The Elbert County tribune., 1919-04-18
SESSION ADJ0URNS
SINE DIE COMES AFTER THIRTY
SIx-HoUR SESSION.
General Appropriation Bill Finally
Passed After Bitter Fight.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Denver-Colorado's postwar Legis-
lature adjourned sine die at 10 O'Clock
Tuesday night, following a sitting |
which had lasted continuously for thir-
ty-six hours, and which ended by "of-
flclal" time at o'clock Monday even
ing, the hour set. for its dissolution.
The legislative clocks had been stopped
for twenty-eight hours In order to save
the general appropriation measure of
S2,075,00o and to put to death the blue
sky legislation. The conference COM
mittee on the appropriation bill, pas
sage of which was delayed over the
fight against the constabulary recon-
mended the continuance of the state
police department until July Is. Five
other committees had made futile at
tempts during the previous night to
break the deadlock in this respect, the
Senate having insisted upon the dis
continuance of the department May 1
and the House endeavoring to keep it
alive until Aug /. -Four important
measures were signed Just before
Lieut.. Gov. George Stephan, presiding
officer OF the Senate, and Speaker AL
lyn Cole, in the House dropped their
gavels for the last time. They were
the Steele bill for state acquisition of
the Moffat railroad, the Wilson gen
eral appropriation bill, the Lake bill
for three National Guard armories,
and the Bond resolution for $5,000,0O
in bonds for good roads. The railroad
nd d. S1o will m
the voters for ratification in 1920.
Legislators were tired and restless
in the closing hours. They stuck to
their posts, however, when the dispos-
al of equipment of the constabulary
became an issue in the Senate.
In the closing hours of the session
Senator John J. Tobin of Montrose was
chosen president ad interim of the up
per house, the minority Republicans
voting for Senator David Elliot of
Colorado Springs.
In the House much eiation also was
expressed because of the passage of
the Booth land settlement bill, which
will give to the returned soldiers, sail
ors and marines who desire to become
| portunity to acquire lands on easy pay
ments. The lower house also passed
| the Hattenbach bill, which creates n
| 100000 loan fund available for sol
diers, sailors and marines seeking
either academic or vocational educa-
tlon. Any applicant may obtain loan
of as much as 5000 free of interest for
three years, and payable in five years,
with a small interest charge for the
last two years.
A fund of $17,oO is provided in the
Hattenbach bill for the maintenance
and elaboration of the boys working
reserve in Colorado. The money is to
| he expended under the direction of the
| governor
The Dodge bill appropriating $780,
400 for the erection of a memorial TO
commemorate the services of the men
Of Colorado who served in the mill
tary forces of Uncle Sam in the great
war also passed in the House.
Valuation of property is expected to
lie little higher in 1919 and 1920.
bringing larger revenues without ne
cessltating Il much higher general tax
levy, which. on the 151S valuation, was
placed at 59-100 of / mill The valua.
ion was 81 400. 1925, or an increase
1ver 1917 of S100,000.000.
Legislation enacted is expected to in
crease the firemen's pension funds and
hereby reduce the insurance surplus
possibly $4,000, but the estimated
Increases in the state insurance de.
partment are expected to offset this
decrease in the general revenues.
The Twenty-second Legislature has
appropriated for general expenses of
he commonwealth and for institutions
and postwar relief in 1919192O ap-
nroximately S4,427. 1885 Revenues
for the next two years. based on esti-
mates prepared by State Auditor Ar
thur NJ. Stong, give an estimated in
come of S3,646, ,293.34, entailing an
Overappropriation of $3.50, ,S20.51. Not
all the bills have been signed by Gov
ernor Shoup, one of which is the gem
eral appropriation bill for S2,075,000
Leaders of the two houses of the Leg
lslature have intimated that there must
he pairing of the appropriations, but
they are trying to keep the amounts of
the general appropriation measure in
tact.
Postwar legislation includes an ed
ucational fund of 100000 for vocation
al training of soldiers, memorial to
the Colorado men who died in France
at cost of $4,000, and S17, 900 for the
United States Boys Working Reserve.
The remodeling of the old Indian
school at Grand Junction, which is to
be used for the home for mental de-
fectives, and the maintenance and re-
pairs at the present school bring to-