Gilpin observer., 1903-04-02

capitol. Mrs. Grenfell, superintendent
of public instruction, gets the quarters
on the first floor vacated by the war
department.
March 25th was the limit for the con-
sideration of it's own measures by each
branch of the Legislature and now the
House is working only on Senate
measures and the Senate devoting all
its time to House measures.
The Senate passed Senator Clayton's
insurance bill exempting mutual as
sessment companies from the payment
of a per cent. of their earnings to the
state insurance department by . vote
of twenty ayes to ten nays.
House Bill No. 134, by Mr.. Belford,
to provide for q constitutional amend
ment declaring smelters to be public
utilities, was killed in the House by
vote of 2S to 26, a majority CT two
in its favor. Being a bill to change
the constitution, A votes would have
been required to pass it.
On March 23rd the House passed the
following bills on third reading: H. b.
No. 214, by Van Horn, to regulate the
sale of liquors; H. B. No. 1872, by Gar
man, to provide for state employment
offices in Denver, Pueblo and Duran
go; H. B. No. $50, to provide for TAX
ing of dispositions outside of the state
The House has agreed to the Senate
amendments to the following bills: H.
b. 35, Moler-To prescribe and regu-
late the hours of employment for
women and children under sixteen
years Of age in mills, factories, shops,
etc. H. B. 174, Ryan-To provide for
board of stock inspection commission
ers.
Curator Ferril Of the State Histori-
cal and Natural History Society, has
displayed in the front door of the de-
partment a draped engraving of the
late w. N. Byers, president of the So
ciety since 1897. The society has only
had two presidents since its organiza-
tion in 1879, and both have died this
winter. DIR. Bancroft was president
from 1879 until Mr.. Byers succeeded
him in 1897.
During the discussion of the age of
consent bills the House went into ex-
ecut1ve session. The debarte occupied
nearly all the afternoon. AS adopted.
the bill raises the age of consent tt.
eighteen years and places violations OF
the law in which children under six
teen years of age are concerned In the
class with felonies. The penalty is very
severe. Violations regarding children
over sixteen years are misdemeanors.
Attorney General Miller is flooded
with kilograms, telephone messages
and letters asking the status of the
Rush bill. They confess ignorance on
the subject and want information, in
view of the approaching spring cleo
ton. Mr.. Miller's stenographer is
kept busy writing the replies. Mr.. Mil
Ter states in his replies that the amend
ment was carried, the courts have sus-
tained its legality and that its provis-
ions must be enforced.
The question of settling the state
printing accounts with the Smith
Brooks company was brought up in
the House and committee consist
ing of Breckenridge. Aitken and Din
kel, was appointed to act with COM
mittee of two senators to see what ar
rangement can be made for disposing
Of all outstanding accounts. Brecken-
ridge stated to the House that the bills
which the state owed the printing
company were over $37, 900. No more
money will be paid the th-Brooks
company until a committee reports.
Governor Peabody has received an
opinion from Attorney General Miller,
to whom he had referred the charges
filed for former Superintendent Mrs.
F. M. Irish of the State Industrial
School for Girls against the board Of
control of that institution. In effect
the opinion holds that the school is
under the absolute control of the
board Under these circumstances"
said the governor, II shall take no no.
tice Of the complaint of Mrs. Irish, as
that is a matter between herself, dis
charged employe of the school, and the
members Of the board"
The State Land Board on March
25th refused to lease to private parties
10000 acres of school lands in north
western Colorado contiguous to the
supposed route of the Moffat railroad.
The board announced that 1t will not
lease school land through or near
which the Moffat line may pass. 1t de-
clared the policy of the administration
Is to hold all such tracts until the route
be definitely announced. after which
the school fund may realize fully. One
thousand acres Of grazing land was
cold to the San Luis valley Mormon
colony for Sc to $3.50 an acre.
The following bills were passed on
third reading In the Senate. March
2Sth: H. B. No. FOG, Garman-Regu-
lating the sale Of convict made goods.
The convicts in our prisons are not
permitted to manufacture articles for
sale. and the state is said to be the
dumping ground for Missouri prison
made shoes. Wyoming brooms and Ne
braska brushes. The license and PEN
alties make the act prohibitive. H. B.
judges in the Fourth judicial district
to three. H. B. 1S. Dolph-Providing
for the notification of the defendant in
divorce cases, and requiring the plain
tiff to give all information possible un-
der oath. II. b. 166. Warner-Provid-
ing two-fifths mill levy for the bene-
fit of the State University.