The daily sentinel., 1912-05-16
IS
CLEAR 4 HIS
REA@ Ems
He States Why 1t Is Not Advisable
to Call an Extra Session of the
Legislature to Consider the
State Highway Matter.
Sentinel Special Service.

Sentinel Special Service.
Denver, May 16.-No man in the
state of Colorado regrets more deep
ly the fact that the alleged defects
in house bill 200 made 1t necessary
for the state supreme court to rule
that 1t was unconstitutional than
Governor Shafroth. is the statement
he made today. and the chief execu-
tive would have been pleased had the
decision of the court been other
than against the measure. But he
does not now believe it advisable to
call an extraordinary session of the
legislature for the purpose of enact
Ing law that would make IL pos
sible for the state to turn over to
the highway commission the distri-
button of approximately half a mill
ion dollars Immediately and some
$25O,000 to s35O,0OO annually
thereafter; for the improvement of
the public highways in this state.
The governor gives as his objection
to an extra session for this purpose
that there is no assurance that the
legislature would accomplish the OBJ
1ects for which 1t would be assem-
bled. and the further reason that
should speciaf session be authoriz-
ed very little time would be gained
In passing the measure before the
next general election. at which time
the bill could be initiated, and more
than likely would carry by an over
whelming majority.
Under the present situation, an ex-
ira session could or would not be
called by the governor at least until
after the meeting in Denver May
"a, of the advocates of the good
roads proposition at which time 1t is
proposed to petition the governor for
the extra session. 1t would then be
not less than week or more be-
fore the special session proclamation
would be issued for calling together
of the legislature. One in session
there is no positive assurance that
the work would be rushed through.
The chances are two to one that the
bill would not be enacted into law
within months time. possibly lon
ger, and that when the session end
ed under the statutes the bill would
not become operative until 90 days
had elapsed which would be some
where near the LIST of October. With
these conditions, as well as several
others. confronting the people of the
state. the governor believes il would
be unwise for him to assemble the
legislature in extra session. There
need be no apprehension that he will
do so, because he emphatically de-
clares that he will not do so. Not
a single county commissioner to date
has petitioned the governor to take
such action, and until this has been
done there is no probability that he
will act in the premises. There has
been current report that the govern
n IL
from county commissioners to call
the extra session but all such rumors
are false, says the governor.
Governor Shafroth. further discuss
ing the matter said that there was
no way in which he could limit the
subjects TO be considered by an extra
session. and that if one were called
other measures might be considered
besides the good roads bill, and that
more than likely. if the same tactics
were pursued as in the last session. a
number of pork barrel measures
would be pushed through The cleo
tion of United State senator also
might be taken up which is not. spe-
officially state issue. Besides, a>bilI
of the character proposed, could not
be passed with an emergency clause
because of the fact that 1t is not in
the nature of state institution; so
there is no possible way by which
such measure could be enacted by
a special session of the legislature
to make it at once effective
So the governor believes that
nothing could be gained by a special
session, and that the better method
for getting quick action would be by
initiating bill which would be mi
nus the pork barrel features.