The Colorado statesman., 1907-03-16
LEGISLATIVE NEWS and GOSSIP

amendments which give the rate-mak-
ing power and other features of the ma
tional law.
Fetzer's bill providing for constitu-
tional amendment to authorize bond
issue of over 100000 to take up out
standing warrants for the period from
1887 to 1897, was passed by the House
on third reading Monday.
Four bills by Senator Parks. relat-
ing to telephone, telegraph and similar
franchises. occupied most of the time
of the Senate Thursday, bringing on
some heated discussion. All of the
bills were passed on second reading
by narrow majorities.
The House on Tuesday struck out
the enactipg clause Of the following
bills: H. B. 165, Redd, concerning de-
linuuent children; H. B. BOG, FetZer,
to amend the lien laws; H. B. 204, Can
non, for paddle wheel at the mouths
of bitches; H. B. 297. Fetzer, revenue,
The Rittenhouse insurance bill, one
of the longest measures in the present
session, vas read at length and passed
unanimously on third reading by the
Senate. The only material change
made was an amendment Of Senator
Booth fixing the time the act shall go
into effect at December 81, 1907, In
stead of August. This is to give the
companies opportunity to prepare for
the new provisions.
A bill that is being pressed for pas
sage as one that would add to the
progress of agriculture in the state, is
the Taylor bill for a proposed amend
ment to the state constitution exempt
ing from taxation reservoirs built for
serving adjoining land and which are
not used for storage of water for sale.
1t would place reservoirs in the same
position as canals and bitches used
for the same purpose. 1t has passed
second reading in the Senate.
Senator Millard reported for the
committee from both houses appointed
to investigate conditions in the state
house basement, the committee, con-
sisting of himself and Senator Sapp
and Representative Wolaver, Smith
and Bellesfeld The report recon-
mends some important precautionary
measures relative to the books and rec
ords of the state, most of which are
stored in the basement. 1t is feared
that there are chances for a big fire
some day.
In considering H. B. No. 364, the
House struck out all reference to any
land along the banks of the streams,
thus making it reserve to fishermen
only the beds and banks of natural
streams. In its original form, it had
provided that hereafter the state
should reserve, on all lands sold, the
fishing rights of all streams running
through them, together with the right
of way along banks and beds OF
streams and fifty feet on each side OF
the stream.
The House committee on roads and
bridges has agreed to indefinitely
postpone H. B. 61, introduced by Mr.
Dulin. This is the bill to provide for
the appointment by the governor of a
highway commission of three mem
bers. 1t was indorsed by the good
roads meeting held in Denver. The
Chamber of Commerce and all the
commercial bodies of the state were
also interested in the measure, having
advocated it 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 it on
the Senate list. Doctor Dulin stated.
in speaking of the action, that the in
fiuence that killed the bill came from
the Senate and was so strong that,
though he is chairman of the commit
tee, the majority was against him.
Going into the committee of the
whole Saturday afternoon, with Repre-
sentative Frank l.. Dodge in the chair,
the Republican majority in the House
of Representatives submitted the Re-
publican caucus railroad commission
bill for the Kelly bill. which its author
claimed was modelled after the federal
commission law. The substitution was
by a strict party vote of Al to IT, Nc
Lachlan, Democrat, and Winters, Re-
publican being paired. The vote was
as follows: In favor of the substitu.
ton of the makeshift caucus measure
for the real railroad bill introduced by
Kelly: Adams, Beck. Blainey, Bryan,
Cannon, Cohen, Collins, Dillingham;
Dilts, Dodge, Dolph. Dulin, Fetzer
Frank, Garcia, Graden, Grisham, Har-
bison, Healy, Hickman, Hoyt, Hudgins,
Kelly, Laton, Lines, Morrell, Paddock
Parker, Parrish, Redd, Smith, Stew
art, Tannenbaum, Turner. Werner, Vim.
cent, Watson, Wilder, Wolaver, Young
Speaker Breckenridge. In favor of re
tanning the Kelly bill, said to have been
framed along the line of the Roosevelt
railroad law: Bawden, Bellesfield
Blatchford, Bolsinger, Ebbert, Fall
Hollenbeck, Hurd, Keil. KEN, Law
renee, Lehrritter, Mackenzie, Napier
O'Connell, Rubin, Walker. Absent and
not paired: Bunney, Dray, Farr
Schmidt, Valdez.
While 1000 people stood and sang
the successive stanzas of America
in Marble hall last Tuesday night
Governor Buchtel sat at table
on the platform in front OF
them all and signed Senate Bill
No. 81, introduced by Senator
Parks, making 1t law that August 1st
of 1907. and Angnst 1st of every wear