The Ordway new era., 1907-02-08
voLv. NO. 48'
LEGISLATIVE NEWS and GOSSIP

Senator TayIor's Joint resolution me-
morializing Congress to call a constitu-
tional convention to consider the
proposition of affording the people an
opportunity to choose United States
senators by direct vote, was read In
the Senate and passed. This resolu-
tion Is In accordance with the platform
OF both parties, which recognize the
desire OF the people to have direct baf
lot on this office.
Senator Lewis bill exempting prop
erty owned by churches from taxation
was first considered by the committee
of the whole. The object of this meas
ure is to exempt the buildings. or
houses occupied by churches or clergy
men from ordinary taxation. up to q
valuation OF 5000. Over that amount
the ordinary taxation would apply.
Senator Wood amended to make the
amount exempted $1,000 instead OF $5.-
900. A compromise was agreed upon
at $4,000. and with this figure the bill
was recommended for passage.
The members of the State Agricul-
tural College faculty, VINO hold posi-
tions at the experiment station. and all
experts in horticulture and entomology
in the Fort Collins district, are using
every opportunity to say good word
for House bill No. 81. introduced by
Representative Hoyt of Mesa county.
| This hill has for its object the protec-
/ ton OF the horticultural interests OF
the state. II 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
entonologists OF the agricultural col
lege. state entomologist, and makes It
his duty to look after the enforcement
of the inspection law within the state.
| IL 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
aioners in each county. The bill fur
ther provides for the inspection of all
the nurseries within the state for the
purpose OF preventing them from send
ing out to purchasers any dangerous
insects or diseases that may be found
in them. The nurseries of the country
are the centers for the distribution OF
the insect pests and diseases that are
| troublesome to the fruit growers. and
IL is hoped in this way to largely pre-
vent the spread OF these pests in Colo1
RADIO. Colorado fruit growers are able
now to produce high quality of fruit
and TO ship II long distances to eastern
and southern markets and still sell
1t at profit. because they do not have
to contend with so many of the or
chard enemies. II apple scab. bitter
rot. plum curcuilo. San Jose scale, the
gypsum and brown tail moths and
many others of the eastern pests
were to become established in home
orchards, the price of fruit lands and
the profits that fruit growers are now
able to make in the business of fruit
growing would be greatly reduced
The college pe~iie hope that every
fruit grower who is thoroughly alive
to the fruit growing interests o: the
state will do what he can to secure
the passage of this bill
Representative Laton's libel bill,
which has passed the House. was con-
sidered by the Senate Monday. II 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 II down." he said. this bill has
for its purpose the muzzling OF tho
press am in favor of free press and
free speech, and shall not lend my
voice to vote away the liberty OF any
one. ! don't think the Sixteenth Cen
hou hsa
yet where we are ready to vote away
the right of free speech. Senator
Scott moved that the enacting clause
be striken 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. "lf 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 corruption Of that state.
and II the bill had a meaning 1t was to
say that there should be no criticism OF
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. Il believe in .
free press and free speech, and let
the people be the jury" he said.
That's all I 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