The Colorado statesman., 1923-02-10
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STATE CAPITOL
NEWS LETTER
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ures, abolishing the state board of par
dons and the state board of charities
and correction.
With committees grinding out bills
in large numbers every day, both
houses of the general assembly are go.
ing at the gait which they must main.
tain If they desire to dispose of the
bills pending in an average ninety-day
session.
BY unanimous vote the House
passed on second reading a measure
by Representative a. #. Hoop of Du-
range, requiring that insane persons
must have been residents of the state
year before they are helped by the
state.
One of the most drastic measures
ever submitted to a Colorado Legisla-
ture is the bill intended to keep fire
arms out of the hands of aliens and
minors and also to have record OF
who carries firearms. Firearms would
be permitted in the home.
The name of the Gunnison State
Normal School was changed to the
Western State College of Colorado by
bill that passed the House on sec
ond reading. Representative Mabel
Ruth Baker of Denver opposed the
measure on the'ground that the name
western" encouraged sectional strife,
but the bill was almost unanimously
passed over her protest.
The first bill to become law at the
present session of the General Assem-
bly, is House Bill No. 2, introduced by
Representatives Lambert, Pollock,
Cowan and Lacy. This measure does
away with all free automobile licenses.
Carrying the emergency clause, which
makes it effective at once, it will APP
ply to the 1923 automobile licenses.
Pending action on the bill, Secretary
of State Milliken has not issued any
free licenses this year.
Colorado had an acting governor
who did not occupy the office except
technically while Gov. William u.
Sweet, Democrat was in Lincoln, Neb.,
and as Lieut.. Gov. Robert f. Rock
well, Republican, was acting governor.
Hale Smith, the governors private sec
retary, Officially notified the lieutenant
governor that the governor was out of
the state. "If there is anything that
demands my attention. of course I'll go
TO the office, but otherwise l will re-
main in my own office replied Mr..
Rockwell.
One of the blue laws that has been
in the Colorado general statutes for
many years is expected to start trou-
Bile in the Senate within the next few
days. There are two bills in the Sen
ate by Senator Harry G. Saunders, Re
publican, of Denver, that are expected
to bring it out. One is S. b. $50 and
the other is S. B. 362. No. $50 calls
for the repeal of section 1000 of the
statutes of 1908. This is the law that
forbids Il performance in any theater,
or of any show or circus within the
confines of Colorado on Sunday. No.
362 is to compel the district attorneys
to enforce No. 360
A measure authorizing the sale of
$4,000 worth of national defense
bonds for payment of salaries OF the
State Ranger force was passed on sec
ond reading Representative Bert Lake
of Denver said that it was not possi-
BILE to determine as yet what exact
amount of funds were necessary to pay
the salaries and maintenance of the
1ldHSeTS lIOIl WV. w bieAi 49, -
when the organization was abolished
by executive order. He estimated the
amount was close to $4,000, and as
Governor Sweet approves the vouchers
for all bills he assured the legislators
that there would be no extravaganza
The ranger repeal bill, introduced by
, Representative Elder of Lake county,
was reported out by the judiciary COM
mittee of the House. Although the
rangers have been discharged by Gov
ernor Sweet, it is expected that bit
ter battle will develop when this meas
ure is brought to the floor of the House
of Representatives.
Republicans of the State House of
Representatives repudiated the action
of Senate Republicans when the lower
house passed unanimously the resolu-
ton calling upon the governor to inves-
tigate the car shortage. In the Senate
the resolution was amended so that
the Public Utilities Commission and
the Interstate Commerce Commission
would investigate the conditions in
stead of the governor.
The first real test of "wets" and
"drys' in the Senate will come up
when S. b. No. 1S1, by Colgate, is up
for final passage, which demands
roll call. This is one of several prohi-
bition bills and has been passed on
second reading. 1t makes the purchas-
er guilty with the seller of intoxicants,
unless the purchase is made from le-
galized person, such as druggist, and
under prescription.
The Senate, on second reading, ap-
proved Senator Saunders bill designed