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<br />COLORADO INFOP~IATION Newsletter - ThursdaYL~ebru~ry IB, 1954 . Pa~e ~
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<br />Passed over the opposi tion of tl1e truc2r lobby -- one of the most
<br />powerful in decades, according to observors -- was the bitterly con-
<br />troversial House B::.ll 9, the truck tax hi] 1.
<br />It had been, accordinrr, to a long-time observor, ";he big~est
<br />brann:igan I have evor se8n in the legislature."
<br />Striking hard at the latte~' }')art of the sess'ion were the cattle-
<br />men. who allied with tho truckers for the net ton principle. But
<br />the lines were drarlI1, and tho groGs ton tax principle held.
<br />The votine; on tb:i.s :i,ssue was J,9-14 on the Senate floor. Fajl'ilg
<br />were'12 maneuvers to d"llay or obstruct the pass8.R;s of the bill. '1'110
<br />Senate majority led by Senator Stephen L. R. J.~cNichols, held to the
<br />gross ton principle. over the OP1)osition of the forces led by Sen~rors
<br />biorton Wyatt and CaI'lson.
<br />A last-minute compromise amendment -- to abrogate the tax on
<br />the return: haul when a truck was CMpty -- also failed.
<br />It was generally felt that the bill was not a perfect one, and
<br />defects were pointed out -- it was said that certain adjustments and
<br />revisions would be neCGBSary. Conscenaus also was that a certain
<br />basic principle had been adopted.
<br />When the issue had been concluded, Senator McNichols told
<br />reportees thA.t he felt no mood of' inflation UP elation ~- members of
<br />the Highway COllL'lliss:i.on who hart drafted the b1,1l, the Long Range High~
<br />way Plan"ihg Committee -- e::o!pressed similar spent feelings. The bill,
<br />they said, had been five years in the making.
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<br />Relegated to inaction wore all th.e Old Ace Pension proposals.
<br />Despite all the st','ong efforts <ff the proponents of the Carpenter-
<br />written resolution, the proposal failed of the 2/3d1s majority.
<br />Lilcewise in the Senate a similar compromise attempt to draft a
<br />suitable Old Age Pension proposal to place on the ballot failed. A
<br />resolution~'refer' the whole mal:;ter to study and research for report
<br />la te this sUllUaer or to the 40th As sembly passed in the Senate, but
<br />died of lack of sponsorship in tho House.
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<br />A run-dOwn of legislative actlon (continued f~om last week) is as
<br />fol:j.ows:
<br />February 12-
<br />Senate passed li!3 57, 79, and 00 on General Orders. Passed HB 71,
<br />83, 9, and 39 0n Thi~,'d lInd Final Reading. Passed HB 63, 74, and 84
<br />on Special Orciers; HB 22 was amended so as to leave the issue to
<br />voters I referendum, and passed. It was voted not to take HB 50 out
<br />of Committee !'lnd mal,e it Speci!).l Ol'ders. Comra!ttees I lack of time
<br />was reper ted on SB 8, 10, 14, 20. :52, :38; and SO:t 1 and 3.
<br />Houze pF.lssed liB 22 on 'Pllird Rev.ding. Hen 15 was deClared lost on
<br />redonside;ration. SJR 8 pas sod. Concurred in and passed Senate amend-
<br />ments to ~IB 71. SB 26 and SB 36, both amended, passed on Special Ord-
<br />ers. Indefinitely postponed were JIB 8, 10, 11, 31, 55, 56, 58, 51, 66,
<br />67, 53. Also HCR 1, ~, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 12, 13, 14.
<br />February 13 .'1
<br />Passed on Third Reading HB 57, 79, 80, 63, 74, 84, 22. Fifth
<br />Conference committee to be !lop01hl:;ed agrc;ed on the senate I s receding
<br />from its amendment and HB 73 (givinr; $11,500,000 to schools) passed.
<br />senat(l[!'s Brotzman, Rogerc, llIol'lbray WE're appointed as an lnte rim
<br />COl.1mJ.ttee on SJR 4 (conservation, ut:i.lizatiol1 af state's water supDly).
<br />Repassed SB 26 and 36 after concurdnF; in HOURe arnAnd'TI8uts and a
<br />conference cO:lum,ttee report on the first. Lack of Senate time was
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<br />2598
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