The state herald., 1907-03-15
LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND GOSSIP

rendered very happy Wednesday by re-
ceiving their vouchers from the state.
which were duly honored and paid at
the treasurers office. The payment
of the last semi-monthly vouchers had
been held up I'LL the attorney for
| Treasurer Bent's bondsmen had rem
dered an opinion on the adjournment
of the House some time ago. as to
whether II exceeded the three-day
limit fixed by law. Attorney G. ].
Hughes, Jr, was the lawyer In ques-
tion, and as he has been out Of the
city, his opinion was delayed several
days. He concurs with the opinion Of
Attorney General Dickson that the ad-
journment OF the House did not exceed
| the limit, and the salaries were ac-
cordingly paid.
The House committee on roads and
bridges has agreed to indefinitely
postpone II. B. G1. introduced by Mr..
Dulin. This is the bill to provide for
the appointment by the governor of
highway commission of three mem.
bers. 1t was indorsed by the good
roads meeting held in Denver. Tho
Chamber Of Commerce and all the
commercial bodies of the state were
also interested in the measure, having
advocated 1t as likely to aid In making
the Colorado highways what they
should be, the best in the world. Doc
tor Dulin is chairman Of the House
committee on roads and bridges. He
introduced the highway bill in the
House, while Senator Drake put 1t on
the Senate list. Doctor Dulin stated
In speaking of the action, that the in
fiuence that killed the bill came from 1
CT
though he is chairman of the commit
tee. the majority was against him.
The House has passed on secord
reading the Drake bill that passed the
Senate some time back. The only i'm
portant amendment made by the
House was to limit the application to
cities, towns. villages, districts, wards
or precints, whereas the Senate bill
permitted a county as well as these le-
gal divisions and subdivisions to vote
on this question. Governor Buchtel
has worked like Trojan for such a
measure, and he succeeded in bringing
into line with him quite number OF
Republicans who at first were inclined
to be extremely conservative. The bill
that passed the House permits the peo-
pie OF any city, town or subdivision to
decide for themselves whether they
want saloons In their neighborhood. II
was felt that to permit whole county
to be included. and have bare ma
jority declare that county wet" or
dry" as the case might be. would
work hardships. A county having big
city would permit that city to rule the
county. In certain cases this would ap-
pear as tyranny. But great care was
taken In the House to make locality
that votes anti-saloon to be dry. A
drug store cannot turn itself into sa-
loon. In legislating against this form
OF hypocrisy, the House went further
ths1 the Senate.
Most OF the time In the Senate Tues
day was given up to consideration Of
S. B. No. 81, by Senator DE La Vergne,
in committee Of the whole. This is tho
Rittenhouse insurance measure. Thir-
ty.two out OF the scventy-fivc sections
we've read and passed by the commit
tee, with but slight amendments. There
was small debate on the measure, with
the exception OF n rather heated argu-
ment ON the question OF child insur-
anoe. The bill prohibited insuring chill
drcn under the age OF ten years. but
INT axe was Ihistu 10 HittsH, oNlHS 10
tho great antipathy TO this form OF in. 4
suiance displayed by numerous mem
bors. The amendments recommended
by the committee on banking and In
snrancc. which were extensive. were
adopted without debate. Senator
Booth desired 10 take up only the sec
tions where there was any great dif-
ference OF opinion. owing TO the length
OF the measure. Senator Harrison
made an address on tho subject. re-
viewing the insurance investigations In
the East. lie said the bill was pre-
pared by +. Il. Rittenhouse. deputy In.
surpnce commissioner. who had
closely followed the investigations and
had drawn his measure In accordance
with the best regulatory provisions
agreed upon by officials In all states.
He said the committee had gone very
closely into the bill and the only pro-
yifions about which there had been
any great question were those affecting
Colorado companies. He said the pres
ont bill confC ms In the main TO SINH
Ia. bills introduced In every Leglsla-
tuio In the United States In session
this winter and thought Its provisions
should meet with general approval.
The appropriation committee In now
the storm center at the capitol. The
general appropriations bill having been
printed. and It's provisions becoming
known to all state employees. there has
been concerted movement upon the
chairman Of the committee 10 have
changes made In salaries. and. In some
inftancos. In the amount OF help given
oacg department. Upon the top Of this
has come Increased demands from all
the state institutions for more money
than the committee feels that II can
give out Of the funds ON hand. Tho
general appropriations bill. providing
fof the conduct of the states business
fos the next two years. Will uao Mp
about fi.000.000 of the funds estimated
10 be available. This will leave about
81. 10000 for all other purposes. and
the state institutions VIII need nearly
Nil of this. The committee has dc.
oidcd upon giving 100000 over tho