The Ordway new era., 1907-01-04
oRDwAY COLO. FRIDAY. JANUARY 4. 1907.

, Public sentiment Is In favor OF such
enactment.
Any legislation along this line should
clearly define trust, Illegal or unlaw-
full combination in restraint OF trade
and competition, and should give the
attorney general power to bring quo
warranto proceedings against such un-
lawful combination.
Railroad Commission.
One OF the subjects you will have for
| consideration Is law providing for
| the creation of II board of railroad COM
| missioners ard prescribing its duties.
| Personally ! am of the opinion thar
| such a board should be elected by the
people for term OF six years, one
member retiring every two years. The
| enactment of a law of this character
| Is one on which there is n great d.
versity Of opinion and II will be hard
to satisfy everyone. l believe the law
should be conservative, protecting the
rights of the people. but at the same
| time should not be such as will cripple
the railroads in their efficiency. The
| people can be protected without con
| fscating the railroads. The national!
| law recently enacted seems to meet
the requirems nts pretty generally. but
| at the same time many of its prOvis
ions would be cumbersome for n state
to attempt to enforce. The commits
sion should have power to hear COM
plants and order reductions in rates
when the same seem to them to be out
| of proportion.
also believe that the board Of rail-
road commissioners should perform
the duties now performed by the state
board of equalization in the assessment
OF corporate property. the latter board
being left with the power OF equalizing
| as between the counties as the consti-
tuition now provides. II might also be
permissible to grant an appeal in u.s.
sessment matters from the board OF
railroad commissioners to the board OF
equalization at the fall meeting of the
board | realize this will require a
constitutional amendment. but l be-
lieve the interests of the state de-
mand II.
1t is impossible for the state board
of equalization to become sufficiently
acquainted with the value of railroad
and other corporate property assessed
by II. in the limited time at its dis
posal. The board can not. therefore.
| make an assessment that Is either just
TO the other taxpayers OF the state or
the railroads themselves. A board OF
railroad commissioners, in the dis
discharge of the other duties attached
to the Office. would necessarily become
acquainted with the railroad property.
It's value, earnings. etc, and could In
telligently make the assessment.
State Engineer.
The state engineers report is one
| G,1, ,I,. 4 x,f tFnt tn
people OF Colorado. That official has
used great pains and care In It's prep
aration. This is department OF the
government which is constantly grow
ing in usefulness and importance.
Practically all the state road building
comes unier his supervision and he Is
charged by law with multiplicity OF
duties which increase year by year as
the state advances along material
lines.
The subject OF good roads and their
Importance is treated by him In very
thorough manner. and am sure Pc
rusal of his remarks on this subject
will be interesting and beneficial.
Term Of Office.
While on the above subject II might
not be amiss for me to give the legisla-
tors my views as to the term OF office
of the governor. I believe constitu.
tional amendment should be submitted
to the people. providing change In
| the tenure OF office from two to four
years. with provision that he shall
| not be eligible for two consecutive
terms. A great many OF the states
now elect governor for four years
and the remainder OF tho state ticket
| biennially. There are many arguments
which can be advanced for this change.
1 am firmly convinced II such change
is made the people will be the gamers
| by n much better administration of the
affairs of state, as the governor will
| then have an opportunity to accom-.
plish something for them.
| U. s. Senators.
| There is n rapidly increasing senti-
ment in this country that United
States senators should be elected by
| the direct vote OF the people. I be-
lieye a large majority of the citizens OF
Colorado favor this plan. but Of course
1t is matter that can not be regulated
by state Legislatures and will require
a national constitutional amendment
to bring 1t about. You can lend moral
force to the movement by memorable
Ing Congress to give the people the op.
portunity to pass Judgment as to
whether ur rot they desire the change.
/ There was recently held at Des
Moines, Iowa, a convention for the pur.
pose Of considering this question. at
which Colorado was represented by
two OF our esteemed citizens. I be.
lieve the outgrowth of this convention
cannot be otherwise than good.
Direct Primary Law.
During late years there has been
"a