The Meeker herald., 1902-02-15
PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXTRA
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE

"A great uluuy petltlOus, Dotn loi
and against the Bucklin bill, are pre-
scented every day.
Senator Ammons' bill compelling rail
roads to fence their right of way has
passed the Senate.
Mr.. Montgomery has introduced
bill for submitting constitutional
amendment to legalize state board OF
assessors.
By vote Of thirty-four to twenty
one the House Tuesday agreed to the
recommendations of the finance COM
mittee which deprived the board OF
equalization of power to assess corpor-
ate holdings and vest that authority in
the assessors.
Senator Taylor introduced resOlu-
ton, which passed, calling upon the
attorney general for an opinion as to
the right Of the present session to re-
call or rescind or modify any Of the
amendments to the constitution sub
mitted to the people of the Thirteenth
General Assembly at their regular SEES
sion.
The Senate investigation committee.
which Is trying to ascertain who took
the roll call on the third reading of the
employers liability bill, is expected to
report some day this week. One inter-
ested In the result of the investigation
said last evening that when the COM
mittee did report ''sOmething would
drop"
Representative Meade Hammond Of
Delta county favors permitting the
board of equalization to make the as
sessments until the people may have
an opportunity next year to enact
constitutional amendment creating
state tax commission which will super
sede both the individual assessors and
the board of equalization.
The committee on insurance has or
dered printed Martins bill compelling
insurance companies to pay into the
state treasury 2h per cent. Of the
gross amount received by them for
premiums. 1t is believed that ma
jority of the legislators favor the bill
and that it has an excellent chance of
passing. 1t will add at least 100000
to the revenue of the state.
Representative Briscoe has been can
| wasting the House on the resolution he
intends to introduce declaring that the
only business Of the special session Is
| to pass a revenue law. He said Inst
night that he had received encourage
ment from majority of the members.
with him and that, unless deadlock
with the Senate occurs, the House and
Senate will be ready to adjourn next
| Saturday.
In response to the resolution OF Ben
ator Seldomridge, asking an account
ing of money received under the fiat
tax, State Auditor Crouter has sent
the following statement to the Senate:
Number of companies on books
and notified LII DUO
Number Of companies that paid. 1851
Amount paid under protest. .$32. 962.74
Amount paid without protest 21,S7O.71
Total .................. $54, S33. As
1t is the purpose of the leaders of the
majority OF the House to submit the
revenue bill to the Supreme Court
when it has passed second reading.
The Judges will be asked to give an
opinion on the validity of the section
directing the assessors to assess cor
porate property and meet in Denver to
determine upon basis of valuation.
The minority contends that the latter
provision practically creates state
board of assessors and that therefore
1t Is unconstitutional.
The missing roll call OH the third
reading and final passage Of the reg
ular session of Tanquary's employers
liability bill has been found. 1t was
folded up and hid away In the Senate
journal, and its resting plnce has been
fingered by score of persons since the
labor organizations began their search
for the missing bit of paper. To Sen
ator j. Frank Adams of this county
belongs the credit for the discovery.
The find was made Tuesday afternoon
during session of the Senate commit
tee appointed to investigate the disap-
pearance of the roll call.
After the reading of the journal
Monday morning Mr.. BallInger of Park
arose to question Of personal privi-
lege. The Republican had asserted on
Sunday morning that he had intro
duced railroad commission bill, know
ing that 1t was unconstitutional and
hoping to use it to wiring favOrs from
the corporations for his many relatives
who were employed by the roads. AS
Mr.. Ballinger proceeded 1t was appar-
ent that he was very much affected.
II presented the bill in good faith"
he said. II believe the Democracy
owes 1t to the people of the state to en-
act 1t. Its constitutionality has been
affirmed by the highest court in the
land. One provision Of my bill con-
slider of especial Importance, and it
was suggested by the death of my son,
who was killed while acting as engi.
lieer OH the South Park, September
21st. 1t provides that the commission
shall inspect the roadbed and equip
ment of the roads and see that they
are safe. II such law had been OH
the statute books my boy might have
been alive, and Its enactment now will
save many lives"
In both houses, by rising vote,
Thursday, the following resolution was
adopted:
The joint committee of the Senate
and House chosen to draft resolutions
upon the death of Ex-Governor Davis
II. Waite, beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing resolutions: