The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-02-09

proposition OF afOrdlng the people an
opportunity to choose United States
senator's by direct vote. was read in
the Senate and passed This resolu-
ton is in accordance with the platform
OF both parties. which recognize the
desire OF the people to have direct BAL
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 a
valuation Of 5000. Over that amount
the ordinary taxation would apply.
Senator Wood amended to make the
amount exempted 81 900 instead Of S5.-
600. A compromise was agreed upon
at $1,000, and with this figure the bill
was recommended for passage.
The State Board OF Pardons met
February LIST, being the first meeting
held since Governor Buchtel became a
member. The board declined to in
terfere with the sentences Of any OF
those applying for pardon, the best
that was granted being that two cases
were laid over to another meeting.
Governor Buchtel does not incline to
granting pardons except in extreme
cases. where more than the ordinary
good reasons are urged In behalf OF the
applicant. The two whose cases will be
given further consideration were:
Howard Fisher. sentenced from Lake
county for burglary and murder; VIII
liam Bell. sentenced in 1902 from
Arapahoe county for murder.
The members OF the State Agricul-
tural College faculty. VINO hold posi-
tons 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. 3l1. introduced by
Representative Hoyt OF Mesa county.
This bill has for its object the protec-
ton OF the horticultural interests OF
the state II is known as the horticul-
tnral inspection bill and provides for
the inspection OF all nursery stock
coming into Colorado for me 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
enton1ologists of the agricultural col
lege, state entomologist, and makee II
his duty to look after the enforcement
OF the inspection law within the state.
1t 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
riA5 hn irC nv
are appointed by the county commits
sioners 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 cut 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
ii is hoped in this way 70 largely pre-
vent the spread of these pests in Colo
RADIO Colorado fruit growers are able
now to produce high quality OF fruit
and 10 ship it long distances TO eastern
and southern markets and still sell
II at a profit. because they do not have
to contend with SO many of the or
chard enemies, II apple scab. bitter
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 people hope that every
fruit grower who is thoroughly alive
to the fruit growing interests OF 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 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 TO
boil it 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 10 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 it was the Penny.
packer" law OF Pennsylvania, which
had for its purpose the covering UP of
the frauis and cOrruDrion ~ that c.o,a
and if the bill had a meaning it 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 yiliied and maligned, he had left
it to the people and his constituents
had done him il, stica Il h..liexa In q