United labor bulletin., 1912-04-11
COAL MlkE BILL NOW
READY FOR ADOPTION
Should Receive the Undivided Sup
port Of Every citNEen---The
Bill in FuN.

The committees from the Vrades and
Labor Assembly, the Farmers'N union and
the Direct Legislation league HAT have
been working for six months on proposed
initiatory legislation directing the, state
land board to mine coal on state Sends
and deliver the coal thus mined to xhe
people at cost, and also bill providing
for a public utilities commission, have
completed the coal bill and it was
adopted by the Direct Legislation league
at the meeting Monday night; the Iegis-
iative committee Of the Farmers union
has endorsed the same, and II will come
before the Trades Assembly at the meet
ing Sunday for the endorsement Of that
body.
Members OF organized labor should
read this bill very carefully and they
Mould let their minds dwell on the great
heits that will accrue TO every citizen
n the state II the bill should become
law. The bill. when passed. will make
the state of Colorado the pioneer in the
mining OF coal The state land board is
at present constituted in such a way
that the proposed enterprise by the state
is certain to be a success from its incep-
ton Although IL will take time to open
and develop mines in the different parts
OF the state. the future seems to hold
nothing greater than the operation OF all
coal mines by the state. Once II can be
shown that the state can operate great
enterprises. then IL will be but short
time until all public utilities will be
taken over and operated by the people.
The amendment to the state constitution
for the state mining OF coal by the state
land board follows:
AN AMENDMENT TO THE coNSTITU-
TION OF THE STATE OF COLO
RADIO TO BE KNOWN AS ARTICLE
XXIL
IL saA he 81 ha nf ha fat.
OF Colorado;
- AYE Constitution OF the State of
colorhEH be and the same is hereby
anne. M by adding thereto an article to
be known as Article XXI, to read as
follows, to-wit:
Section l. In every sale OF lands now
owned or hereafter acquired by the state
of Colorado, surface rights only shall be
conveyed. and all coal. oil. or other min
eral substance OF every kind. excepting
sub-surface water only. shall be reserved
to the state OF Colorado. together with
the rights necessary for the mining. ex-
traction. sale and distribution OF the
coal. oil. or other mineral substance so
reserved. The state board of land com
niisloners are hereby authorized to
lease, mine, extract. sell and distribute
th5 eoal. oil and other substances so re-
served, for and on behalf OF the state OF
Colorado.
- Sec 2 The state board OF land com
missioners shall have the power and au-
thorlty, TO mine coal from lands belong
ing to the state OF Colorado. or from
lands TO be sold with the reserva-
tions contained in Section OF this
article. and 90 sell and distribute
thc same on behalf Of the state;
but such sales shall be with pref
creuce TO actual consumers and at
"a price as near the cost OF production as
may be practicable There shall be in
cludod In the cost Of production. the sum
OF not less than ten cents per ton for
all coal so mined. which shall be paid
into and become part of the school
fund: also n like amount shall be paid
into the treasury of the state. and shall
constitute sinking fund for the pay
ment of bonds. and interest thereon. Is
sued under the provisions of this article.
The board OF state land commissioners
shall have full power to construct such
buildings and purchase and install such
equipment. and TO adopt all rules for the
transaction OF such business as may be
necessary 10 carry into effect the provi-
sicns OF this article II shall be the
duty Of the said board to insure all OF
It's mine employees against accident. the
expense OF which shall be charged as
operating cxepnse. and until otherwise
provided by law.
Sec 3. For the purpose of carrying
the provisions OF Section ? of this arti-
Gle into effect. and when the governor
and the state board OF land commission
ers shall deem II advisable. there shall
be issued the bonds of the state OF Colo.
rado in amount not exceeding s500000.
in convenient denominations. not exceed
ing 81 GOO each. and bearing interest at
the rate of per cent per annum, OF
sbch dates and In such form and matur-
+ 4f,g at such time or times as may be
determined by said board. Said bonds
shall be Issued from to time, and in such
amounts only as may be necessary to
carry into effect the provisions OF this
a<icle and shall be signed by the gov
crnor and countersigned by the state
treasurer and secretary of state with
the seal OF the state affixed. Such bonds
shall not be used or sold for less than
par value. nor sold until after due ad-
vertlsement of such sale. The said bonds
may be redeemed and paid at such times
and In such manner as the said board
may determine
Authority is hereby given for the in
vestment of the school fund In such
bonds.
The proceeds from the sale of any
such bonds and the proceeds from the
sale of coal and all other receipts by the
state land board under the provisions of
this article, shall be paid to and held by
the state treasurer in n separate fund,
to he known as the coal bonds fund. and
shall be paid out only upon the order OF
said board. The said bonds and the In
terest thereon shall be paid from the
proceeds and profits arising from the
operation OF said business, and from
such other sources as may be deter
mihed and appropriated by law. l-egis-
ia1ktf may be enacted to facilitate the
opephtion of this article. but in no way
limiting or restricting the provisions
hereof or the powers herein created.
This article shall be self-executing.
- Sec. T. Each clector voting at said
election and desirous of voting for or
against said amendment shall deposit In
the ballot box his ballot whereon shall
l.. s..rItaon or nrinInd the words "Eor the