Gunnison news-champion., 1921-01-14
ROCKWELL REPORTS FIRST
STEPS IN STATE LEGISLATURE
Denyer. Jnnuary 8. 1921

Denver, January 8, 1921.
The Legislature convened at noon
"wednesday, january 9th. Two days
before, the caucus Of the Republican
members was held to arrange for the
selection Of the speaker Of the House
the president Of the Senate and the
employees. Francis j. Krnus, q
young Denver attorney of ability, was
selected president Pro TEN Of the Sen
ate; and Roy Davis, business man
of Colorado Springs, was elected
speaker Of the House. I consider both
these selections were excellent. l was
appointed one Of the three members
on the Patronage committee, which,
MS you know, is to select the en-
ployees for the Senate. The Patron
age is divided as follows:
The total expense per day of the
lcmployecs, as designated in the
statutes, is added up and divided
among the number Of members in the
majority party. Each member is en-
titssd'so appointments equal to his
pro rata of the salary. This year
1t amounted to approximately $500 a
day. Most of the members, however,
had just one preference, and if that
could be filed, he desired no more;
and the Patronage committee was al
lowed to fill up the other employees
with those they felt we're best quail
fed for the positions.
l sometimes wonder where the
newspapers of Denver get their in
formation regarding such things as
these appointments. 1t seems to be
either their Imagination or pure ma
lice, or just SO much an inch. / was
quite amused to read in both papers
Of how the fact that N. N, Mclean
was appointed secretary of the Senate
and y. L Shaw, appointed secretary
Iof the House, was due to the efforts
the Nicholson faction as against the
Shoup interests. Let me say, as one
who was active in making these ap-
pointments in the Senate, and who
at all times was in close touch with
the House Patronage Committee of
which was member for two years
ago, that 70 far as know, there was
no effort made by either Mr.. Nicholson
or Mr.. Shoup or any other person out
side the immediate Legislature to Sc
cure appointment Of either of these
men. Both were selected because
they were felt to be qualified. Nc
Lean formerly. ran for congressman
in our district and has had consider
able experiences in Legislative bodies,
while Dick Shaw, who was assistant
secretary Of the Senate. two years ago,
was formerly one Of the heads Of the
Boys Reformitery and seems to Be
in every way qualified for this pcsi-
! ton.
was fortunate indeed IN getting
three appointments from ouf district.
David Sloan Of Crested Butte is now
assistant sergeant-at-a IL the Sem
ate; Martha Edie Of Delta 70 clerk
and stenographer, and Nfk Grace
Lejune Of Gunnison. i assistant Re
vision clerk.
We have in the Senate, / believe,
one Of the best working bunch Of
Representatives Colorado has ever had.
OF the thirty-fve members, seventeen
are hotd-over" members, three were
returned and two were former mem
bers Of the House, leaving only five
new members in the entire Senate
body. OF this number there ere only
four lawyer1 the rest being pretty
equally divided as among farmers
stocImen, mining men, business mdn
etc. ! do not know Of the makeup n
that of the sixty-6ve members only
| abS1S A-eAS@PGAA law Gb0Aa ~
fore;sand With the immsnse Kepubli-
can majority Of something lflee 81 TO Z
fear for trouble before The session
is cloood
/ The hrst week was given over Il
most Gntifely to organizing. The com.
mitteee have not yet been appotnted
and only one bill has been illEodueed
4 On Friday, at IL o'cloek G0vefno1
4 ShOpp EnVe 6n 0d2raae Aasf1ln f0firfnf
the fneomin9 eovcrnor: mt Tnesday
PraeticAlly a1l ef yo9 haye rcd hi
inaugural address, and Int wish q
comme4k - Two thihgA h my optll
on, & eoafafns the most bulfnog11f|nI
and ea4e rocemnnGndn&ions, eoEn5n(
I lespee3ozy q Z tine Hla thfs, TIT q
have essf keerd Givsa " . eseeylEnes
he sssis /! - :. I - :. ). IL w!il1e g!
1