The Raymer enterprise., 1923-03-08
s....ss.s..E l:l~ass.'.s
STATE CAPITOL
NEWS LETTER
ss.'ss,.sss'l5 :j''''''''''-

JWuctlOH uEdiud6e ulStIlct was paSSeu
on final reading by the House.
A measure appropriating sl,4Oo 10
pay the deficiency Of the law enforce
ment department Of the state was
passed on second reading.
Democrats in the State Legislature
have started their campaign to force
the Republicans to take action on the
measure introduced at the request Of
Governor Sweet.
The bill creating the office of state
market director did not meet with OPP
position. This measure was passed
once before on second reading and
then re-referred to the agricultural
committee when opposition devel-
oped.
Another measure adopted on thirG
and final reading makes drunkenness
in public places. outside Of the corpor-
ate limits Of town or city, q misde.
meanor. punishable by fine or impris.
onment, or both. Only six senators
voted against this bill.
Coal companies operating upon
leased land would he compelled to post
Il bond to guarantee the payment Of
labor, under the provisions of meas
vre by Representative Z. c. Johnson
of Moffat county that passed the
House on second reading.
The House passed on final reading
by vote Of 4 to Is the bill by KEEP
resentative Axel p. Johnson Of Denver,
designed to stop the CLOSED hospital"
system Under its provisions hospi-
tails not open to all doctors holding
license from the State Board of Med.
ical Examiners would be forced to
pay taxes.
After extended discussion, the
House passed on second reading a
measure Intended to do away with the
CLOSED hospital system. Under Its
provisions hospitals that would not
open their doors to all doctors having
u license from the State Board of
Medical Examiners would not be ex.
empt from taxation.
The anti-compulsory vaccination
bill, one Of the most widely discussed
measures before the State Legislature,
was killed by the State House Of Rep
resentatives when II came up on sec
ond reading. The vote was 81 to -.
The bill brought forth heated argr-
ment during which the medical profess
sion was alternately criticised and
praised.
The House approved on second
reading II bill creating the Grand
junction drainage district. The bill
allows the land In the district TO be
assessed for the work on the basis Of
valuation instead OF acreage. The
present law allows only valuation Oh
acreage and us the proposed distric,
takes in the cities Of Grand Junction
and Palisade this would not be fair
basis for assessing the cost. The pro
posed drainage district will be mil
lion-dollar undertaking and will bring
under cultivation many acres Of yalu.
able land that Is now worthless. Rep
resentative Sterling b. Lacy of Grand
junction is the author Of the bill.
The passage of four of the child-wel.
fare bills and the measure creating
the office of state director of markets,
and announcement that Republicans
and Democrats are going to c0mpro-
mise on the Sweet administrative code
bill and the Lambert Consolidation
Of the State House OF Representatives.
Both the Sweet and the Lambert meas
ures were drawn for the same pur.
pose-that Of abolishing the many
boards and bureaus Of state govern
ment and consolidating the work in
a few departments. Governor Sweet
maintained that his measure would re-
suit In a saving of more than S50O,OOO
next year.
By strict party vote the Senate
passed on final reading the House
measure appropriating $4,000 to pay
the expenses of the State Rangers
from Nov. 30 until they were dis.
charged. Democrats fought the meas
ure on the ground that the bill should
specify the exact amount needed rath-
er than the general sum.
Another measure, which passed the
House unanimously on second reading
requires that stores or companies issu.
ing prOfit-sharing coupons, tokens, pre-
NUNS or prizes with purchases must
post cash bond with the secretary of
state. Efforts to prohibit the practice
entirely have been found unconstitu-
tional. and this Is believed to be the
best method for remedying the prac-
tice.
Governor Sweet appeared before the
finance committee of the Senate and
the appropriations committee Of the
House with the request that the state
prohibition enforcement department
be given more money. The depart
ment has been receiving $4,000 n
year, and Governor Sweet asks that
this be increased to $4,000. The COM
mittees did not Indicate what action
they would take on the request.
A compromise between Republican
leaders in the Legislature and Cover
nor Sweet has been reached and they
will attempt to draft a single bill to
take the place of the Sweet admins.