The daily sentinel., 1913-01-23
INTIMATE NEWS
Of LEGISLATURE
By DELL :. COBB,)
Special REPRESENTATIVE

bers of the house express themselves
that they oppose increasing appro-
priations, having especial reference
to an amendment to the act estab-
fishing bureau of labor statistics.
The amendment was introduced by
Representative Leftwich of Pueblo
and provides for the naming of an
assistant deputy labor com missioner
whose labors includes assistance in
arbitrating labor troubles. The in
creased appropriation asked for is
81 800 year. The author of the
bill, when he noted opposition to it.
asked for further time to consider
the measure and 1t went over for a
day or so.
Leftwich's bill asking for an addi-
tional appropriation of 81 900 for
the state free employment bureau.
however, went through on second
reading. II was amended in several
particulars, but not materially, after
long debate.
For several years there has been
n question with the board of equali-
Zation as to what method should be
employed in the proper assessment
o. cattle driven from one county to
another, for the alleged purpose of
pasturing, when in reality the move
ment was merely for the purpose of
avoiding taxation. The matter has
been the source of great trouble with
all taxing powers. This situation
now bids fair TO be satisfactorily set
tied by bill that already has been
introduced in the house. Represen-
tative Old of Clear Creek offered the
bill 1t makes provision for levying
taxes against all cattle transferred
from one county to another.
During the investigation of the
matter made by the state board of
equalization last year it was shown
that the state was defrauded out of
thousands of dollars in this manner
The scheme was not only practiced
by the smaller growers of stock. but
by some of the largest concerns in
the state.
There is hardly question but that
the Old bill will be passed without
opposition. although the larger cat
tie companies may make a fight
against it becoming a law.
Another bill already introduced in
the house also is of great interest to
the people of Colorado and should by
all means be enacted into law 1t is
measure giving the state supreme
court power to change or alter rules
of procedure for all courts of rec
ord. The object of the bill is to
expedite court trials which would
dispose of the docketS with less time
and not permit the dockets to ac-
cumulate with cases which drag
along in many instances several
years as has been the case in nearly
every court of the state. Litigants
and attorneys will be strong for the
bill and will probably aid in pushing
it through both houses.
Still another bill having merit that
which prevents reversal of judg-
ment on mere technicalities unless
the rights of party to a suit have
been materially affected.
Both these measures were offered
by Representative Wright of the ju-
dietary committee. fl
The present legislature is going
to consider several election laws. AL
ready there are half a dozen bills in
troduced and reported out for print
ing, while there will be several 9TH
ers take the same course before the
lapse of the 80 days within which
bills may be introduced. Those al |
ready offered are one pertaining to
the Initiative and referendum; one
for providing for the publication of
referred and initiated bills by pam
phlet. similar to the measure killed |
at the Nov. election: three for re- |
districting the state for state sena- !
torial and representative districts /
and reapportioning the ratio of pop |
ulation to govern the election of state /
senators and representatives: one
preventing the use of carriages at
elections. and one providing that any /
political party whose candidate for
governor at the last preceding gem
eral election may have a special tick
ct at the state primaries.
Speaker Skinner is to introduce a /
bill apportioning Colorado into four
congressional districts. And it is |
said that the Skinner measure will |
be really bonafide bill. while sew