The Lamar register., 1902-03-05
THE LEGISLATURE.

| pOned, and the Ballinger bill was SUD
mitted without recommendation.
The Senate did notable piece OF
work Tuesday. when il passed the Gun
nison tunnel bill by II decisive vote
During the afternoon the measure wat
given its first reading in the House
and it is the intention of its supporters
TO press it to an early vote.
The revenue bill is now ready II
emerge from the house committee O1
the whole. That committee Monday
afternoon completed its consideration
of the last sections, the amendments
being those necessary in order to trans
form the state board of assessors sec
tions into a scheme for n state boarc
of equalization. The amendments were
ordered printed as fast as the clerks
could prepare them for the printers.
There is strong sentiment growing
in the Legislature in favor Of the Mon
tana system of taxing mines. In Mon
tnna the full gross production of each
mine is taxed. after dedncting the cost
| of extracting the same from the mine,
| with the cost of transportation and re
duction. This catches the great divi-
dend producers. and vet is fair to small
mine owners. 1t will undoubtedly meet
strong opposition from the mining
members. yet may be acceded to as
compromise measure.
The next important measure TO claim
the attention Of the House will be the
Gunnison tunnel bill Mr.. Hammond
claims that it will pass by substan-
tial majority. The fight over the
Bucklin Australasian tax constitution
al amendment will probably be fought
out on the floor of the House, the Bell
| bill repeating the submission clause
| furnishing the theme. 1t would seem
that the repealers have IL majority In
the House, while their opponents con
| troll the Senate.
AT its meeting in Pueblo February
10Th, the Retail Grocers and Butchers
Association of Colorado elected the fol-
lowing named officers: George \. Ord
way of Denver. president; j. A. Gal
braith Of Fort Collins. first vice prest
dent: j. Il. Gardner of Victor. second
vice president: w. +. HaZen of Law
son. third vice president: A. =. Nelson
of Canon City. fourth vice president;
G. V. Richards Of Denver, secretary;
w. c. Wilson of Greeley. treasurer
The next meeting will be at Denver, in
January next.
The revenue bill passed second read
ing in the House Thursday afternoon.
The Senate should not take much time
in disposing of the bill. Practically
every point upon which conflict be
tween the two bodies was feared has
been adjusted to the satisfaction Of the
Senate. The measure should reach the
governor before the close of next week
Prompt adjournment should follow its
passage. The representatives OF the
mining counties renewed the fight on
the Neeley amendment and succeeded
in securing IL modification. 1t Is sub
stantially the substitute presented by
Mr.. Sprague on Wednesday,. and which
was once adopted by the House by Il
majority of one. 1t was then recOnsid-
cred and Mr.. Mcclure suggested i'm
portant amendments. 1t was in that
form 1t was adopted yesterday. 1t pro-
vides that producers shall be assessed
on their smelter returns and nOn-pro-
ducers at not more than fifty per cent.
OF the lowest producer in the district.
Some of its opponents threatened
to oppose the entire bill on third
reading II the section were not
changed, but 1t is not probable that
they can muster any great strength.
There is general disposition to pass
the law up to the Senate in its present
form. Insurance companies were ex-
empted from the operations of the Nat
tax; the old rates OF interest on delin-
quent taxes were restored. and 1t was
decided that pll druggists must pay
the state liquor tax. When the final
vote was reached OH the recommended
tions of the committee of the whole.
| only ten men opposed the bill while
forty-fOur voted for it.
Wednesday was warm day in the
| House. The cause of il 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 decisive
vote. 1t taxed all the mines. developed
and undeveloped. ut 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 Arnpahoe members were absent,
and it was charged that they were en-
deavoring to dodge the record-making
vote. These charges We're renewed
when few minutes later the mining
contingent sprung II surprise oil their
opponents by securing the adoption of
the Spraguc amendment by wore OF
Is yeas to - nays. This proposition
had been prepared by Senator Hallett,
and when presented Its supporters had
no idea it would carry. Mr.. Mcclure
of Fremont arrived in the chamber.
however, in time to east the deciding
vote for the amendment. The situation
was dramatic in the extreme and pro-
duced some ill-feeling. y call of the
house was ordered and all the alb
sentees except Mr.. Bradley secured.
, His opponents charged him with pur-
posely absenting himself. and 1t was
resolved at o'clock in the afternoon