The Holly chieftain., 1923-04-05


" {fb 49, mind the interests
of the taxpayer.
Those having solution are requested
to notify their representative here.
Looking in on the Legislature" last
week would have been very interest
ing, no doubt, to my readers; for sew
eral of the most interesting contests of
the session were up on the floor of the
House.
The first event was the demand on
the floor of the House by Representa-
tive Cook, for Bill No. 149, known as
''the miners qualification act" This
bill, when introduced, was referred to
the committee on Industrial relations;
there 1t was tabled; taken from the
table, referred to the appropriations
committee; they sent 1t back to the in
dustrial relations committee, where 1t
was tabled again. it was taken from
the table, and left In the hands of a
committee to revise, and the commit
tee could not agree; 1t came back TO.
the committee; was then sent to the
committee on mines and mining, and
on plea, they ordered it printed; then
1t was tabled; the demand of Cook,
after two months of kicking, brought,
not the bill, but an adverse report, and
IL minority report, on the bill. Then
the fireworks started, and the hottest
fight of the session was on, the lie was
passed several times, and !ncrmIna-
tory remarks frequently made. When
the vote was taken, the adverse report
on the bill was carried by majority
of three.
The second main event was between
the "sheep-men" and the "cow-men."
In this, Representatives Claude Rees
and Adair Hotchkiss were the chief
contestants on the mat. The members
had hardly gotten the coal dust out of
their hair, until the wool gathered in
their eyes, on this bill but when the
count was announced, 1t was found
that Judge Hotchkiss was the winner,
and the "sheep men" are jubllant.
Event three was over the Child La
Dor bill. Some very hot and foolish
remarks were made, one member say
ing that 1t was "the damndest piece OF
legislation ever brought before leg
islative assembly" 1t was call to
the mat, In which Cook. Nlvins. Pol
lock, Headley, Lake and others took
part The enacting clause was finally
stricken from the bill.
Another event was over the teachers
minimum salary law; 1t was openly
charged on the floor by Republicans
that "a brazen attempt was being
made to force this bill through the
House." referring to number eight.
This bill was to take the place of the
present law, by retaining the salary
feature, and changing the tax feature;
bill number six was to repeal the pres
ent law. After much debating, bill
number eight was returned to the edu-
cational committee, and bill number
six re-referred to the rules committee.
The vote was 90 for and 35 against
number eight. This fight was a
draw" Another battle will be staged
soon.
All of which heated contests on the
floor reminds US of the poets remark,
"men are but children, just little old
er grown"
The Assembly adjourned Monday
and Thursday, out Of respect to the
late Senator Nicholson. Friday bust
ness was resumed and the main event
was the Lambert Consolidation bill"
On this, the Republicans are not
united, and the Democrats think they
see in 1t cheap political move to pass
an unsatisfactory bill, have the gov
ernor veto 1t, and then try to make po-
litical capital out of it. Already the
bill has been amended so that 1t looks
like an old coat with tail, pockets and
sleeves torn out. A week will reveal
the status of the patient.
Both House and Senate have passed
the Colorado River compact, as 1t Is
called. This is n monumental piece of
Legislation for the entire West.
The big appropriation bill will be on
the calendar very soon; 1t Is expected
that week will be taken in n "talk-
fest" over 1t; then the end of the ses-
sion will be near, the lights will be
turned out here, and turned on at
home, and folks will ask, "Where are
we att" So goes the legislative
"movie"
The members are getting tired, dis
gusted, and half mad with each other;
this spells good things for the state
Some Of these days they will quit, for
the time Is close to plant garden
truck" and fresh crop Of pigs and
calves are on the way for the farmer
members; he has seen about all the
sights In Denver, and Is ready to close
his "open season. In the Legislature.
"Who will be the next United States
senator?" we are asked daily. We
don't know; we suspect the governor
will respectfully hear all claimants,
nytI than Jn oc hn yInn.n. rTI,.+,.,