The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-02-28
STATECAPITOL
NEWS
Western Newspaper Union New. Service

NG"0
western Newspaper Union News Service.
Bills Tor the establishment and Inn
provement Of fish hatcheries at An
tonito. In Cenejos county; At Cedar
edge, in Delta county, and at Sweet
water lake, in Garfield county. has all
met with approval in the House. The
bills carry appropriations ranging from
$500 to <2,5O0
The House adopted The 0irard rese-
Ion memorializing Congress to place
IN embargo upon importatio0 Of tung-
stem. manganese, pyrites and other
minerals for the protection of Ameri-
can producers.
Another live subject discussed was
the matter of teachers pensions. Un-
in operation for ten years, the teach
ers' retirement fund 10 supported BY .
levy Of one-tenth Of q mill The Fair
field bill. adopted In the House on Sec
ond reading. doubles the levy, In
creases the maximum monthly allow
ancs from $40 to $50 and changes from
so to IS years the minimum age at
which women teachers may avail them
selves Of the fund.
Protests against the contemplated
passage Of the Knauss- Dodge Dunklee
anti-profitsering bill were voiced be-
fore the judiciary committee Of the
Senate by a committee Of manufac-
turers, jobbers and retailers, headed
by Charles Hatfield Of the J. s. Brown
Mercantile Company. The protestants,
in answering questions propounded by
members Of the committee, denied the
existence Of any combination or con-
certed movement to regulate the prices
Of produce or groceries. either in Den
yer or throughout the state. They
asked that the bill be put to sleep in
the committee, declaring it an injus-
tice to have the regulations imposed
BY the Federal Food Administration
after the national movement to control
prices has been abandoned.
The State Senate went on record al
favoring probation for adults prose-
cuted for crimes other than capital Of
fenses. On second reading. also, it
adopted the Napier Knauss-H Hethering-
ton bill, which gives courts Of record
discretionary power to place on proba-
ton for periods not greater than four
years in the first instance persons
convicted of misdemeanors of felonies
not punishable by life imprisonment
or death.
Three appointments made by Gov.
Oliver H. Shoup are in the hands Of
the Senate for confirmation. Grant
McFerson Of Boulder was re-appointed
a. bank commissioner for four years.
His present term expires April 10.
VIII R. Murphy Of Las Animas was ap-
pointed - Q member Of the land
board, succeeding John e. Field. whose
term expired Jan. Il Mr.. Reilly's
name was referred to the Industrial
relations committee, Mr.. McFerson's
name to the banking committee, and
Mr.. Murphy's name to the state at
fairs and public lands committee. The
Supreme Court 10 asked to determine
whether the commission appointed BY
the outgoing governor, Julius G. Gun
ter, is legal. the appointments coming
under the constitutional amendment.
Republicans say this right devolves up
on Governor Shoup.
Passage Of the Andrew Bill, which
seeks to more clearly specify what
shall constitute libel in Colorado, was
recommended in a favorable report
presented to the Senate by the judici-
ary committee. The bill proposes to
place upon defendants In libel actions
the burden Of establishing evidence
convincing to the Jury that good mo-
tivss and justifiable ends" actuated
publication Of the matter alleged a.
libelous. If the bill becomes law,
truth Of published statements alleged
to be defamatory shall constitute q
complete defense only when proof can
be shown that the articles or COM
ments In question were not published
with malicious intent.
Proponents Of the Knauss bill.
which seeks to repeal the section Of
the Public Utilities Commission act
regulating competition Of utilities in
cities not operating under special
charter, won the opening round in the
Senate when by a vote Of 20 to IL the
measure was passed on second read
Ing. The bill was adopted after futile
attempts had been made by opponents
who disregarded party lipes-to
strike the enacting clause. The issue
came directly on recent Developments
In the city Of Lamar, where the tag
payers sndeavored to erect a plant 70
compete with the power house erected
some years ago By the Intermountain
Light and Power Company. The city
officials found at the last minute that
they could not proceed without first
procuring permission from the util-
tiles commission through the granting