The daily sentinel., 1913-02-20
GOSSIP OF THE
LEGISLATURE
Sentinel Special Service.

Sentinel Special Service.
Denver, Feb 20.-The reappor-
tionment of the present legislative
districts in Colorado IS giving mem
bers of the Legislature much concern
at this time. There are several bills
of this kind before the general as
sembly. and 1t is Questionable which
one will be accepted as the proper
measure. In the senatp are three and
the same number 'laS been offered
in the house. The bill most gener-
ally believed to be the best is thai of
Representative Vogt, and If one is
passed ii is believed Il will be this
one. A committee IN the house has
had consideration OF the three bills
TO dissect them to the cad that the
most acceptable measure may be re-
ported out.
The Vogt bill is believed to cover
the most important features. AS
nearly as possible, $4,000 population
is the basis for senatorial represen-
tation and $4,000 for representatives
Present senators shall serve out
elected from the reapportioned dis
tricts.
The evidence adduced as result
of the joint Legislative Investigation
of conditions in the northern Colora-
do coal fields, located in Boulder
county, and where a strike has ex-
listed for nearly three years. indicates
that there is cause for the inquiry.
Testimony offered at the inquiry
shows that the average wage per
year of the miners in this district is
from $3.50 to $500, and the increase
of wages in practically every coal
mining state has been as much as
2 per cent, while the wage paid the
Colorado miners has remained the
same. The northern Colorado min
ers asked for raise of only X per
cent, which brought on the trouble
resulting In the walk out. The evil
dence further shows that the opera
tors have increased he wages of the
non-union miners Imported to break
the strike 10 per cent. Since the
inquiry began it has developed that
IL will take at least q week in which
to complete taking Of testimony and
reach decision.
Practically all the railroads in the
state are bitterly fighting the bill
introduced by Senator Tierney pro-
viding for an accounting of the mon
eys paid into the medical fund which
is intended to be used for the bene-
fit of all railroad employees. Some
of the roads are circulating petitions
among its employes protesting
against the passage Of the measure.
The employees are now assessed from
SOC to 5 per month, according to the
salary received to maintain this fund.
Another provision of the Tierney bill
is that the employes of the reads
shall have representation on the
board of control of the benefit fund.
The two houses of the general as
sembly are being importuned by the
Grand Junction trades unions to de-
feat the bill providing for the Gre
alton of the new coIiity of Ammons,
named in honor of the governor. The
protest is signed by representatives
of some 700 or 500 families. the
heads of which belong to / 8 labor
unions in Mesa county. The claim
advanced in the protest declares that
conditions would not justify any such
proposed division of Mesa county
The bill has for several weeks been
slumbering on county and county
lines. and it is hardly probable 1t
will be taken up on the floor of the
mousse Ior some Tine yet, II ever.
With pronounced opposition to the
dividing of. counties in this general
assembly, there Is little likelihood
that the Ammons or any other new
county bill will get favorable read
ings.
The resolution Of Senator West
which has for its object the encour-
agement of railroad building in Col
orado and the encouragement of ir-
rigation canal ditch and reservoir
propositions under individual owner
ship. is rapidly growing in favor with
members of the senate and the
house. Tho resolution provides for
exempting these enterprises that
have their inception during the year
1912 from taxation for a period of
10 years. The resolution was re-
ferred to the committee ON constitu-
tional amendments,
The putting into operation of the
provisions of the resolution would
mean, it is claimed, great prosperity
in Colorado within the next few
years. 1t would result in giving an
impetus to the building up of the
state, and the belief is that such ac-
ton should be taken by the legisla-
ture which would encourage invest