The new era., 1911-02-23
COLORADO
LEGISLATIVE
Would Build Moffat Tunnel.
o o I N G s

of the Hoosac tunnel, before him, Rep.
resentative Gaines M. Allen cut cleac
from all legal Instructions which
might have been thrown across his
pathway when he drew up the bill pro-
viding for state construction OF the
Moffat tunnel. Representative Allen
had the legislative and judicial guides
of Massachusetts, to follow in the prep
aration of his bill, and he affirms tina.
direct constitutional authority for the
construction of the Moffat tunnel By
the state of Colorado is in no sense
necessary to validate the act. In the
method of payment for construction
work he carefully followed the system
employed in the construction OF
bitches and reservoirs for irrigation.
The bill appropriates $5,O00,00O for the
construction of the tunnel, or SO much
thereof as may be necessary.
The Slatery bill provides for the
creation of a State Auditing Board.
One of the most important county
division matters now before the Leg
lature is the one proposed to be Gre
ated by the three precincts of Rouse.
Pryor and Midway. 1t would also in
clude the mining camps Of Delagua.
Hastings, Berwind, Tobasco, Tercio
and other coal camps to the number
of twenty-seven, centering about Agui-
lar, which town desires to be the coun'
ty seat The people Of Aguilar have
pledged $4,000 for the erection OF
court house and Jail. The proposed
new county has population OF $4,000.
In the mater of local option Sena.
tor Hecker presented two bills to
amend the present liquor laws by CIV
ing to all incorporated town and cities,
which have population of 1000 and
under, the absolute right to pass upon
the "wet" and dry" question, regard
less of whether action was taken by
the county in which the municipalities
are situated. Under these bills, by a
majority vote, saloons could be con-
Quoted in cities Notwithstanding the
county, as whole, voted dry"
The Dowd bill, directing the state
treasurer to repay to the internal i'm
provement fund $150,0O0 and interest
which was borrowed from the fund
for the capitol building fund In 1891,
passed the house.
A bill by Representative Durfee ap'
propriating $4,000 for the mainte-
nance of summer normal schools at
Greeley and Gunnison, was referred to
the committee on appropriations.
Favorable report was made by the
committee of the House on Senator
Hits bill providing that unexpended
balances of appropriations be trans
ferred to the respective funds from
which they were drawn.
That a state tax commission is sore
ly needed to alter, revise or amend the
revenue laws of Colorado is the opin-
ion of Senator Cros, who introduced
a bill providing for the submission OF
a constitutional amendment for this
purpose at the next general election.
The Van Tilborg bill provides that
the deputy labor commissioner shall
be state boiler inspector and shalt
have the appointment OF four deputy
inspectors, who shall receive S. per
day and mileage in the sum of $50 pei
month.
All of the sacred paramounts," be-
queathed by the late extra session to
the Eighteenth General Assembly for
enactment, including registration, pub
lie utilities commission, bank guaran'
tee, headless ballot and anti-pass
measures. have been introduced and
docketed in either House or Senate.
Senator Cary's bill to re-establish
the Ninth judicial district was passed
on third reading. This act was amend
ed by excluding Jackson county from
the re-established district, leaving tina.
county as a part of the Eighth dis
trict.
A commission of public corrections,
to take over the control of the peni-
tertiary, state reformatory insane
asylum, industrial schools for boys
and girls, state homes for men,
tai and physical detectives, as
we'll as to exercise paroling and cor
rectional functions, is the object of
bill in the preparation of which Sen
ators Carringer. Stephen and Hits
collaborated.
The Van Tilborg bill seeks to pro-
hibit employers from demanding OF
their employees, present or prospective,
that they renounce membership in la
bor unions and other organizations as
a condition Of employment 1t is known
as an anti-blacklist measure. There
are doubts as to its constitutionality'
II this bill passes the House and is
signed by the governor, it means an
end to all such organizations as the
Cripple Creek Mine Owners Associa'
ton, at least in regard to the enforce
ment by such associations OF the cara
system of employing labor which has
been in vogue in the Cripple Creek
district for the last seven years. But
a number of senators expressed the
opinion that the act will not stand the
test of the law.
eroy, no Tl1iDO{S art