The Delta independent., 1917-03-23
A new UTILITIES Bill
REQUIRES CONSENT OF coMMIs.
SION FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
Long Appropriation Measure Present
ed BY Senate Finance Committee
and House Appropriations Com
mittee.
Western Newspaper Union New. Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Denver-The State Senate, by a
vote of % to IA, approved on second
reading the Rogers and Mishou House
bill. which gives to the Public Utili-
ties Commission the power to prevent
the construction OF any new public
utility within the state without the
consent of the commission.
The long appropriation bill for the
expenses of the executive, legislative
and judicial departments of Colorado
for the fiscal years of 1917 and 1918
was advanced on second reading last
week in the House of Representatives.
There was little opposition to the bill,
which represented the efforts of the
finance committee of the Senate and
the appropriations committee of the
House. In fact, the members, instead
of trimming the measure. incorpor
ated an additional $50. 900 for the vari-
GUS departments. This increased the
total. 81 ,S66, 1855, to s1,916,355. or $780,
354 in excess of the long appropria-
tion bill passed two years ago.
Attorney General Leslie f. Hubbard
was allowed $4,000 as an additional
appropriation over his general ex-
penses to conduct the inheritance tax
department. which falls under his su-
pervision
The actual expenses of conducting
the present Legislature are estimated
to be less by sS,725 than was neces-
sary TO conduct the Twentieth General
Assembly. The Legislature will ad-
iourn March oath OF this year. Two
gears ago II was in session until April
10th. The total provided for this year.
exclusive of $4,000 premiums for the
insurance OF state employees under the
Industrial act. IS SlG5.O0O Two years
ago 1t was S173.725. not including an
appropriation OF $4,000 for the work
Of the State Survey Committee.
Although the secretary OF states Of
flee in the last two years has had two
commission merchant inspectors. eac,>
receiving $500 a year. the House de
MED that privilege to Secretary of
State James Il. holland by voting to
retain but one Inspector
An attempt TO vacate the office OF
John Lynch. pure food inspector. by
consolidating his duties with those of
the secretary OF the board of health,
failed The House increased his sal
Rry from $500 to s.. 500 and that OF
the secretary of the health board from
$1,000 to $1,000. The salary OF the
secretaryship under the proposed
amendment in the bill would give him
a salary of $500.
Other increases proposed for state
officers and employees included deputy
superintendent OF public instruction,
tl,s00 to $4,000: chief accountant, sec
retary OF states office, 81. 500 TO s2.-
boo: secretary tax commission. 81. 500
to $1,000: clerk. State Geological Sur
vey. $500 to 81 200
Appropriations for two bureaus
which did not receive state assistance
two years ago are the free travelling
libraries of Colorado, $4,000. and the
State Humane Society. $4,000.
The House received the report of
the committee on appropriations rec
ommending the payment OF the dam
ages suffered during the coal strike
by certain coal mining companies
The report awards to the Southwest
ern Coal Company. Aguilar. s2G.SS7
provided in a bill by Representative
Mishou of Pueblo; s50,990.35 to the
Empire Coal Company. Las Animas
county. provided in bill by Repre-
sentative Bills of Denver. and slS.
$3.50 to the Sunnyside Coal Company
Of Walsenburg. provided in bill by
Representative Rogers of Denver.