Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-01-18
Needed
80. Legislation.
FROM A MORAL VIEWPOINT.
Come Wholesome Laws That Should
be Enacted and Enforced.

To the Editor OF the Optic.
RATION, N. NJ, January 18th, 1897
Your card received. In reply, will
say that while others, as statesmen
and business men, can suggest what
new laws should be enacted at the
coming legislature at Santa Fe, that
would be for the best political, inan-
cial and social good of the Territory,
as a clergyman l shall mention only a
few laws, which, in my opinion, would
be for the best moral good OF our
people:
First.-There should be enacted a
good Sunday law. The present law
lRey,s,d Statutes, 1887, Chap. 26),
amounts to nothing, because it includes
too much, and cannot be enforced
however, 1t puts the burden Of proof on
the defendant, and he Is Obliged to
show that the work he did comes under
works of necessity, charity and mercy.
The law should be repealed n a new
law enacted that can be enforced. Such
a law, in my opinion. should contain at
least two prohibitory clauses. The
6rst would forbid, on Sunday, any per-
son or persons. disturbing, by engag-
ing in any sport, or game, or in any
other way, any private family or wor-
Shipping assembly. The second clause
would say, that all saloons and all
places where liquors are sold, and all
places of gambling or playing of games
Of chance, shall not be kept open, bu'
shall be closed, on Sunday, and nc
LIQUORS Of any kind sold therein, on
that day. And q penalty should DC
attached for the violation of the law
Such a law would not be very strict
but a "half a loaf is better than nc
, bread" Such a law, l think. would
have the moral support of all goof
people, and could be enforced.
Second-There should be enacted
marriage license law, such as thel
. have in the states. In our Territory
there are laws %forbidding. unde
!. penalty, the marriage of certain par
ties, under certain conditions, and tn
responsibility is placed on the official
: ing officer or clergy. The response
billty should be placed where it be
longs, on the contracting parties
There should be enacted u law obligin
d those wishing to be married to prov
!, before the probate clerk of the count
In which they live, their right to b
married and to receive a license pei
hitting the same. Or they should b
Obliged to answer, in writing, to tn
officiating party, certain questions !
: show their right to be married accort
!. ing TO the laws OF New Mexico, whic
ID questions and answers, signed by the
J. own names, shall be sent 10 the sal
IS probate clerk for recording. As it
~ now, many persons come to our Terr
= tory to be married, because of the fa'
that no license is required here; an
many persons living In the Territol
Il 90 to officials to be married, to who
<. they are perfect strangers, and the
IN can easily falsify the facts the ca
4 and the officiating party has no redres
: although he is held responsible. :.
a. Third.-There should be enacted
,e Territorial anti-prize-f fighting law, sin
liar to the Catron bill, passed last ye'
by congress.
Fourth.-rhere should be a Ia
s. passed for the protection of our boy
%forbidding saloon keepers employir
minors behind the bar, or employit
70 them to sell liquors, either in Il
le saloon or elsewhere. Now there 81
many boys and youths employed
:. these places as b%ar-tenders, etc.
Fifth The sage of consent" or as
q should be more properly called, II
n sage of protection"o our girls, shouI
be raised in our Territory from Il
years OF age to at least fifteen.
G. I. MILLS, A. M.