Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-02-24
THE TALkArIve LEGISLATURE.

necessary to make half way apollo
KY for the extra session in Tuesdays
paper. It said the house was not
getting along as fast as II might. and
then went on to make excuses for its
dilator,ness. The fact stands out,
nevertheless, that the extra session ls
costing the state on an average Of
81 500 a day The Denver Post gives
the exact figures Tuesday for the first
twenty days-s27 .4bg. The assembly
was called to pass revenue measure,
measure that had been passed In a
bungicsome manner year agO--call-
ed together to remedy defects OF in
competency. neglect and careiessness
The astute members OF the senate
said between two and three weeks
would do the business and they were
right In thinking 40. and three weeks
al the outside should have witnessed
the close of the session. but the ftis-
ionists of the house were in no hurry.
II is not the nature Of fusionist to
be In a hurry. except to draw money.
The first week was spent la organizing
and swearing into service raft Of
useless employees. and the revenue
measure had 10 wait. The defects
OF the measure were well known and
the house could Just AS well have
gone over and remedied the same In
week had the members been no dis.
posed This would have meant a
short session. hence the idea WAS not
to be thought OF for n moment. and
AZ t,th sp{n h.. &c hot an al N Ia
is furnished with n tax law, and even
then II is liable 10 be badly mixed,
In this connection the following from
the Denver Post IN to the point. We
quote the Post because OF its Dem
ocracy. and to show that we are not
kiclsing At the expensive taikative-
ness OF the fusionists because oppos-
ed to the creed. but because the In
terests OF the state are suffering ev.
cry day the assembly is in session pill.
Ing up expense bills. The Post says
"'The Colorado legislature should
take u lesson In activity from the ma
tloual congress- at Washington. While
things are practically quiet In Denver
except In the matter OF useless To-
quncity. congress opened up the pres
ent week with extreme activity.
There was something doing IN
both halls OF the national Legislature
yesterday and no mistake, The
housc of representatives passed the
highly important bill TO repeal the
war tax. n measure that touches close.
~ the pocket OF every American citl-
zen.
1T was wiae and prudent con
clusion OF the minority led by Mr..
Richardson who acted with more
than ordinary wisdom-in withdraw.
ing all fact'onal opposition, refrain
ng from any nlibustering tHctics. but
ac1uicscing cordially In the purpose
of the majority. and thus making the
passage Of the popular measure unan-
imous.
III our state legislature would take
the hint and would adopt special
rule combining useless. unimportant
and unconvincing debate to Ave min.
utc speeches I, would gain credit for
itself II then II would act ms quick.
iy and ms positively ns did the house Of
representatives ht Washington yester.
day In the matter Of the revenue bill
and the other measures before IT,. the
people OF Colorado would rise up and
call its law makers blessed.
'No, only was the lower house OF
congress a subject for commeudation
yesterday, but the slow moving sen
ate was equally vigorous In Its nc
ton. The Danish treaty. whereby
the three islands In the South Allan.
tic hitherto belonging to Denmark
were ceded to the United States for a
fair price. was agreed to after n dc
bate lasting less than an hour. This
was done in executive session. and
| while II may not meet the approval OF
the entire country, the quickness with
which action was taken is in Itself
commendablc.
In open session the bill fixing a per
manent census burcnu was passed
and altogether Mondays work In tho
two halls of congress- Ia to be marked
with white stone. Can we hope
the Colorado legislature will act upon
the suggestion from Washington
and during the present week will
really iegislatc with becoming alert
ness. eypediency and promptness'
III so much will be forgiven"