The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1903-03-06

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Nicholson, Erie. Weld county; U. G.
Ramey. James H. Ramey, Grand juno
ton. Mesa county; Charles H. Scrinen,
Granada, Prowers county.
Bills No. 22O and 239, taking parts
of old Arapahoe county from Adams
county, to which they were added
when the latter county was created.
and attaching them to Yuma and
Washington counties, were passed
unanimously in the Senate on third
reading. Several senators voted yea
on this question who were doubtful of
the practicability of the propositions
until the decision on the Rush amend
ment was rendered.
Senator Rush's bill No. II. prohibit
ing the state board of land commission
ers from selling timber less than four
teen inches in diameter from school
land, was agreed to in the Senate on
second reading after having been
amended by the addition of several
features suggested by Senator Taylor's
bill No. 102. making it the duty of
school directors to notify the land
board of encroachments on state tim
ber land.
The Senate decided on Saturday,
February 2Sth, to hold no session the
next Wednesday. On that day the
members arranged to visit the agri-
cultural college at Fort Collins and the
normal school at Greeley. This de-
cision was reached after considerable
| discussion. part of the members go
ing on record as being opposed to
"junketing" tours. The final vote was
| Is to IL in favor of a resolution to take
| the trip Around the Horn"
Senator Grif1th's bill. No. 2S0, for the
protection of holders of life insurance
policies, was reported adversely by the
committee on banking and insurance,
which explained it was an unnecessary
measure, in the opinion of the commit
tee. On suggestion of the author the
Senate agreed to send 1t to committee
of the whole. The bill requires the
printing at the top of all assessment
life insurance policies the following no.
tice: This policy Is issued on the as
sessment plan, and its cost is not
| fixed"
| The special committee of the Legisla-
ture appointed to examine the books
| and records. manner of doing business
| etc. of the State Land Board, and sag-
gest improvements, has presented its
| report, which commends the work of
Mr.. Joyce, the outgoing register. and
of Mrs. Jenny. the plat clerk. The re-
port says: '"The unsatisfactory condi-
tion of the office in years past and es-
pecially prior to 1902, has materially
restricted the earning power of the
state lands, as it was impossible from
the records kept to arrive at any
| proper or definite understanding of the
character or value of any of the lands. +"
The committee submits for considera-
4 III q 4
ing. embodying such amendments to
existing laws as they deem requisite
and necessary at this time. The bill
increases the salary of the register
| from $4,000 to $2.5O0 per annum. and
his bond from 10000 to $50. 900 1t also
| permits the register to select his own
chief clerk and to make the deputy reg
lister of the department the financial
| agent solely. The branch of mineral
leases is placed in charge Of a super
! intendent, who is required to be a
practical engineer. The maximum
length of school land leases is raised
from ten years to thirty years. and the
committee opposes the sale of school
lands. An amendment is proposed to
! encourage the prospecting for minerals
in the same manner as now provided
by the national government.
Additional facts, which are expected
| to influence the passage of the Griffith
| bill to save the state the losses incurred
by abuses Of the mileage privilege by
boards of control of state institutions
were sprung yesterday at the capitol,
! says the Denver Republican Of Febru-
ary 26th. 1t was shown from vouchers
| on file in the auditors office that Ave
| members of the state board of control
| of the deaf and blind school collected
for mileage in 1901 and 1902. $2.202 55;
that during the same years the board
| of control three mem of the indus
trial school for boys collected $2,324.20,
and that the three penitentiary COM
missioners collected in the same period
$2.77O.93. The total bill for mileage
paid by the state the last four years
aggregates $13.529.90. notwithstanding
| the eleven men holding these positions
Travelled on railroad passes and are
presumed to have spent none of the
| cash received from the state for rail-
| road fare. Each of the penitentiary
| commissioners, it appears. received
during 1901 and 1902. $500, or $3.50 a
| year, for transportation. The charge
is made that when member w. G..
| Hines Of Trinidad attended meeting
| Of the board at Canon City. he charged
| for a round trip from Trinidad to that
city. and for another round trip from
Trinidad to Buena Vista, although he
covered both towns on the same trip
and the distance from Canon City to
Buena Vista is comparatively short,
and one charge from Trinidad to
| Canon City with an additional charge
for railroad fare from Canon City to
Buena Vista and back to Canon would
bovo ayficed IN reimburse him for all
| moneys paid on this account. The same
conduct is charged against Louis King
| Of Ouray. Governor Peabody has re-
quested the state board Of charities and
corrections. on advice OF Attorney
| General Miller, to file specific charges
against John r. Schermerhorn, a mem
ber OF the board Of control OF the in
dustrial school for boys, who is accused
i by the vouchers on file with the auditor
Of collecting extortionate sums for
| mileage between Denver and Golden,