The Raymer enterprise., 1917-01-18

Grafton legislation needed to make this
law effective.
Make Minimum Law Effective.
The Nineteenth General Assembly
enacted minimum wage law for wom-
en- and minors. 1t has never been en-
forced owing to lack of funds to
carry out the provisions Of the law.
We recommend to your consideration
q suffictent appropriation TO make this
law effective.
business Methods for Land Board.
AT the reccat election the people
adopted an initiated measure authorlz-
ing the loanng of the school fund on
farm lands. The duty OF administering
this loan is lodged with the state board
Of land commissioners. The fund now
to be handled Is In excess of $4,000, 600.
In the course OF time this fund will be
much larger Under this board Is also
the leasing and safe Of more than a.
1000 acres OF state lands. In view Of
this very large estate. which Is rapid
iy increasing In value, 1t is imperative
fected along the lines OF modern busi-
ness, capable OF Its administration To
effect this. well-considered legislation
Will be required and also an appropria-
tion from the general fund OF the state
TO pay the salaries Of the clerks and
employees and the expenses Of the
board.
Consider Workmen's Compensation.
AS to the workmens compensation
law, consider the questions OF Increased
benefits, the supervision OF its medical
system by the Industrial commission.
the employment Of the partially dis
abled, present restriction upon the
state fund, the payment of claims for
compensation out Of any and every
part OF the fund. the requirement Of
special license from the industrial COM
mission as well as from the commits
sioner OF insurance. to all stock
companies transacting compensation
insurance business and the power In
the industrial commission. as well as
the commissioner of insurance, to re-
woke the license. power in the commits
sion to determine the form OF policies
and supervision by II Of the application
Of rates established by 1t to the various
risks insured; protection against dan
ger of loss through self-insuring en-
ployers; also the question of the uncer-
tainty in construction in the workmen's
compensation act, All Of these Ques-
tions. however, should only be consid-
cred after full notice to parties inter-
ested and full hearing.
Added Duties for Industrial Board.
The industrial relations law confers
upon the Industrial commission not
only the power to enforce the work.
mems compensation act, but likewise
to superintend and regulate In various
ways the other relations between en-
ployer and employe. The commission
operating under this law ought to
prove a tremendous influence for good
In the industrial affairs OF our COM
monwealth.
One Of the most important and con-
structive provisions In this act relates
to the power OF the Industrial commits
sion to maintain Industrial peace as be-
tween the employer and the employe.
To promote this end the commission Is
given power to investigate industrial
disputes and during this time the en-
ployer Is forbidden to lock out the EN-
ploye and the employe is forgidden
to go on strike. In order to prevent
possible abuse and to not Interfere too
long with the liberty OF each side to
take such measures OF relief as the law
permits. limit snouid be set upon the
period Of time to be consumed by the
commission in the investigation OF any
particular Industrial dispute.
Another amendment Is ont providing
that the state at its own expense shall
furnish and maintain few we'll
equipped rescue cars to save the lives
OF workmen entombed in mines, the
control Of which should be under the
Industrial commission.
The law providing for the Public
Utilities Commission and the commits
sion acting hereunder lave been Of
invaluable service to the. public and
to the people Of the state OF Colorado.
Material amendments should be made
TO the law under which this commis-
sion Is organize, |, charging lis powers
and promoting Is efficiency.
Public Printing Law Obsolete.
The statutes pertinent TO public
printing were passed years ago. They
employ terms no longer In use by
printers, II is said that it would be
absolutely impossible, under the
changed conditions for the state print
ing commissioner to follow the letter
of the statute under which he Is sup
posed to act.
1t Is further said that a vast amount
of unnecessary printing is done under
our present law. These matters are
referred TO your wise consideration.
Protect Public Mineral Lands.
The state, school and other trust
funds hold several hundred thousand
acres OF land which are chiefly valu-
able for the minerals beneath them.
AT the present time these minerals
are sold on a royalty basis and the
revenue put into the income fund and
used for general expenses. The inter-
ests OF the state and Its school chill
dren demand legislation which will
protect this fund for the purpose for
which Ii was intended.
Judicial Districts Need Revision.
The judicial districts OF the state
should be rearranged, the act to take
effect two years hence; thus the busi-
ness Of the district courts can be d.
vided up to give each judge an equal
amount OF work.
Other Legislation.
Time forbids going into detail as to
some other matters which deserve
your consideration and action. such as
a pure seed bill. an appropriation for
a geological survey. and appropriation
for the Bureau Of Child and Animal
Protection and also an appropriation
for the completion of the Fall River
road, either specifically or In connec-
tion with other highway matters.
budget system Urged.
We suggest for your earnest con-
sideration the adoption of the neces-
sary legislation for putting In force
the budget system. for the expenditure
of all moneys required for maintaining
the government and the Institutions
of the state.
Heavy taxation comes from local lev
les. not the state levy. From the state
levy, provision for these charges Is
made. An additional mill would be
safely within the constitutional limit
and yet would produce the magnificent
sum of s1,2ll 900. The burden, II 1t
can be called such, would be but a
piitance to each taxpayer: $3.50 to a
property OF $500. S. to a holding OF
$4,000 500 upon property OF the value
Of 100000. While considerste OF the
taxpayer's burdens and rights. let US
not hesitate to increase the levy II nee
essary to our duty as sovereign state.
Let us wisely and patrioticaliy do our
part to give this commonwealth OF
magnificent undeve!oped resources. OF
public-spirited progressive citizenship
ha nj M Eh 10 laA To m
mand In the sisterhood OF states.