Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1919-02-13
STATECAPITOL
NEWS
western Newspaper Union New. Service.

at0rs to take away from the Public
Utilities Commission all Jurisdiction In
home-rule cities, In line with the re-
cent decision Of the Supreme Court in
the telephone rate case, failed when
the Senate, by vote Of 20 to Is, de-
feated Senate Bill No. "a, by Senator
Francis ], Knauss, which vested tho
rate-making power in the people and
provided the home-rule city with the
machinery necessary for the exercise
Of this power
| The cOnstabulary issue, which has
been kept in the background in the
Legislature, made its appearance in
the House when both sides seemingly
were unprepared. The bill by Repre-
sentative Best and Hosman for the re-
peal of the act establishing the State
Department Of safety, closely followed
by Representative Girard's bill for the
continuation of the department, APP
peared on the House calendar. A con-
ference between the leaders resulted
in an agreement under which the bills
will be laid over.
A state bond issue to build perman-
ent highways throughout Colorado was
unanimously recommended by six
members of the good roads committee
Of the Denver Civic and Commercial
Association in a signed report to the
association directors. The report IA
vors turning into the state highway
fund half the income from the, state
Inheritance tax, without raising the
tax rate; changing the license rate
and basis and other clauses In the mo-
Legislature, and opposes the proposed
gasoline tax and the bill to compel
all vehicles to come to full stop At
railroad crossings.
The fight for the recovery OF liquor
c0nsignments made to some 1900 per-
sons through the express office IN
Denver is to be moved to the Supreme
Court when John Coe, intervenOr III
the case OF the State versus American
hallway Express Company. will file
an appeal for supersedeas and brief
in support OF the appeal Errors will be
alleged against the act Of the District
Court in sustaining the states demur-
rer to the complaint Of COe.
At least one additional county
judge for Denver Is sought through b
bill by Senator Starkweather which
passed second reading in The Upper
House of the Legislature. The bill
proposes a constitutional amendment
which would pave the way for the
passage of laws establishing more
than one county judgeship in counties
OF large population.
Other bills which have passed thirc
reading in the Senate are the Booth.
Dunlap bill, providing for state road
brigade; the Knauss bill, making 1t
lawful to attach an interest in prop
erty involved in an estate under pro
bate; the Napier Warren
Dunklee bill, modifying requirements
in the licensing Of mutual fire insur-
ance companies the Hhttenbach bill
changing the procedure in school
bonding elections; the Fairfield house
bill, increasing the salary of the state
meat inspector from 500 to $125 per
month; the Napier bill, giving the
Legislature the sole right to suspend
writs Of habeas corpus; the McWil-
liams-Finley bill, creating Irrigation
Division No. 6, and the Staley bill, ad-
hitting veterans of Indian wars to the
Colorado Soldiers and Sailors Home.
Denver's fight for the right to pro-
tect the health Of its school children
was carried to the Legislature, when
bill by Representative James M.
Downing permitting medical inspec-
ton came before the house. Although
the bill In not mandatory and merely
gives the school boards in districts OF
the first class the right to employ
physicians, dentists and nurses when
necessary, it encountered vigorous OPP
position and only survived a motion
to table by two votes.
Radical changes in the administra-
ton of the state industrial compensa-
ton fund were suggested by represen-
tatives Of insurance companies In nd
open meeting at the capitol before the
Industrial Relations Committees Of the
Senate and House OF Representatives.
The separation Of the funds admins
tration from the other duties of the
State Industrial Commission was
urged by William f. Hutton.
The problem of the education Of the
returned soldiers and incidentally of
all other citizens of Colorado, came be-
fore the House of Representatives
when Representative Robert f. Rock
wells bill to give free tuition to all
persons honorably discharged from
the military or naval service Of the
United States appeared on the House
calendar. Action on the bill was de-
ferred when its sweeping character
became known.
The alarming wave of juvenile
crime in Denver has caused Chief of
Police Hamilton Armstrong to address
letter TO the judiciary committees
OF the Senate and the House urging