Semi-weekly herald., 1913-01-06
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS
PROMISED BEFORE ELECTION

INOMIoED DEF ORE hkEN klOEN
DENVER, Jan 2. When the
nineteenth general assembly Of Colo
RADIO assembled at noon Jan /, 1t WAS
expected to enact some of the most
revolutionary Legislation in the history
of the state. The Democrats are In
overwhelming control of both houses
of the Legislature and the progress
sives among them, claiming = major
ity, have promised to fulfill all the
pledges contained in the last Demo-
cratic platform. OF the 100 members
Of the legislature, the Democrats have
" and the Republicans and progres-
sives 2S. In the senate there are "a
Democrats and IL Republicans and
in the house 4s Democrats and II Re-
publicans. In the eighteenth assem-
bly,. the division was: house--Demo-
Gratis 40; Republicans 25; Senate
Democrats rs; Republicans 3.
There is considerable speculation as
to where the Republicans will line up,
on the progressive legislation planned
by the Democrats.
While the majority has not yet
MAPPED out definite program Of leg
islation, it is said that the majority
leaders have agreed in general way
on the measures to be acted upon. The
first important matter to como up will
of course be the election Of two Unit
ed States senatorss. John F. Shat
roth and Charles S. Thomas, having
secured the largest vote In the popular
primary last month, will be chosen
without opposition. Shafroth will get
the long term, succeeding Guggen-
helm, while Thomas will fill the va
cancy caused by the death Of Senator
Hughes.
1t is expected that the two bills
which will require the greatest time
for consideration by the legislators,
will be the reapportionment bills. The
state constitution requites 100 men,
bers of the legislature and the re-
alignment Of the senatorial and rep
resentative districts must be kept
within this number. The reapportion-
ment will be by population and . pro-
tracted struggle is anticipated, ~ the
bills will affect every county in the
state.
In the Democratic program Of leg
islation, the following propositions are
expected to play prominent part:
Public utilities commission construc-
tion of an extensive system Of public
highways, single board of control for
all state institutions, increase in
wages of public school teachers, meas
ures providing greater safety to the
lives Of railroad employees and the
travelling public, proper representa-
ton at the San Francisco exposition,
greater regulation of corporations or
ganized outside of the state but do
ing business in Colorado, amendment
Of the registration law, revision Of
the state banking laws, an anti-pass
law with teeth in it," and an in
crease in the powers of the state rail-
road commission.
In addition to these, which are all
contained in the Democratic platform,
it is expected that individual legisla-
tors will introduce a number Of re-
form measure more or less drastic.
Gov-elect f. NJ. Ammons Is said to
be opposed to a protracted session and
is expected to do everything In his
power to "speedup the legislators,
so that the session will not exceed six
ty days at the outside. Against this.
several legislators declare that short
session will be impossible with the re-
apportionment bills up. Thess predict
that the session will run into April.
While the Democratic majority IL
overwhelming, many predict trouble
during the sessions between the PRO
gressives" and "standpat" factions Of
the dominant party. TIE exact align
ment Of the two factions b unknown
but the progressives claim % In ths
house and 16 in the senate, against
10 standpatters in the house and nine
in the senate.
Gov. Shafroth will retire from a.
flee and Gov. Ammons win stsp h q
Tuesday, Jan lS. On that dAy ShAf-
roth will deliver bis farewell messaes
to the lsgiilatsrs aad Anaeas ~
read his Inaugural eddyeR \. & &