The Grit-advocate., 1905-02-03
COLORADO LEGISLATURE

Soldiers and Sailors Home for the
years 1905 and 1906. was passed by
the House on third reading, also
House bill II. for the payment of a
part of the expenses of the State In
dustrial School for the same period.
During the past fiscal year Frank S.
Tesch. commissioner of insurance. re-
ceived in fees from insurance compa-
MES the sum of $163.lO394. Since the
close OF the year he has received
$5SG.55. His expenditures In the fiscal
year were $lC,527.01. leaving a balance
of $l4G.57G.93 turned over to the treas
urer.
The largest single fee ever paid to
the state of Colorado by an insurance
company was paid to Deputy Commits
sioner Frank S. Tesch January 2Oth,
in the shape of check for $13.G71.99
by the New York Life Insurance Com
pany. The amount was due the state
as a three per cent. tax on aggregate
premiums for 1904. together with $55.
the regulation fee.
The Fifteenth General Assembly is
the first within the memory of man
wherein some attempt has not been
made by Spanish speaking member
to secure an interpreter for his
thoughts. From the days of the old
territorial Legislature. when the Span
sh speaking members made up much
greater percentage of the member
ship, to the present, each legislature
has been beseeched to furnish inter.
prefers. The fourteenth refused to
employ them, which may have been
one good reason for no demand at all
being made upon the Fifteenth
Mr.. Alexander has introduced bill
providing that counties of the state
may establish fish hatchcries and that
the state may furnish spawn to them.
One of MIR. Alexander's bills pro-
vides for the appointment of a state
forester. to look after the timber of
Colorado. The bill is 10 preserve as
much of the present forests as can be,
providing against destruction by fire
or by cutting down. All sheriffs and
road bosses are made fire wardenS,
with power to arrest all who, through
design or carelessness in any manner
injure the growing trees on state or
government lands.
House joint memorial No. !. by Mr..
Baer. was referred to the COMMITTEES
on federal relations. 1t asks Congress
that the act approved January 13, 1897,
relating TO the construction of storage
reservoirs for free stock water upon
: the unoreupieds' public lands of tho
United States be amended SO as to pro
vide for the privilege of allowing
springs and water seeps to be cleaned
out and fenced, and the waters con
Quoted on the outside of said reser-
vors or troughs and in less quanti-
ties than now required by the rcgHa-
ton of the Interior Department and
that the same may be kept for the free
use of range stock.
There was lively discussion in the
House over the question of printing in
Spanish 500 copies OF the messages
of Governors Peabody and Adams.
Representative Garcia called up the
subject and for over an hour the mem
bers fought over il. Representative
Street thought $40 copies copies should
be enough. Frcwen declared that Col
Orado had the finest school system In
the world, and that if voters couldn't
read English it vas their own fault,
and the Legislature shouldn't Condone
it. Garcia was indignant and the de-
bate became heated. Finally the res
Dlution was adopted. as introduced, pro
viding for the printing of 500 copies OF
the messages in Spanish.
A noticeable feature concerning the
bills being brought to the attention OF
the Fifteenth General Assembly is
that almost all put into one house are
duplicated by bills introduced in The
other. This Is a good thing for the
II fnr
word alike. enables the mere changing
of the headings for the printing Of two
bills. This practice has grown through
the last several legislatures but IL.
none has been 30 noticeable az the
present. A senator will put his hill
before his own house and then give
it to a representative to be introduced
in the other; and the members OF the
House will repeat the plan with their
own measures.
A bill introduced in the House by
Messrs DUNCAN and Alexander pro
vides for the selection by the governor
of railway commission Of three mem |
bers. These commissioners shall re
ceive the salary of $500 each. a sec
retary at $1,000 a year. one clerk at
81 200 and stenographer at SIS per
month. They may also employ such |
other clerical assistance as the Office |
shall need The commissioners are to |
have complete charge OF the railway .
business of the state. to regulate |
rates. compel the roads to furnish cars
at points where desired. The bill pro
hibits the issuance of passes. save to |
employees and in few other instances
that it specifically names.
Secretary r. r. cesc Of the State
Board of Equalization has issued his
biennial report He makes but one
recommendation. and that is in regard
O foreign car companies Many Of
he car companies neglect to lay any
axes because the amounts arc Dom,-
lal and he collectors do not press the
laims. To remedy this he says: 1T
S suggested that the law bc amended
o as TO require these companies 20
ray their taxes direct 70 the state
Il f,t