The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1910-07-20

was issued for the special session OF
the Assembly. Governor Shafroth also
gave out an address to the people"
regarding the call, and it is under
stood that he will go into details quite
fully in a message to the Assembly
when it convenes.
The governors address is as fol-
lows:
To the People of the State Of Colo
RADIO:
As Governor of the State / have to-
day issued call for a special session
OF the General Assembly of Colorado,
and l deem II proper to state to you
the reasons which impeiIed me to take
that action:
The present officers of THE state and
elected upon platform which made spe-
cific pledges to the people. These pledges
provided for the enactment of the fol-
lowing laws: The initiative and referen-
dun. the straight Australian ballot, the
direct primary. the election of United
States senators by direct vote OF the
the creation OF a public service commits
sion, fashioned after the New York law.
and railroad law which would vest ade-
quate authority in a commission to right
wrongs. and which would prevent the
giving or accepting of free transporta-
ton. All of these measures tend to bring
administrative affairs nearer to the peo-
pie. and hence are essential to good gov
eminent.
Some of these pledges were contained
in the platform Of the other great po-
litical party of this state. In my inaug-
ural address I called the attention of the
General Assembly to the fact that these
pledges constituted contracts with the
people and should be faithfully fulfilled.
Two weeks before the adjournment of
the General Assembly. in message. |
again urged the enactment of these plat
form pledges into law. and stated that
In the event substantial compliance here
with was not made that | would convene
the General Assembly in special session
for the purpose of having IT fulfill these
platform promises. The House OF Rep
covering the subjects: but a number of
Democratic and Republican senators.
sufficient to constitute a majority of the
Senate. failed or refused to pass any OF
the measures.
In view of these facts l regard 1t TO
be my imperative duty to give one more
opportunity to the General Assembly to
redeem these contracts of honor
The constitution OF this state vests the
governor with power. ON extraordinary
occasion. to convene the General Assem-
purpose for winch IL Is to assemble. and
It provides that no business shall
Transacted at such special session other
tnan that specifically named in the proc
lamation.
The very highest duty of public off,
cinis is the fuinIlment OF pledges made
10 OBTAIN oirIce. anu Wnen thty iali OF
refuse to perform that duty. IL Is "A snock
TO the moral sense OF tine people VINO
trusted them There is no way OF rec
ufying the betrayal of such confidence
under our laws.
The failure OF legislators to fulnll sol
emn pledges made TO the people there
lore. alone. IN my Judgment. constitutes
such an extraordinary occasion as war
rants the convening Of special session
OF the Legislature.
IL is absurd to contend that these
measures De enacted at the general
SESSION whicn meets in January next
On account OF tine multiplicity OF meas
ur.s coming before regular session.
special interests are enaUieu to inuuce
members to vote against their pledges
anu then have them Justify such votes
ny claiming That they thereby were en-
abled TO get large appropriations Tor
their respective counties- Many OF these
measures have been introduced and
a G.Ssa IN ss.rnsly ~ mi, s,sae for ,ne
past sixteen years. and yet by reason OF
the persuasive influence Of corporations
and the diverse interests OF the mem
beers OF each assembly they have failed
each time Of passage. IL is only In u
special session. wnen the attention OF
tnat We can mop. to pass these meas
ure-. By reter-nse To tine session laws
OF Colorado II Will be seen that some
OF tine very best legislation now on tine
statute books of tins state were enacted
at special sessions of the General As
Scmbly.
quir.s an amendment to the constitution
and unless passed at this session couId
not be voted on until the November cleo
ton OF 1912
The straight Australian ballot law I'M
less passed with an emergency clause
cannot become operative until the iaii
election OF 1879.
The railroad commission law Of this
state was declared unconstitutional only
a few days ago and there Ii urgent need
Tor such tribunal.
These Instances warrant the calling OF
a special session. but the greatest ne
cess.ty therefor ARISES from the fact
that though pledged. none OF these laws
would likely be passed at regular
session. the situation. therefore. pro-
duces the alternative of an extra session
or no laws
These measures are not partisan In
their nature. They have been enacted In
both Democratic and Republican states.
The direct primary has been enacted
in twenty-six states. the initiative
headless ballot in more than twenty
states. the bank guaranty law in four
states: the public service commission
in New York and other states. and the
railroad commission In every state In the
Union except Utah. Delaware and Colo
RADIO. know of no instance where any
one of these laws has been repealed
These measures Will have tendency to
restore to the citizens those rights which
were Intended bs the trainers OF our gov
eminent to always remain with the peo-
Pile
1t has been contended by the opposing
members OF the General Assembly. as "a
reason for not supporting these meas
ures that the people are not in favor Of
the same. II seems. therefore. proper
that the county conventions Of an the
political parties of this state should ex-
press themselves upon whether these
laws should be enacted ! have the ut
most confidence that no regular conven-
tlon. OF any political party. will advise
the reputation Of platform promises.
Relieving that legislators will truly
represent their constituents when they
fully realize that the people do want
these reforms enacted into laws. I have
the highest hopes that most beneficial
results will conn from the convening OF
this special session OF the General As
sembly. Respectfully.
JOHN F. sHAFRoTH.
Governor.