Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-03-18

The Last Hours.
Special Correspondencs Of The Optic.
| SANTA FE, March 1.-THE 3ard gen
|ersl assembly of New Mexico passed out
Iof existence late last night and has
now gone into history as one Of 'the
has beens." Nest of the measures Of
| importance, such az the appropriation
|bill, and the rsfunding measure, passed,
and were signed by the governor, as
were also great number of others late
measures, among them being the act
establishing
A PUBLIC LAND BOARD.
The intention of the original council
bill was to provide for the sale Of suf-
iicient land to pay land Office fees. The
house substitute opened the door SO
that 25 per cent Of the land could be
sold. This, as / understand it, applies
to all land donated by congress for
school purposes, except sections 16
and 36 in each township, and the grant
to the Albuquerque University. Of
which congress prohibits the sale. This
measure was in the hands of the con-
ference committee tor some time, when
an agreement was finally reached. both
houses endorsing the committees
action. About the only change made
was cutting out the $1,000 each as
salary for governor and solici-
tor general; and the $1,000 for
expenses, which was cut down to
sl.5OO. apparently. But under the pro
visions Of the law, for such it is now,
the power OF the board in that regard
is unlimited, and, as Mr. Catron said
before the bill was sent to conference,
the expenses of this board might reach
$4,000 or $1,000 in a angle year.
Although he was one of the COMMITTEES
on conference, and
AGREED TO ITS PROVISIONS,
as the law now stands, do not think
the bill was remedied in that respect
On the whole the bill is bad. Whether
or not the educational Institutions of.
the Territory are unjusIly and system
aticaily fleeced, remains with the gov
ernor to decide. He alone will be held
responsible for the manner in which
this important matter IN handled
IL would be unfair to criti-
else the governor in advance;
But the influence behind the passage of
this measure was bad aud the members
of this board will have to stand between
the interests of the Territory end this
influence, which unfortunately iufects
all legislatures for the purpose Of per-
sonaI gain.
THE APPROPRIATIONS.
As more or less changes were made
in the Appropriation bin before its inal
passage, will wait, until | can see a
copy OF the measure before attempting
to fully sxplain.its provisions.
Among the imp ortant bills that failed
was the common school bill. This
measure passed the council, and the
house committee on education re-
ported substitute; but when 1t came
up for consideration 1t was defeated.
INsURA NOE LEGISLATION.
The big fight for some days has been
on the insurance bill. Az The OPTIC
readers are aware, this bill was intro
duced early in the session by Mr.. Dim.
can and provided for a superintendent
OF insurance at salary of $4,000, and
several hundred dollars for travelling
expenses and iucidentals. The coun:
Gil, by vote of to 4, struck this
superintendency provision out Of the
bill. The house not only put the super
intendent clause back, but raised the
smeluments several hundred dollars.
When II. came back. TO the council two
Of the members of that body, who had
4 voted to strike out the superintendent
clause, voted to concur in the house
amendment. although it carried $l,0O(
more than it did when they voted te
strike it out of the original bill. Or
\ this the vote stood g to 6. It finally
went to q conference committee but
after considering it for an hour or two
they failed to agree. 1t was only By
the fortunate obstinacy of the house
col1ferees, and rather clever Insurance.
lobby that the
BILL DID NOT PArs.
| The house would not concede any
thing and the council conferees, Messrs
\ Ancheta, Catron and Richardson, re
turned to the chamber. (Mr. Ancheti
reporting and explaining the grounds
of disagreement and asked the council
for further instruction. Mr.. Catr0E
| further said they had offered the housl
|conferees several propositions, none o
which they would sccept-one to th'
) effect to reduce the salary of the super
sntendent TO 81 800 with $500 for ex
Ipenses, another to make the salary ant
Expenses contingent upon the receipt
l !ef the Office. and one to give the super
i intendent 20 per cent on the gross re
4 ceipts Of the Office The latter PROPOSE
4 fion was made because the house con
4 fersss conleuded that the receipts woul'
} not Be less than $4,000 annually
u On motion Of Mr.. Hughes q vote Q