The Colorado statesman., 1919-01-18

inaugural ceremonies that IN tne
dignity of their very simplicity be
came as impressive as any ever held
in Colorado, marked the inception of
Governor-elect Shoup and the other
officials elected at the November
elections into office. A gallery packed
with spectators, and the floor filled
with legislators who will aid the
elected officials to enact the laws for
the benefit of the people of the state
for the next two years, heard the new
governors message asking for the
legislation he believes will add to Colo
radios progress.
The absolute right of the. city to
regulate public utility rates within
the city under the home rule provis-
ion of the state constitution was con-
frmed in every particular by the Su-
preme Court. This Interpretation of
Article 20 of the state constitution is
predicated on the case of the city OF
Denver against the public utilities
commission and the Mountain States
Telephone Company, but bears with
equal directness on regulation OF rates
of the Denver Tramway and the Den
yer Gas and Electric Light Company.
Since Colorado entered the war
Colorado people have put approx
mately $140,000,000 into Liberty
bonds, war savings stamps and the
various war service organizations. At
the close of 1916 deposits in all banks
in the state was 1928, ,154, ,52S.14. At
the close of 1918 deposits in all banks
in the state were approximately $751;
100000. In other words, Colorado
people in the past two years have in
vested in war securities and sub
tIptNs
$14O, 100000, yet at the close of 1918
they have in their banks nearly $780,
100000 more than they had two years
ago.
Aside from the adoption of the ma
tion-wide prohibition resolution and
the introduction of few more bills,
very little has been done so far this
week. Upon the recommendation of
the judiciary committee the three blue
sky law bills that were introduced
Monday and Tuesday morning were
ordered printed. They will be among
the first bills to be considered.
1t is known that the justices of the
Supreme Court, as well as the bench
and bar of the entire state are deeply
concerned over the customary tinker
ing with the constitution and extreme
facility with which initiated and re-
ferred measures of legislation are
written into the statute books. Hal
sey Rhoades, member of the House
from Denver, has introduced bill for
the submission of constitutional
amendment which is calculated to do
away with the whims of every person,
or set of persons, to write wild-eyed
reforms into the constitution and laws
of Colorado This measure has the
sanction of the highest court of the
state, as it was drawn up by an at
tache of that court in language very
definite.
Denver.-Among the bills intro
duced this week in the Legislature are
the following:
S. B. No. 27 by Senators Dunklee,
Booth and Starkweather-A bill for
an act to amend an act entitled "An
act establishing juvenile court in
each county" to specifically include
jurisdiction over adults in certain
criminal offenses towards persons un-
der the age of twenty-one years,
S. B. No. 40 by Senator DeBusk-
A bill for an act to provide for re-
covery of damages caused by mobs.
S. B. No. 1S by Senators Hether-
ington and Starkweather-A bill for
an act concerning probation of per
sons proceeded against for crlne and
providing for the appointment OF pro-
hation officers.