La Junta tribune., 1905-04-15


pounding the desks and each calling
on the members TO come to order
As soon as the senator's saw the
trick that was being played on them.
one of them moved to adjourn. the
motion was put by the lieutenant
governor, and amid the excitement
he called on the members of the
senate to follow him and more than
half of the senators followed him
out
The speaker then made an effort
TO call the joint session TO order for
the purpose of declaring James H.
Peabody reelected governor Of the
state of Colorado. but on roll call it
was found that there were not
enough Republicans in the room.
This plot failing. the votes for
governor were canvassed and Gov
ernor Alya Adams was declared duly
elected and seated on January 10th.
The contest by James II. Peabody
was at once filed, and while every
effort was made to have the contest
heard before the joint session, as
provided BY the constitution Of our
state, il was referred to a committee
of twenty-seven. consisting OF
eighteen Republicans and nine DEM
ocrats. all selected by the Repubii-
can leaders of the house. More than
thirty-four days were spent in hear
ing the contest. at an expense OF
nearly 500 900, and at the end four
reports were brought in. only thir-
teen members of the committee
signing the Peabody report. The
chairman reported that Mr.. Pea
body had not proved his case. Dur
ing all this time very little business
was transacted as meetings We're
only held from 10 o'clock till noon
each day.
The idea Of seating Mr.. Mcdonald
as governor was not thought Of till
after the reports Of the committee
had been handed in. Then it was
suggested by Senator Alexander.
who claimed that no one had been
elected governor at the November
election. The feeling had grown 50
bitter among the members against
both Mr.. Peabody and Mr.. Adams
that compromise was finally made
to seat Mr. Peabody for one day. on
condition that he would resign in
side of twenty-four hours. This
agreement was drawn up and ex-
hibited TO any one who wished to see
it in the lobby Of the Brown Palace
hotel. and was finally carried out.
and on March 18th the state Of
Colorado had three governors.
The usual number Of bills were
presented by the general assembly.
the house furnishing 400 and the
senate s65, but large number Of
them never got out of the hands Of
the committee. The total number
Of bills passed and sent to the gov
ernor for his signature was las. OF
these the senate passed sixty-seven
and the house seventy-eiRht. The
senate passed thirty-one appropria-
ton bills and the house forty nine.
or a total of eighty. leaving only
sixty five bills passed amending or
creating new laws. After deducting
the expenses Of the contest from the
revenue to be collected for the next
two years il was found that all ap-
preparations would have to be cut
down. and it is to the credit of the
committees in charge that no extra
appropriations were made.
In the house the total amount
available for roads and bridges was
SIS 900. OF this amount the Demo-
crats were allowed g 500. and Otero
county got 81. 600 Of this. or nearly
one-half Of the total amount.
Among the bills passed were some
very good ones such as senate bill
. No. 20. the Booth precinct registra-
ton law: No. SO. constitutional
amendment allowing the use Of
voting machines; No. l76. regu-
lating vendors of manufactured
goods: No. "a. permitting convicts
to work on Fremont county roads.
besides = number Of good bills intro
duced in the house.
had the pleasure Of visiting the
state institutions at Monte Vista,
Buena Vista. Canon City. Pueblo