The Holly chieftain., 1923-03-01

OveFTuie IL 4WO
| years afterwards,
the Assembly returns, and goes
through the whole process again. 1t Is
great game for the American people.
All legislation is the final result OF
compromise. since people, equally
honest, will have different ideas on
the same topic; If any thing is to be
done. then, some one must give In a
point, another one, back down on his
attitude of extreme demands; in this
way they get together, and once in a
while some monumental laws are
placed on the books.
In the actual workings Of legisla-
tive body, psychology plays its part.
as 1t does everywhere else. Some days
the members are In a mood to enact
anything; next day they will do
nothing. 1t may have been bad
nights sleep, or an indigestible
breakfast; but we observe this condi-
tion prevails here as elsewhere in life.
We have observed some unexplalna-
BILE things. There are few fellows
here who are SO in the habit of voting
no." that it has become fixed; moth
ing progressive Is supported, and any
thing that has money in 1t raises the
Ire of these wOuld-be patriots. We
have frequently seen members vote
against bill, and ten minutes later
vote in favor Of the emergency clause.
Three times last week, we noticed
members voting "No" on the question
of correcting mis-spelled word. 1t is
just habit; they can't help 1t; they
were born in the objective case. An
old preacher used to remark that there
would be two wonders" in heaven;
one would be that he got there. and the
other would be that the other fellow
got there. By gads, there are some
wonders" here, too.
The hard-boiled partisan gets no.
where in body like this. The legisla-
tor needs stiff backbone; but he
ought to have well-oiled neck, SO he
can see the other fellows side Of the
argument.
Few people are visiting the galleries
this year. We are disappointed in
this; there is 80 much orutory wasted
on the desert air here, that 1t is no
wonder that Denver is so smoky "the
morning after"
called, passed the House the other
day. The bill is described as a meas
ure for the promotion of the breeding
of GOOD horses, especially race horses.
The promoters thereof conclude
that to produce a good race
horse, there must be good gam
bling to encourage him to run. In
other words, this bill is legalizing gam
bling In Colorado, and let no one be de-
ceived by its title. Is Colorado ready
for It? AS usual, the good citizens'
were asleep at the switch, and the
thing went over without protest from
the moral element" Possibly they
were thinking of that bit Of philosophy
from Josh Billings, who said, You'll
never have an honest horse race until
you have an honest human race"
Therefore, let's give attention to the
human.
The governor signed the bill, dis
charging the pardons board; their
work, 1t Is rumored, will be done by
the Board of Charities and Correc-
tions.
The Legislature has visited the state
institutions in Pueblo, Boulder, Gree
ley and Fort Collins, recently. This is
not time lost. II these Institutions
must have million dollars, or two.
from the Legislature to operate, the
Legislature owes 1t to themselves to
Investigate conditions, before voting
out this money.
Partisan labels are a curse, and, usu-
ally hindrance to progress; this will
surely be true where small partisans
are chosen to office. They must be ed
ucated before they can see the prob
lens in their larger aspects.
One thing we wish to correct, in 90
far as we can. 1t is customary for
many persons, and some papers, to de-
cry legislators, as small politicians"
and "grafters," and "lame ducks" This
mental attitude has done much to
break down respect for American in
stltutions. At present. we doubt II
Colorado ever had better class Of
men In her legislative assembly than
she has now; we do not know of n man
here who has not the good of the state
at heart, and who Is not working for
1t. We may see things different, ct
times but we are all anxious to make
good"
The Senate repealed the one-half
mill levy, which brought into the treas
ury Of the State Highway Commission
about $750,OOO; now, 1t Is proposed to
raise greater amount by adding
tax on every gallon Of gasoline sold, to
take the place Of that. This means
that the tourist, and the truck operator
who uses our roads will help pay the
cost of those roads; and, In all cases,
make the tax more equitable. Of
course, II man does not own a cur, or
use his car much, he Will pay little