Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-01-19
LEC|SLAT-
ORS AND
MEASURES
DENVER, COLO. Jan. 16, 1905
Editorial Correspondence

The Legislative grind has com.
menced-that is the flow OF bills The
fight for political supremacy in the
chief executives office has not damp
med the ardor of those who think
the way to gain prominence as a leg
islator is to cover the records with
bills introduced Those well expe-
rienced along Legislative lines take
just the opposite course They refrain
from introducing any measure until
late in the first 30 days and If sub
jects are covered in bills introduced
80 much the better and then only mat
ters pertaining to local improvements
receive their attention. II is fact
that those who burden cummittees
with bills are given the least consid-
Grafton and the member with only a
bill or two Is regarded in high favor
Committees are human and soon get
tired of good thing and the wise
legislator Is the one who occupies a
back seat until the proper time ar
ripes. II leaves him an open hand to
play no favorites and go in for the
best measures covering the subject
without making combinations Along
= these lines comes the representative
from La Plata county and also Sena-
tor Harris of Montezuma and La
La Plata. Senator Harris, when asked
this morning. said he had no pet
measures TO push forward. simply
reserving the right to vote for and
against those introduced, unless il
comes TO a division of the internal
improvement fund. Representative
McEwen has one or two other bills
which he will introduce desired by
constituents. but he is not going TO
be great source OF revenue to the
State printers. Mr.. McEwen is In for
a busy time OF it, however, being on
two important committees, appro
prlations and reapportionment, chair.
man OF the latter. This position will
enable him to look after the La
sure sufficient money to complete the
La Plata road in a respectable man
ner. He can also aid Montezuma coun-
~ along similar lines. AS chairman
OF the reapportionment committee,
Mr. McEwen will be in position to
see that La Plata county does not get
the worst of IL hereafter and il is
likely there will be a general reappor
tionment along all lines-legisative
judicial and possibly congressional
Much may depend on the gubernator-
ial result With Adams in the chair
reapportionment bill not meeting
with Democratic favor would come in
for veto. In this connection 1t will
be remembered that Colorado came
years ago by the Demo-POp combine,
when steps were taken to make both
congressional districts Democratic
along with as many Legislative and
judicial districts Democratic as pos
sible. This accounts for congress
man-atlarge from Colorado. The
Demo-Pops oculd not figure out three
congressional districts without one
OF them being Republican The First
District represented by Shaffroth at
the time was considered safe-with
Denver's method of stuffing the bal
lot boxes-for all time to come, while
sufficient strong Democratic counties
were placed in the Second to give
John c. Bell a life-lease. Then all
that remained was TO make the third
member of the house congressman-at-
large. This was nicely planned but
failed to work In the first place
along came a Hogg in the Second dis
trict and rooted UP the well laid plans
OF the DemoPop schemers, while con
gresS took hand in ascertaining
congressman-atlarge the Republi-
cans walked on with the baggage not
wlthstanding the fact that the sheep
were counted for Alva in Conejos
county. 30 ldr an COnBTeSslOnul ap-
portionment is concerned Republicans
are not worrying. Colorado is firmly
entrenched in the Republican column
and will remain there 80 long as Re-
pubiicans do their duty In Washing
ton. The Increased majority given
Mr.. Hogg in the Second district means
that he will be stronger two years
hence than last fall and he is in for
long siege at Washington and Mr..
Brooks record will keep him in pub
lie favor. And Mr.. Bonynge's majori-
" will grow now that Denver will in
dulge in an honest ballot two years
hence. Consequently 1t is possible the
congressional appottionment will not
be changed. But there IL reason for