The Lamar register., 1902-02-05
PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXTRA
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE

Rev. S. w. semple has been elected
chaplain of the House.
BY n vote of 3s to % the House de-
feated a resolution looking to re-
organization of that body.
Two bills were introduced in the
Senate Tuesday. one by Senator Parks
| of Arapahoe county. relating to jury
trials and one by Senator Ammons.
regulating damages railroads shall
pay for cattle killed by trains. Peter
l Jennings of Lake county was elected
| and sworn in as sergeant-at-arms.
There is n strong sentiment among
| the senators against reducing the num-
Der of Senate employees. The corps
consists of thirty-seven men, women
| and boys. 1t is thought the least num-
ber possible for the transaction of bus
iness is about Twenty-Five. Last year
the work of the Senate was consider
ably hampered by some of the clerks
being incompetent The senators do
not care to experience the same this
session, and for that reason may EN-
ploy the same number as during the
regular session. THAT will insure the
business of the Senate not only being
kept up. but properly attended to-
said senator. "While l am in favor
of economy, think it is poor economy
in the end to limit the number OF EN-
plOyes when we cannot secure compe-
tent ones. l voted to give each sena-
tor positively the same patronage he
had last session."
The new revenue bill was introduced
In the House Thursday by Speaker
Montgomery. 1t is the old bill without
the change of word. After some
argument he withdrew it from commit
tee and postponed reference until he
could prepare certain amendments
rendered necessary by the decision of
Judge Riner. These will provide that
the assessors shall determine the val
uation of corporate property In their
respective counties and shall later meet
and compare notes. Their findings shall
be subject to review and equalization
by the state board of equalization.
County commissioners and members of
the board of equalization will be em-
powered to mandamus any assessor
who fails to follow the provisions of
the bill, and such cases shall have
precedence in the courts. 1t is possible
that the fiat and saloon taxes and other
excise features of the bill may be cut
out and Incorporated in n separate
measure. The deputy assessors will be
compelled to return schedules by May
20. instead of June 20. as under the
have one month more in which to
equalize. The revenue bill will be made
a caucus measure in the House and the
majority will not tolerate anything
suggestive of filibusterins.
Dickerson's resolution. fixing Feb
ruary 18th as the date of final ad-
journment, was called up and indeti-
nitely postponed by vote of 45 to 0.
Prior to the vote being taken the fusion
leaders announced that 1t would be I'M
practicable to determine the exact
number of days required to consider
the amended revenue law and the other N
measures mentioned in the governor'sS
call Business would be transacted
with all possible dispatch consistent
with the proper consideration of the
important legislation under discussion.
Senator Graves of Arapahoe has pre-
sented to the Senate n constitutional
amendment which will have an i'm
portant bearing upon the revenue laws
of the state. 1t provides that the state
board of equalization shall assess cor
porate property. In arriving ut the
valuation the board shall be guided by
the market price of the stocks and
bonds of the companies. In the alb
sence of such data. the cost of duplca-
ton of the plant and its earning power
shall be considered. In case the board
undertakes TO deviate from these direc-
tions, any county assessor is authorized
to sue out n writ of mandamus in the
Supreme Court compelling an observ-
ance of :l1e law. The case shall be ad-
vanced to the head of the docket and
be given an immediate hearing. In
case any corporation shall have avoid
ed the payment of its taxes for any
year, past, present or future, the gov
ernor is empowered to make an ASSESS
ment of its holdings. proceeding in the
same manner as the state board of
equalization. For the purposes Of the
law, the corporation which shall fail
to pay in its taxes within six months
of the time required by law shall be
deemed to have avoided the same.
The fact that the constitutionality Of
the law under which it Is attempted to
collect the taxes is being tested in
court shall not protect the company
from the operations of the section. II
the governor fails or neglects to peril
form his duty, he may also be man.
damused.