The Ordway new era., 1910-08-19

OrQeI. SIMULTANEOUSLY Lieutenant 0OS'
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
away.
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 n regular session; as
accompanied the call for this extra ses-
sion. constitute such an extraordinary
occasion as justifies the calling OF a
special session Of the General Assem-
bly,. Besides q law amending the con-
stitution SO as to permit the initiation
and referendum OF measures. unless
passed now, could not be voted upon
until the November election In 1912:
the Headless Ballot could not become
Bency clause at this session. until the
fall election of 1912. The Railroad
Seeks aEa was snss s'nse
tionai and such commission is urs-
emily needed.
have always believed that II the
members of this General Assembly
could convene for the purpose of con-
sstasrng only the pledges Wh,sn xn
that n majority of the people OF the
state of Colorado desired those prom
not hesitate to vote, in favor OF the
same. Knowing that the people In
ppas parts Of the , state have clearly es.
OF the platform measures. and that the
people of the various political parties
which officials are elected 10 office
are sacred and should be fulfilled feel
confiden, that the maturity OF the
will vote in favor OF the enactment of
laws In accordance with the promises
in mind that there is nt stake in these
measures most vital principles OF self
government.
with the exception OF the redemption
OF the pledges. this General Assembly
has made the best record Of any in the
TSe Sl !hs s.a,e M 81
Bureau and OF State Highway Com
mission are examples OF excellent con-
duce enormous benefits to Colorado.
The act pr"hibiting persons other
se se irSm ana nd pn 1ne
litical campaign expenses will In the
future prevent large, corruption funds:
more satisfactory to the people
The Public Examiner Act. with pow
sr to examine and thoroughly investi-
and county offices is bound TO have
saiurtnry effect and largely prevent
The laws which have for their OBJ
5eSt the rescnins and redemption OIL
Ing with penitentiary convicts are the
very best that have been devised byt
The law establishing the Home for
Mental Detectives creates n most hu-
name institution for the care of our
proyal Of ali. "
Many other wholesome and remedial
fhe s'aps sFsa @hcn wer. made
mos. needed; ana such showing, in
never been equalled by any three pre-
Tlous General Assemblies combined.
There has been. or Ia now being con-
shres Sui,dinss al i the insane %sarSplAtsS Asvinm.
at . co... Of 900 each: two buildings !
and central heating and lighting
plant at the University. at a cost OF
$1I6.09o: building at the State Nor
NAL School at Greeley. at a cost of
state school OF Mines. at a cost OF s75.-
Pefeetiyes. Al a cost Of 15e,ooo; a build
nlson, at cost Of $4,000; building
ss rs SAsIf'ss E! The
buildings at the Home for Dependent
=, 81 the sos sshSo {, 81 the Rsnf fo'n FRA nii%a
Industrial School Tor Boys. at cost
OF $4,000: building. with artesian
trial Sen sehoei fT fer Girls. fe a., " cos, s OF ss
900: the completion of n building and
purchase Of land at ,hs oaS AErieul,%,rS
Ing at the state penitentiary. at a cost
Of $4,000. which could not have been
built by contract for less than $4,000:
State Rcformatory. at n cost OF $l4.50O.
which could not have been built by
In addition. large sums of money for
impr,o,vements improvement, 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 I am Of these achieve
men's me-, Of na ths General hd Assembly; feel
excellent record should be marred by
the failure to redeem the pledges made
to the people. 1t is said that promises
which cannot he enforced in law are
more sacred than legal obligations. be-
cause they. imply confidence and
trust which appeal to the integrity
and honor of the person promising. A
shock to the. moral sense. followed by
feeling of resentment, occurs when
electors find that they have been duped
and deceived Do not let such a 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