The Elbert County tribune., 1903-04-16
COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AND DOINGS AT THE CAPITAL
Extra ses.lon Not ProbahIe.

says:
IAN extra session of the Assembly
Will not be called" declared the gov
ernor yesterday afternoon. with great
emphasis on the mot" The governor
answered the question for about the
| enc hundredth time. mo one has
asked me TO call an extra session.
| There has been no formal complaint
that there is anything wrong The talk
| of such a movement is such that II
can be best characterized as gossip.
'As look at the situation there is
no need for an extra session." con-
tInued the executive. in commenting on
the conditions. 1T seems to me when
presiding officer and Others whose sig
natures are required l have nothing TO
| do in the way of passing upon the le-
gaiity OF the question.
There is no record in any court TO
show that bill has been attacked as
illegal purely on technicalities after IL
| has received all the signatures required
| by the constitution. On the other hand
the Supreme Court OF the United States
has held that a law that has been
| passed by both houses OF Congress and
received the signature of the President
Is a law and that 1t can be attacked
only on constitutional grounds.
THE agitation regarding the general
appropriation bill is all based upon
technicalitles. have of course heard
II said that the bill was passed In skel-
eton form But I do not know that
and the measure has come to me duly
signed and properly drawn up. Ques-
tions of when or how 1t was signed
have not been raised to me officially.
and officially know nothing Of the
alleged Irregularities"
Governor Peabody received the en-
crossed bill about O'Clock in the af-
ternoon from Mr.. Stevens. chairman of
the House engrossing committee. II
was too late for an inspection by The
executive, and he declined to permit
others to investigate the contents. He
did not say whether he would sign the
bill. declaring that this was an action
to be taken after the attorney general
had made a report and he himself had
investigated.
Except the goytrnor and the attor-
ney general none will see the complet-
ed bill until the executive has attached
his signature Under the law he can
refuse TO sanction any single item. or
as many as he desires. To what ex-
tent this power will be exercised the
til he has scrutinized the bill thor
oughly
The attitude Of the governor is evil
dence that he will sign the bill. He
holds that he can take 1T only as 1t
comes to him. II has been sent to his
Office properly drawn up and with all
| OF the signatures in their proper
places The governor holds the skele-
| ton feature of the objections as of no
| Importance, because 1t has been the
custom of all Legislatures to act in the
same manner at the end of the session.
In response to a question regsniing
the eight-hour feature of the contro-
,versy. the governor said he had re-
| ceived no requests OF any kind from
| labor leaders, and knew nothing of any
petition 1t is reported has been started
asking for such call On this point
the governor takes the position that
| IL was the duty of the Legislature to
pass an eight-hour measure In accord
ance with the constitutional amend
ment, and 1t is not his fault that this
| action was not taken.
Threats of questioning the validity
of the general appropriation bill in the
courts have been made by some per-
| sons, but the governor answers queries
regarding this with the statement that
1t is a matter for action after some
thing has been done He says he can
| not see how the situation can change
to an extent that Will make an extra
| session necessary.
Many members of the Legislature
called nj the capitol yesterday. They
were all anxious for positive declara-
ton regarding an extra session. When
informed definitely that there would
not be a call from the governor. they
took 1t as final. Most of them departed
for their homes on the night trains and
many expressed themselves as pleased
that there would not be another ses-
| sion.
Some of those who we're on the COM
ference committee that finally agreed
on the appropriation bill. called at the
capitol. After final inspection 1t was
turned over to the governor about
o'clock. These members were positive
in asserting that the bill Is perfectly
good and that II will stand.