The Springfield herald., 1903-04-17
COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AND DOINGS AT THE CAPITAL
Extra Session Not Probable.

The Denver Republican of April 9th
says:
AN extra session OF the Assembly
will not be called" declared the gov
ernor yesterday afternoon. with great
emphasis on the not" The governor
answered the question for about the
/, one hundredth time mo one has
asked me to call an extra session.
There has been no formal complaint
that there Is anything wrong. The talk
of such a movement Is such that 1t
can be best characterized as gossip.
LAS look at the situation there is
no need for an extra session." con-
tinued the executive, in commenting on
| the conditions. 1T seems to me when
a bill comes to me duly signed by the
presiding officer and others whose sig
natures are required have nothing to
do in the way of passing upon the le-
gality OF the question.
There Is no record in any court to
show that bill has been attacked as
illegal purely on technicalities after 1t
has received all the signatures required
by the constitution. On the other hand
the Supreme Court of the United States
has held that a law that has been
| passed by both houses of Congress and
received the signature of the President
is n law and that it can be attacked
only on constitutional grounds.
The agitation regarding the general
appropriation bill is all based upon
technicalities. / have of course heard
1t said that the bill was passed In. skel-
eton form. But l do not know that
and the measure has come to me duly
signed and properly drawn up. Ques-
tions of when or how it was signed
have not been raised to me officially.
and officially l know nothing of the
alleged irregularities"
Governor Peabody received the en-
crossed bill about 5 o'clock in the af-
ternoon from Mr.. Stevens, chairman of
the House engrossing committee. 1t
was too late for an inspection by the
executive. and he declined to permit
others to investigate the contents. He
did not say whether he would sign the
bill declaring that this was an action
to be taken after the attorney general
had made a report and he himself had
Investigated.
Except the governor and the attor-
ney general none will see the complet-
ed bill until the executive has attached
his signature. Under the law he can
refuse to sanction any single item, or
as many as he desires. To what ex-
tent this power will be exercised the
governor says he cannot determine un-
til he has scrutinized the I,!l thor
oughly.
The attitude of the governor is evi-
dence that he will sign the bill. He
holds that he can take it only as it
comes to him. 1t has been sent to his
office properly drawn up and with all
of the signatures in their proper
places. The governor holds the skele-
ton feature of the objections as of no
Importance. because it has been the
custom of all legislatures to act in the
same manner at the end of the session.
In response to a question regarding
the eight-hour feature of the contro-
versy. the governor said he had re-
! ceived no requests of any kind from
labor leaders. and knew nothing of any
petition it is reported has been started
asking for such call. On this point
the governor takes the position that
it was the duty of the Legislature to
pass an eight-hour measure in accord
ance with the constitutional amend
ment. and it is not his fault that this
action was not taken.
Threats of questioning the validity
of the general appropriation bill in the
courts have been made by some per-
sons, but the governor answers queries
regarding this with the statement that
II is matter for action after some
thing has been done. He says he can
/ rot see how the situation can change
to an extent that will make an extra
session necessary.
Many members of the Legislature
called at the capitol yesterday. They
were all anxious for a positive declara-
| ton regarding an extra session When
! informed definitely that there would
/ not be call from the governor, they
| took it as final. Most of them departed
for their homes on the night trains and
many expressed themselves as pleased
! that there would not be another ses-
| sion.
Some of those who were on the COM
ference committee that finally agreed
on the appropriation bill. called at the
capitol After a final inspection it was
| turned over to the governor about 5
o'clock These members were positive
in asserting that the bill is perfectly
good and that it will stand