Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-12-30

CNEClTlNE offlJE, J
Territory Of New Mexico, : |
Santa. Fe,l Dec. 90, $780, |
Gentlemen OF the Council and House of Rep |
resentntivcs
greet you as co-laborers in the govern |
ment of New Mexico, and bid you God
speed in every good work which you I'M
dertake for the welfare OF the territory
and its people.
You have been chosen from the whole
body of your fellow citizens to meet and
frame laws for their government Each
member OF the council represents 5000
and each representative 1900 OF the peo-
pie of New Mexico, so that the office is
one OF dignity as well as great practical
importance. There is no position which
man can hold so responsible as that OF
the lawmaker for his fellow-men, This is
80, even in old communities where laws
and customs are so fully established that
few changes have to be made by success
sive legislatures. Here, in New Mexico,
where we are in the transition period be-
tween the condition of territory and
state; where changes in population and
in business, and the introduction OF new
industries, require appropriate legislation,
and where many Of the old laws are 30
crude, imperfect, and inconsistent With
each other, that their amendment or the
substitution of more perfect statutes is
necessity, the importance of the office OF
legislator can not be overestimated. The
time fixed for the legislative session is
short. 1t is limited to 60 days. Deduct
ing from this the Sundays and holidays
which intervene, and the period is still
more circumscribed. To consider with
any proper attention the various i'm
portant matters which press upon
your attention, will require the
conscientious use of every hour OF
this time. You are sent here as law
makers, to enact wise statutes for the
'-ment of the people. TO use any
Of this brief time for other purposes is to
misuse it, and to betray the confidence OF
those whom you represent. Every hour
misapplied for personal objects or for
political discussion, is just 80 much time
taken from the proper business OF the
session. Fortunately there is nothing OF
a political nature in any Of the most i'm
portant subjects which should occupy
ysur attention, 80 that all of your talents
and time can be devoted to the single
purpose of enacting such laws as will
render the territory more prosperous and
the people more happy. Envisble indeed
ia the condition of that legislator, who at
the end OF the session, can feel that his
efforts have removed old burdens and
added new pleasures in the lives OF his
fellow-men!
hope that in all your business you
will act with care and deliberation. Bad
legislation is usually the result of haste
and carelessness. Let me urge that no
measures be considered until they are
printed, that the rules requiring success
sive readings be not overthrown in prac-
tice by their suspension, and that when
material amendments are made during
The progress OF bill, it be reprinted be-
fore the final vote is taken, so that it
may be fully understood by all. In most
legislatures roll call is required on the
passage of each bill, 30 that the vote of
every member may be recorded. This is
not established here by law, but may be
had on the demand of any member, and
| submit that no law should be passed
without the recorded vote of every men,
Der thereon. This is fair alike to the
people and the representative, for the
former have right to know how each
member voted on every enactment, and
the latter is saved from Misrepresentation
and unmerited censure, by the official
record Of his acts.
Another point in this connection is
important. A statute passed as early as
1851 provides that no law shall 20 into
effect until thirty full days after the day
OF adjournment, unless otherwise ex-
pressly stated. This is wise and proper,
. ior 1t is absurd as well as unjust to ex-
pect the people to obey laws of which
they have never heard. As rule the
laws of each session are not published
and sent even to officials until about
three months after the adjournment, 80
that those enacted early have been in
existence nearly five months before they
can be accurately known to the people.
Yet it has become custom to add at
the end of nearly every bill, clause pro-
v,ding that it shall 70 into effect imme-
diately on it's passage. This is evidently
wrong. By this means man may
hsbitually violate law for months with
out knowing Of its existence. The time
fixed by the provision Of 1851 is short
enough. recommend that no law be
made to take effect at an earlier date,
unless there is special reason for it, and
In the case of penal statutes or changes
in the criminal law, the time for going
into effect be fixed 30 long in advance as
to insure q general knowledge OF the
statute before it becomes operative.
In this connection l wish to recon-
mend that the more important general
LAWS BE PUBLISHED
promptly after their passage, in all
of the established newspapers OF
the territory. There is no better
way in which to spread information
OF their provisions among the people,
sud II is only right that every citizen
should be made aware Of such enact
ments az affect the public generally,
The expense Of this need not be very