The Delta independent., 1907-03-22

In the House Monday, Mr.. O'Conncll
made speech In support of his bill.
providing for a constitutional amend,
ment to make smelters TO be public
utilities Mr.. O'Conncll charged that
the surltcrs annually took hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars OF the value OF
ore and made no report to the pro
ducers OF that ore. He also attacked
an interview which was credited to
Simon Guggcnhcim two years ago. In
which the latter gave figures on the
results to the miners of ore sold TO
smeltcrs. His argument was that the
smcltcrs should be declared public
utilities. that rates for smclting ores
should be fixed by public commits
sion. An extended reply was made by
Mr.. Dolph. who quoted from the re
ports OF numerous investigators to
show that ill.advised legislation
against trusts has resulted In making
the trusts stronger. At the conclusion
OF the debate. which took up all OF the
afternoon, Mr.. Dolph moved that the
enacting clause be removed from the
bill. Carried.
The Elsncr collection OF minerals Is
to be removed from the charge of the
state unless II Is paid for within II
short time. The collection Is valued at
SIS 900. and Is believed to be the most
extensive and valuable collection OF
Colorado minerals ever gotten to-
ge,her when Harry a. Lee was com
missioner OF mines for the state he Sc
cured the collection on an arrangement
made whereby the state was to ac.
auire ownership. He paid Mr.. Elsner
81 800 on account. but the balance has
never been paid. When Mr.. White
took the Office Of commissioner OF
mines he kept on with the work of try
ing to raise the balance due on that
collection. and also to pay for the
grand display of Mollie Gibson ores
now with the bureau. The latter. like
the Elsner collection. IL unique among
displays and can never be duplicated.
A bill has been introduced In the pres.
ent session OF the Legislature to ap-
propriatc $4,000 for the purchase OF
the two collections. Mr.. White is es.
pecially anxious to have the bill en-
acted. as the specimens named have
won Ave first premiums at ms many
Worlds Fairs for Colorado.
The Bardwell bank Investigating
committee appointed to Investigate
three of Dcnver's failed institutions
and to make recommendations for n
law that would safeguard deposItors in
private banking institutions and build.
Ing and loan associations. reported it's
findings with n set OF recommendations
that will undoubtedly be carried into
law. The report criticiscs the conduct
Of the Denver Savings Bank from the
time application was made for n re
ceiver until that receiver closed his
accounting with deposltors; but the
criticism IL neither harsh nor the re-
suit of partisanship. II calls attention
to the manner In which the application
was made and granted, involving uucs-
tionnble methods. and the committee
Is of the opinion that the cost of ad.
ministration was too high. or the ns.
signeeship OF the Western Bank, there
Is some criticism and not little
praise: and praise is given the conduct
to date OF the affairs of the Fidelity
Savings Association. Recommenda.
tions are put forward by the commit.
tee that II adopted ns a statute will nut
savings banks, state banks and trust
companies on secure footing and re-
store confidence In such institutions,
Publicity and supervision are called
for and savings banks should be kent
as such and not as half savings. half
commercial. Stricter requirements re-
garding the use OF building and loan
associations funds nre urgently adyo.
Gated by the committee.