Gilpin observer., 1907-02-07
LEGISLATIVE NEWS And GOSSIP.

One week further time was granted
the committee in the State Senate ap-
pointed to investigate the charges
against Senator Richard w. Morgan.
He is now absent from the Senate ow-
ing to the death Of his brother. Chair
man Bohn of the committee has his re-
port prepared, but does not desire to
announce 1t until Senator Morgan is
present.
A new railroad commission bill.
drafted by the attorney general on the
lines of the national measure, has
been introduced in the Senate. 1t IL
the result of a number Of conferences
held by the Republican members of
the &c -islature and party leaders, says
the Republican, which goes On to say:
This new measure, which was intro
duced by Senator Drake, makes the
State Board of Equalization the rail-
road commission. This commission
would be, therefore, composed of the
governor, state auditor, state treas
urer, secretary Of state and attorney
general. These five administrative Of
ficers have charge of the equalization
of railroad taxation. They should
know something regarding railroad
property. The expense to the state
wouii be very low. But this matter Of
expense must be minor considers
ton. The gentlemen who compose the
railroad lobby seem to be most anxious
about saving few thousand dollars
per annum to the overloaded taxpayer.
The expense under the Mccarthy bill
would be about $50, 900 per annum. The
state platform calls for railroad COM
mission elected by the people. Hav-
ing The State Board OF Equalization to
| serve would fulfill that requirement.
But the letter Of the platform is not Il
SO much account as the spirit.
Representative Laton's libel bill,
which has passed the House, was con-
| sidered by the Senate Monday. 1t was
denounced by the Colorado Editorial
Association and Is bitterly opposed by
the editors of the state. Senator Har.
ris took the floor against the bill. ITO
| boil 1t down." he said, this bill has
for its purpose the muzzling of the
press am in favor of a free press and
free speech, and shall not lend my
voice to vote away the liberty OF any.
one. l don't think the Sixteenth Gen.
eral Assembly has reached the pass
yet where we are ready to vote away
the right of free speech. Senator
Scott moved that the enacting clause
be striker from the bill, which he said
had been denounced by the Editorial
association of the state, and changed
every rule practically Of the law of
evidence in criminal cases. "If this
law should be enacted" he said, there
could not be ordinary criticism
Of public officials" He stated fur.
ther that 1t was the Penny
packer" law of Pennsylvania, which
had for its purpose the covering up of
| the frauds and 49, hat cto
and II the bill had meaning it was to
say that there should be no criticism oe
public persons or corporations. Sena-
tor Stephen said he was absolutely op-
posed to the bill. He had been
brought up to believe in an untram-
meled press, and while he had himself
been vilified and maligned, he had left
1t to the people and his constituents
had done him justice. II believe in a
free press and free speech, and let
the people be the jury" he said.
That's all l want to say about this
bill" Senator Clayton thought the
measure much too drastic. and one that
no progressive Legislature could afford
to consider favorably. He had been mis-.
represented at times, but he hadn't any
hard feeling toward the newspapers,
and would be sorry to see the state
| tuhS a StCP DdNhWdlu. otHdtOT
thought the bill good one. and in the
interests of the press. which would be
elevated by its passage. The bill was
passed on second reading by vote of
II to 13. When the committee arose
another effort was made to strike out
the enacting clause, but it was de-
J feated by the same vote. 1t cannot
pass on third reading with out eighteen
votes. and will have to wait until that
number can be secured.
The members OF the State Agricul-
tural College faculty. who hold posi-
tions Mt the experiment station. and all
| experts in horticulture and entomology
| in the Fort Collins district are using
every opportunity to say 4 good word
for House bill No. 311. introduced by
Representative Hoyt of Mesa county.
This bill has for its object the protec-
ton OF the horticultural interests OF
the state. It is known as the horticul-
tural inspection bill, and provides for
the inspection of all nursery stock
coming into Colorado for the purpose
of keeping out so far as possible inju.
rious insects and plant diseases that
do not already occur here. The bill also
provides for the determination of in
sect pests and fruit disease that are
likely to be disseminated to the injury
OF fruit growers wherever they may be
found in the state. The bill makes the
entomologists of the agricultural col.
lege. state entomologist, and makes It
his duty to look after the enforcement
OF the inspection law within the state.
II provides for horticultural inspectors
In the various counties OF the state
where fruit Is grown. the duty OF the
horticultural inspectors being to carry
out the provisions OF the act in their
respective counties. The inspectors
are appointed by the county commits
oioners in each county. The bill fur
ther provides for the inspection OF all