Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-03-13
COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AND DOINGS AT THE CAPITAL

| special committee composed OF SEN
ators Seldomridge. Griffith and Ewing.
to Investigate the House appropriation
bills. The recommendation OF the
committee that the contingent fund
be reduced from $4,000 met with no
opposition from the Republican mem
bers. On the contrary. IL was Senator
1 Wood. Republican, who moved that
II be still further reduced to $4,000.
and the amendment prevailed. There
was n spirited verbal combat over the
amendment TO allow Si.i7G for the ex-
penses OF the Senate during the siege
incumbent upon the election OF n
United States senator. The Republi-
cans fought hard against the appropri-
alton for these expenses. while the
Senate was In committee OF the whole.
but the bill was easily passed.
The House and Senate committees on
state institutions on Wednesday. March
9Th. made the trip around the Horn"
for the purpose of visiting the State
University at Boulder. the Agricultural
College at Fort Collins. and the Nor
nal School ut Greeley. With the two
committees went other members OF the
| Legislature. many OF whom were nc-
companicd by their wives and children.
In all there were about $50 people ON
the Colorado & Southern train when IL
| left the Union Depot at s: 30 In the NOR
ming At Boulder the excurslonIsts
were given reception in the uniycrs-
Ity chapel. where President Baker made
n statement OF the needs OF ths insti-
tuition. The University cadets were out
In uniform and saluted the party In
military style. while other students
greeted them with college yclls. The
citizens OF Fort Collins gave tho visit
ors n magnificent dinner in the Agri-
cultural College auditorium. The ca
diets fired an artillery salute. Al Gree
/ ley the members of the party were
taken out to the Normal School In car
riases and treated to rcfrcshments.
Senator Rush's bill to prevent the
securing of public franchises by fraud
uicnt means, Is comprised In one sec
tIon. as follows: Section Whenever
any perSons who are residents of and
taxpayers In the county In which such
action Is brought shall file verified
complaint. settin. up that any fran
chIsc has been, or In about to be.
granted through fraud. bribery or cor
rupt practices or that the terms OF such
franchise violate the rights OF the peo-
pie. the District Court. or any judge
thereof. In vacation. shall Immediately
act ms In matters Of Injunction. and
truth OF the matters alleged. And In
case IL shnll be found that any such
franchise Is about TO be granted by
any such mcanE. then the court shall
pcrpctunlly cnJoin the proper parties In
| the premises; md In case any such
franchise shall have been granted. by
any such means. then the court shall
enter nm order annulling and dccrccing
such franchise to be void. and the court
shall have nil power necessary to carry
out and execute Its orders. The right
Of appeal and writ OF error shall be
allowed Ms In other cases"
The Senate. In committee of the
whole. considered Senate bill No. 13o.
by Senator Rush. providing for the
merging of corporations and the pro-
lection OF stockholders and the public.
and made several amendments. II con-
tains the following stringent proviso:
Provided. that no corporation owning.
controlling. operating or furnishing
any public utility In this state shall be
| permitted to merge or consolidate ms
In this act provided. unless application
first be made To the District Court of
the district In which the principal
business of such corporation is situate.
nor until said court shall appoint three
competent. dis!ntcrcsted persons np-
Il WHo pTbCeeu
| to nppraisc all the property owned by
said corporation. exclusive of franchise
values and make report thereof to
said court. and the court shall have
power to hear objections upon behalf
OF the corporation and upon behalf OF
the users OF such public utility. and
shall thcreupon determine the justness
and fairness Of such appraiscmcnt.
which determination shall be final.
The value SO fixed for the several cor
porations merging or consolidating
shall be and constitute limit OF cap
itaiizat!on of the new or consolidated
company. and Mt no time shall It be
lawful for any such consolidated or
merged company to charge rates to
the users Of any such public utility In
excess OF such rates as shall yield eight
| per cent. net upon such capitalization.
including bettermen,s and improve
ments."
The Republican Of March 9Th says:
I William c. Munseil. who was n clerk In
the Office OF Former State Auditor c.
w. Crouter and in charge of the fiat
tax department, Is declared n defaulter
by the report OF Lewis Schwanbeck,
who has been investigating the fiat tax
| books. The amount of the shortage is
not definitely known. but II Is placed
at $1,000 to S6.S00 Munsell was re-
ported yesterday to have disappeared.
and warrent for his arrest was is
sued and placed in the hands of City
Detectives Koehler and White. Mum
sell was not under bond to his employ
er. and Mr.. Crouter stated last night
that he expected TO personally make
the shortage good. He places the
amount at S6.6GO. Auditor John Holm
berg says the amount is 5000. The
estimate that the deficiency will reach
$6.SOO came from attaches of the audit
or's office. Munsel was said yester-
day to have disappeared from his home
and the city. none of his acquaintances
having seen him since Monday at noon.
He sent Crouter letter at the time.
confessing to have defaulted. releasing
Crouter from all blame ard assuming
1t himself, and crediting his defalca-
ton to mining speculation. He did not.
however. explain just how much he had
not turned over to his employer or to
the state. No suspicion appears. how
ever. to have rested in former Auditor
Crouters mind that Munsell's affairs
were incorrect. and hesays the first inti-