The Dolores star., 1903-03-06


Nicholson. Erie. Weld county; U. G.
Ramey. James Fl. Ramey. Grand June
ton. Mesa county; Charles II. Scriuen.
Granada, Prowers county.
Senator Ballinger presented a resolu-
tion from the Chaffee County Stock
Growers Association protesting against
the passage of the pending bills con-
templating appropriations for COM
pleting state canal No. /. Rea-
sons assigned by the protest
kansas river are already appropriated
and that were the canal finished as
originally contemplated there would be
NO water with which to supply it.
Senator Grifiith's bill. No. $50, for the
protection of holders of life insurance
policies, was reported adversely by the
committee on banking and insurance,
which explained il was an unnecessary
measure. in the opinion of the commit
tee. On suggestion of the author the
Senate agreed to send IL 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 Senate Feb. 21st passed on third
reading the bill introduced by Corn
forth. No. III, for the vacating of land
for public highways on petition of two
thirds of the owners of land affected;
S. b. No. 6. by Taylor, otherwise
known as the Torrens land bill. for the
registration of land titles: S. b. No. .,
by Taylor, for the election of county
attorneys instead of appointment by
county commissioners. and classifying
the salaries to be paid county attor-
neys; S. B. No. 30. by Drake. permit
ting a division of school districts
where citizens so desire and where the
assessed valuation of the proposed new
districts may be above $4,000 and
there are at least fifty school children;
S. B. No. 63, by Hill. for school cleo
tions in school buildings; and house
bill No. So. by Aiken. appropriating
$4,000 to pay claims for care and
maintenance of the capitol.
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 sug-
gest improvements. has presented its
report, which commends the work of
of Mrs. Jermy. 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 10 arrive at any
proper or definite understanding of the
character or value of any of the lands"
The committee submits for considera-
tion Senate bill No. 344 by Senator Ew-
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 $1,000 to S2.500 per annum, and
his bond from $4,000 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
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
L..
Additional facts. which arc 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 five
members of the state board of control
of the deaf and blind school collected
for mileage in 1901 and 1902, 81 .2O2 SO; ;
that during the same years the board
of control tthree mem of the indus
trial school for boys collected 81 ,324 20,
and that the three penitentiary COM
missioners collected in the same period
$2,770.93. 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, 1t appears, received
during 1901 and 1902, 5000, 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 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
have sufficed to 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 men,
ber of the board of control of the in
dustrial school for boys. who is accused
by the vouchers on file with the auditor
of collecting extortionate sums for
mileage between Denver and Golden,
. F.. IL.