The Colorado statesman., 1919-01-25
OVER THOUSAND BILLS
TIME CUT FOR INTRODUCTION
SMALL EFFECT.
A mong Measures Presented Are
Many Important to Devel-
opment.


lators had hoped to be spared the task
of considering like number, but the
total came within a few bills of those
in the last Legislature.
Many of the measures introduced in
the night session included the admin
istration measures of Republicans who
were inducted into Office and who had
but one day in which to present their
issues.
The measures included a $20,000,000
program for good roads, soldiers set
tlement relief bills, the re-establish-
ment of state survey committee,
blue sky law, budget system of ex-
penditures, free medical aid for sol
diers injured in war, and many other
bills touching upon important phases
of reconstruction work.
The eradication of tuberculosis
among cattle in Colorado is the aim
of bill introduced in the Legislature.
The bill has the support of the United
States Bureau of Animal Industry.
The bill proposes to give to owners
of herds absolutely free from the dis
ease certificates permitting them to
ship cattle to other states without
further testing. 1t is hoped the bene-
fits allowed to owners of accredited
herds will induce all owners to take
steps to stamp out the disease among
their cattle. A yearly appropriation
of $4,000 is provided in the bill. An
inspector is to be appointed to give all
his time to the study of the problem
and the eradication of the disease
among the animals.
There are several measures pending
in the General Assembly which are
held to be constructive in character
and are backed by financial, indus
trial, economic and moral forces to the
limit. These are: The $20,000,000
bond bill for the construction of public
highways by which the state will be
authorized to float fifty-year bond is
sue, a " per cent interest, to construct
network of standard roads through
out Colorado utilizing the labor of
thousands of men who would be other
wise unemployed. The bill to enable
the state to take over and operate the
Meffat line and construct a connec-
tion with the Denver & Rio Grande at
Dotsero and to drill tunnel through
James Peak. The "blue sky" law
aimed at the development of Colo
RADIOS resources along legitimate lines
by the elimination of the wild-catter.
The elimination of boards, commits
sions, bureaus which are a useless ex-
pense to the state; the consolidation
of other boards, departments, bureaus
centralize authority and responsible
ity. The abolition of the Public Utili-
ties Commission. Social legislation,
including public health measure; the
establishment of a psychopathic hos
pital; extension of the jurisdiction of
the juvenile court. Providing for
geological survey as a necessary pre-
liminary to booming the metalliferous
mining industry. With this measure
may be grouped measures to enable
the state to make effective bids for de-
sirable immigration and the develop
ment of its present non-taxable, nom
productive agricultural and mineral
wealth.
The so-called teachers tenure bill,
providing for three-year probation
period for teachers in Colorado, is
again up for legislative consideration.
This bill passed both houses of the
Legislature during the last session,
but was vetoed by Governor Gunter.
Senator Napier is the sponsor of a
bill which provides that moneys paid
into the State Treasury from inherit
ance tax receipts, aside from what is
required in the work of collecting
those revenues, shall be placed in
the state highway fund. This bill is
one of three endorsed by the Colorado
Joint Committee on Good Roads Leg
islation.
Senate Bill No. 216, by Senator
Hattenbach, aims to create an educa-
ton loan fund for soldiers in Colo
RADIO. Another bill by the same sena-
tor seeks to provide an appropriation
for the continuation and development
of the boys working reserve in Colo
RADIO, which won honors for effective
work in food production and conser-
vation last year.
A bill by Senator Lines would
transfer to the State Industrial Com
mission the duties and powers here
tofore exercised by the commissioner
and deputy commissioner of labor,
the steam boiler inspector, the state
coal mine inspector, the board of ex-
aminers of coal mine inspectors, the
bureau of labor statistics, factory in
spectors and the several deputies, as
sistants and employees of those offices.
Other bills with which members of
the upper house are endeavoring to
acquaint themselves before being
asked to vote upon them have to do