The daily sentinel., 1913-02-24
GOSSIP OF The
LEGISLATURE
Sentinel Special Service.

bers of the legislature as to whether
pending measures to which CONNER
cial organizations of the state op-
pose, should be enacted In the in
terest of building up Colorado those
who desire to increase interest in
1 the development of enterprises and
encourage the investment of millions
of dollars in this state, declare that
no stringent laws which might pre-
vent outside capital coming here,
/ should be passed by this general as
sembly. To this end large delega-
/ tion of leading business men from
/ different parts of the state have laid
their views before the members.
Il think this is the turning point
in Legislation for the good of the
people" said Senator George West
I of Durango today discussing the
matter. Senator West says that ad-
verse legislation will have a bad eff
feet on railroads and other corpora
tions to which the people of Colora-
do must look to a certain degree for
material aid in the development of
this vast domain. He said: Too
many reforms seem to be actuating
the action of many members of this
/ legislature, instead of favoring laws
that will encourage commercial de-
velopment all over the state" Only
such laws as will benefit Colorado
/ should be enacted, is his idea of the
I whole affair. We are too slow in
4 calling a halt in the passage of laws
/ that work against the building up of
/ the state said Senator West. but
/ the demonstration made before the
| general assembly Friday last probab-
/ ly will have a salutary effect along
these lines | hope so, at least"
On the other hand there are mem
bers of the general assembly who
think that outsiders have no right to
dictate what sort of laws should be
passed; that the members of the
legislature are the representatives of
the people and have been elected to
represent them in framing of laws,
and their acts should not be ques-
toned.
Opposition is offered to the pro-
posed public utilities measure of
Senators Burris and Van Tilborg be-
cause the claim is made that its pas
sage as now constituted would work
injury and hardship on the railroads,
and this should not be the case. To
this end an effort is being made to
modify some of the more stringent
clauses of the bill. But it is very
doubtful If any material amendments
will be accepted by the legislature.
1t will he taken up again this week
by the senate and pushed through
the upper house. There is also
much opposition to the proposed
bank bill of Senator Van Tilborg for
the same reason the utilities mea-
sure is in disfavor. The claim is
made that its passage will do much
to hamper the usefulness of these
institutions. The main feature to
which bankers object is that proyid-
ing for safeguarding depositors. This
feature is not contained in the Van
Tilborg bill, but is a mart of the
house bank bill. Very little objec-
ton is being made against the Van
Tilborg measure, and it will doubt
less be passed. But the house bill
probably will meet with reverses on
final passage.
The senate has amanded the high
way commission bill by cutting down
the term of the commission from six
to four years, and made the advisory
board five instead of two. as pro-
vided originally. When the bill
was drafted it provided that the
advisory board should be composed
of the governor and state engineer.
The amendment provides that the
governor shall name the five board
members. These with the commits
sioner shall direct the expenditure of
the funds of the highway commission
in the matter of road building. The
bill, it is said will be further amend
ed when it again comes up for con
sideration in the senate.
This measure is considered one of
the most important to the whole
people of the state of any now pend
ing and should be enacted without
any strings" to it. There is hard
ly a probability that the legislature
is willing to in any way cripple the
operation of the law, and II is not
believed the bill will be amended so
as to impair its operation in the in
terest of the people of the different
counties.
Senator Weiland's water defense
bill Will again come up for consid-
Grafton in the senate today. 1t has
been passed by the house The bill
provides for $4,000 with which to
fight efforts of outside states to ap-
propriate the waters of the natural
streams of Colorado, and is mea-
sure of great Importance to the
whole state, Its passage will re
move any objections that State Treas
urer Leddy might now have to honor
ing warrants of the money provided
in the short appropriation bill for
this very purpose The treasurer
has held that the short appropriation
bill was not legally passed and for
this reason has refused to pay over
the money. The pending bill. it is
believed, will reach the governor not
later than Wednesday for his sigma
ture, thus making the $4,000 avail
able Immediately. The appropria-
ton for this measure is placed in the
firs class.
Returns to Denver.
Mrs Hpprv Iiatz Of napunr ,-l, =