope had
ever made. democracy for the west
| ern slope" he went on. "is before the
bar OF the Senate. and by the dictates
Of this body 1t will rise or fall. Too
long have we been beggnrs at the
doors of the great parties of the state.
Too long have we asked in vain of the
people of the eastern portion of the
state The people of the western slope
have seldom asked anything of the
state of Colorado. If this We're the reg
ular session, and the appropriation bill
not passed, you would not dare to op-
pose this bill for fear of a combination
from the western slope. and you seem
to think we will never be here again."
Senator Ward followed in the same