The Elbert County tribune., 1917-08-03
WHAT THE WAR SESSION OF
THE TWENTY-FIRST IS DOING

lnr IWGNll-flH5l IL UUlWG
Without any of the usual Iegisla-
tive fiubdub or the customary jockey
ing for advantage in the organiza-
ton of house or senate, the special
session OF the Twenty-hrst general
assembly is already well on its way
toward a record for briefness of de-
liberations and amount of work done.
Governor Gunter's call for the ex-
ira session was clear and concise II
told the legislators what was wanted
gave list of subjects to be debated
and settled. and then stopped. Under
the constitution the lawmakers may
only consider such subjects as We're
named in the call. And only war is
sues We're named. thus shutting on
any wierd rambles into the realms OF
legislative fancy.
The senate and the house are
friendlier than in the past Neither
branch seems determined to exercise
superiority over the other Peren-
nial chickering's for place and patron
age have been cast aside. Indeed,
there is scant patronage and few
places. Most of the work is being
done by men ana women from the
various state departments. Their
services are contributed by their de-
partments; they remain on the pay
rolls of those departments. drawing
no extra remuneration from the leg
islature. This Will make for another
record in economy and establish
precedent which might well be fol-
lowed by future regular sessions OF
legislatures.
Most of the war measures demand
ed by Governor Gunter have been in
troduced in the house of representa-
tiyes. This lower body has already
passed a number of bills which have
been sent to the senate. These may
be amended after debate by the up
per body. but the teeth will be left
allowed to get by Many of the sena-
tors seem disposed to get rid of long
speeches which viii make good read
ing for their constituents, but in the
end all of the needed laws, in one
form or another, will be written into
statutes. s
The house has already either
passed or shown an undisputed dis
position to pass the following meas
ures:
Declaring food a public article or
public utility and putting its conser-
yation and equitable distribution un-
der the control of the state public
utilities commission.
An appropriation TO cover the ex
pense in 1916 of mobilizing the state
guard for services on the Mexican
border.
Creating a department of safety for
the organization and control of
home guard to do duty in protecting
railroads, reservoirs, large factories
and quasi-public properties after the
present Colorado National guard has
been mustered into the federal army
for service outside the state. This
department will be under a superin-
tendent and composed of about 500
men.
Giving Governor GuEter power TO
cooperate with the United States
government in any federal plans for
the production, conservation and dis
tribution of food.
An antitrust law aimed to stop
the boarding of food and the illegal
control of prices.
An appropriation of $4,000 for
the state war council and other com
mittees which have been working
without funds until the legislature
could convene.
Two bills providing for an in
creased but equable tax on all do
nestle and foreign corporations do
ing business in Colorado. This plan
was worked out by Secretary of State
James r. holland, and the amounts to
be collected are based on the capital
ization of the corporations. Through
these new laws about 100000 will
be raised annually-slifficient to re-
tire within eight or ten years any
bonds which the legislature may au-
thorize for war purposes. Even the
corporations say the plan is fair, and
some of the largest of them are heart
lily in favor of the bill
An appropriation OF $4,000 for
the maintenance of the Soldiers and
Sailors Home at Monte Vista. This
item was overlooked by the regular
session. so Governor Gunter included
IL in his call for the special session.