The new era., 1910-08-18

order. simultaneously Lieutenant Gov
ernor Fitzgerald, presiding officer OF
the Senate, pounded the gavel for or
der in the upper branch and the ex-
traordinary session of the Seventeenth
General Assembly was then under
way.
After the employees Of both houses
were sworn in the senators marched
over to the House chamber. where the
message of Governor Shafroth was
read, which is in full as follows:
To the Senators and Representatives of
the Seventeenth General Assembly of
the State of Colorado:
Gentlemen:
The majority of the members Of this
General Assembly were elected by the
people upon platform. which declared
In favor of certain measures. to be en-
acted at the regular session OF this
Legislature. The other members were
elected upon platforms that contained
some OF the same promises. Bills COW
ering each of the platform pledges
were duly introduced. but all failed OF
passage.
The fact that the General Assembly
adjourned without enacting into law
single one of the pledges upon which
Its members were elected, and the fact
that those pledges could not be enact
| ed into laws at a regular session. as
accompanied the call for this extra ses-
| sion, constitute such an extraordinary
occasion as justifies the calling OF
| special session of the General Assem-
bly,. Besides a law amending the con-
stitution SO as to permit the initiation
passed now. could not be voted upon
until the November election In 1875
the Headless Ballot could not become
fan election Of 1912; The Railroad s,.,
weeks ago was declared unconstitu-
tional and such commission is urg-
| emily needed.
| 1 have always believed that II the
members of this General Assembly
could convene for the purpose of eon5 %
they were elected. and If they knew
that a majority, of the people of the
ses u nao tba tSey wouid
not hesitate to vote in favor of the
same. knowing that the people in
| pressed themselves In behalf of some
of the platform measures. and that the
st stae tee hp
which officials are elected to office
are sacred and should be fulfilled feel
members Of this General Assembly
will vote in favor of the enactment of
made in 10 the peopie WIN It must be borne
In mind that there is at stake in these
| measures most vital principles of self
of the pledges. this General Assembly
| history of the state of Colorado.
The creation of a State Immigration
Bureau and of State Highway Com
structive legislation, which must pro-
duce enormous benefits to Colorado.
The act
state itself, from contributing to po-
litical campaign expenses will in the
| and thereby make elections purer and
more satisfactory to the people,
to exaHe and
counts and expenditures of, all state
salutary effect and largely prevent
graft and extravagance.
The laws which haye for THEIR OBJ
delinquent children. and the laws deal
Ing with penitentiary convicts are the
The law establishing the Home for
name institution for the care % of our
unfortunates and meets with tIe ap-
proval of all.
acts stand to your credit,
The appropriations which were made
essn and sush nHd
durable brick and stone buildings has
never been equalled by any three pre-
There has been. or is now being con-
structed , from your appropriations,
cost OF each t@o baiSngs
and a central heating and lighting
pIaannta aoa at the Tniiversity; iy at cost It. of
100000 building and plant at the
900; building at the Home for Mental
Detectives. at a cost Of $4,000; build
nfS of OF of hii in
to accommodate the exhibits of the
State Historical Association: .,oo now ooni in
buildings at the Home for. Dependent
children; Ia at 9 cost cost Of $1,000: bYildings iii,
Industrial school for Boys. at a cost
Of $4,000; a building; with artesian s
trial School for Girls, at a cost of So;
900: the completion of a building and
at of ena eost at at soeo .s bu
Ing at the state penitentiary. at cost:
of $4,000. which could not have been
the completion of building at the
State Reformatory, at a cost of sl45So:
foHd fns less nos than .eooo
In addition. large sums of money for
improvements and repairs at state In
these institutions have also been pro-
vided with larger maintenance funds
than ever before In the history of the
| state.
AS proud as am of these achieve.
ments of this General Assembly ! feel
| that it would be a shame IL such an
excellent record should be marred by
the failure to redeem the pledges made
to the people. 1t is said that promises
which cannot be enforced in law are
more sacred than legal obligations. be,
cause . the, imply confidence an and d
and honor of the person promising: A
| shock to the moral sense. followed by
| a feeling of resentment. occurs when
| electors find that they have been duped
and deceived. Do not let such splen-
did record as Is yours be overshad-
owed by failure to redeem our con-
| tracts Of honor.
Initiative and Referendum.
In my judgment one of the most I'm
| portant of these pledges Is the Initi-
| alive and Referendum Law