The Dolores star., 1903-03-13

special committee composed NJ
ators Seldomridge. Griffith and r,.,e Sea
to investigate the House appronr,".i
bills. The recommendation ~
committee that the contingent,
be reduced from $3SO0O met w,,.
opposition from the Republican n.
bers. On the contrary, it was Son".
Wood. n Republican. who moved ~
II be still further reduced to ss ~.
and the amendment prevailed M"
was spirited verbal combat ovor y,
amendment to allow $1,476 for tba
penses of the Senate during the s,s.
incumbent upon the election a,
United States senator. The Rennp,
cans fought hard against the annron..
alton for these expenses. while m
Senate was in committee of the whols
but the bill was easily passed
The House and Senate commit,oo,
state institutions on Wednesday. MAJ,
4th, made the trip around the Hor.,
for the purpose of visiting the s,..l
University at Boulder. the Agricnl,n.s
College at Fort Collins, and the No.
NAL School at Greeley. With the tuc
committees went other members of th,1
Legislature. many of whom were ~
companied by their wives and cbidran
In all there We're about 25O peonle n,
the Colorado & Southern train when
left the Union Depot at s: 30 in the morJ
ming. At Boulder the excursioniv,l
were given reception in the Uniyersl
ity chapel. where President Baker mad,
a statement of the needs of the lnst1
tuition. The University cadets were or,
in uniform and saluted the party h
military style, while other studep,y
greeted them with college wells mi
citizens of Fort Collins gave the yjsi,J
ors a magnificent dinner in the Agr.
cultural College auditorium. The "a.
diets fired an artillery salute. At Gree.
ley the members of the party wers
taken out to the Normal School in car
riages and treated to Refreshments.
Senator Rush's bill to prevent ths
securing of public franchises by fraud.
ulent means, is comprised in one sec.
ton. as follows: Section l.-Wheneyer
any persons who are residents of and
taxpayers in the county in which such
action is brought, shall file verified
complaint. setting up that any fran
chise has been, or is 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 immedately
act as in matters of injunction. and
shall speedily hear and determine the
truth OF the matters alleged And inI
case it shall be found that any SUCH
franchise is about to be granted BY
any such means. then the court shall
perpetually enjoin the proper parties In
the premises; and in case any SUCH
franchise shall have been granted. BY
any such means. then the court shall
enter an order nnnulling and decreeing
such franchise to be void. and the court
shall have all power necessary to carry
out and execute its orders The righil
of appeal and writ of error shall b
allowed as in other cases"
The Senate. in committee OF thu
whole. considered Senate bill No. 1870
by Senator Rush, providing for Tho
merging Of corporations and the pro-
lection of stockholders and the public
and made several amendments. 1t CON
tains the following stringent proyiso:
Provided. that no corporation owning
controlling. operating or furnishing
any public utility in this state shall bs
permitted to merge or consolidate Al
iii this act provided, unless application
first be made to the District Court o
the district in which the princpa
business of such corporation is situate
nor until said court shall appoint three
competent, disinterested persons ap1
praisers, who shall proceed forthwith
to appraise all the property owned BY
said corporation. exclusive of franchise
values and make report thereof "a
said court, and the court shall hayq
power to hear objections upon behal
of the corporation and upon behalf
the users of such public utility. anq
shall thereupon determine the justnes
and fairness of such appraisement
which determination shall be hna
%he value SO fixed for the several cor
porations merging or consolidatln
shall be and constitute limit OF cap1
italiZation of the new or consolidateq
company. and at no time shall It y
lawful for any such consolidated
merged company to charge rates
the users of any such public utility
excess of such rates as shall yield elgn
per cent. net upon such capitalizatioi
including betterments and impro'e
mentS."
The Republican Of March 9Th says
William C. Munsell. who was clerk
the Office of Former State Auditor
w. Crouter and in charge of the nAI
tax department, is declared a defaui'e
by the report of Lewis SchwanDeeA|
who has been Investigating the nat u
books. The amount of the shortage
not definitely known, but 1t is piacey
at $4,000 to $6,80O. Munsell was ~
ported yesterday to have disappeafesu
and a warrent for his arrest was p
sued and placed in the hands OF oN1
Detectives Koehler and White. MUM
sell was not under bond to his employ
er, and Mr.. Crouter stated last nlsnj
that he expected to personally mar
the shortage good. He places .n1
amount at $1,000. Auditor John HOLM ms
berg says the amount is $5,09o. ~
estimate that the deficiency VIII reau. ~.
$6.S00 came from attaches OF the auu,.
or's Office. Munsell was said yes'e,
day to have disappeared from his ho.aI
and the city. none of his acqua'ntanoo,u
having seen him since Monday al noon1
He sent Crouter letter at the um. LII
confessing to have defaulted. reieas,n5