The Elbert County tribune., 1911-02-17
COLORADO
LEGISLATIVE
p OF N G S
Would Build Moffat Tunnel.


With the Massachusetts statutes and
decisions, relating to the construction
of the Hoosac tunnel, before him, Rep
resentative Gaines NJ. Allen cut clear
from all legal distractions which
might have been thrown across his
pathway when he drew up the bill pro-
vfding 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 thai
direct constitutional authority for the
construction of the Moffat tunnel b.
the state Of Colorado is in no sense
necessary to validate the act. II
method of payment for constr
work he carefully followed the
employed in the constructs
bitches and reservoirs for irri
The bill appropriates s5,000,0OO #
construction of the tunnel, or SO
thereof as may be necessary.
The Slatery bin provides for
creation of a State Auditing Boa
One of the most important G
division matters now before the
Iature is the one proposed to b
ated by the three precincts of I
Pryor and Midway. 1t would al
elude the mining camps Of Del
Hastings, Berwind, Tobasco, I,
and other coal camps to the nur
of twenty-seven, centering about
lar, which town desires to be the
ty seat. The people of Aguilar
pledged 1000 for the erection
court house and Jail. The propo
new county has a population Of 14,C~
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 a 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 a whole, voted dry"
The Dowd bill. directing the state
treasurer to repay to the internal i'm
provement fund s150,O00 and interest
which was borrowed from the fund
for the capitol building fund in 1891.
passed the house.
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 state tax commission is sai
ly needed to alter, revise or amend tn
revenue laws of Colorado is the m
ion of Senator Cros, who introd1e
a bill providing for the submission
a constitutional amendment for
purpose at the next general elect
The Van Tilborg bill provides Ii
the deputy labor commissioner
be state boiler inspector and s.
have the appointment of four dep
inspectors, who shall receive $5
day and mileage in the sum of $50
month.
All of the sacred paramounts,"
queathed by the late extra session T.
the Eighteenth General Assembly for
enactment, including registration. pub
lie utilities commission, bank guaran
tee, headless ballot and anti-pa5
measures. have been introduced a.
docketed in either House or Senate
Senator Cary's bill to re-establisr
the Ninth judicial district was passed
H. ,f,..J Al,
ed by excluding Jackson county from
the re-established district, leaving tha.
county as a part of the Eighth dis
trict.
A commission of public corrections,
to take over the control of the peni-
tentiary, state reformatory insane
asylum, industrial schools for boys
and girls, state homes for men-
tai and physical detectives, as
well 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
Dor 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-
tion. at least in regard to the enforce
ment by such associations of the card
system of employing labor which has
been in vogue in the Cripple Creek
district for the last seven years. But