Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-02-06
18th DAY, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5.
The Council.

Every member except Mr.. Andrews,
who is absent by leave, answered the
roll call at the morning session.
The special order of the day, council
bills Nos 25 and 20, were called up, the
council resolving itself into a commit
tee of the whole to consider it. Presi-
dent Chaves presided over the com
mittee.
Mr.. Spiess moved the adoption of
resolution that council bill No. 90. to
repeal the coal oil inspection act, be
referred to a special committee of
three to examine all coal oil legislation
and to report upon legislation needed
in that line. The committee was to re-
port on February ~, the consideration
of council bills Nos. 20 and 25 to be
postponed until that day. Mr.. Spiess
said that the council ought to have
some facts before 1t enacted further
legislation on the subject of coal oil.
lie did not believe that the high price
OF coal oil in Dona Ana county can be
blamed upon the inspection of oil.
While he felt bound by the platform Of
the republican party, he did not be-
lieve that the coal oil plank had been
adopted in calm judgment. Mr.. Spiess
made a learned argument on the
qualities of coal oil, the necessity of
inspection and that the passage of an
act requiring a flash test of 100 de-
grees would compel the users of kero-
sene to go back to tallow dips.
Mr. Hughes maintained that there
had been sufficient investigation of
coal oil legislation the past four years.
The council is ready to settle the ques-
tion right now.
Mr.. Fall, in defending the territorial
republican platform, said in the words
of Senator Quay; IF you lie about one
plank in your platform, you can lie
about them all" Therefore he was
moved to make strong plea to have
the republicans of New Mexico stand
by their platform pledges.
Mr.. Hawkins regretted that Mr..
Spiess desired delay. 1t is the duty of
a legislative body to deliberate, but
there had been plenty of delberation
in this case Further delay would i'm
ply an ulterior motive. For two weeks
the legislature had squabbled over the
employees question, question nauseat-
ing to the people, and now it is facing
another squabble. The Thirty.ffth
legislative assembly is in danger of
passing into history as one of two
ideas, employees and coal oil. He de-
manded that good faith be kept in
party pledges. The Standard Oil com
pany says that it does not care what
do, but its representative
always rushes to the capital when leg
islation of this character is up. Lets
get through with this question so that
we can proceed with other important
business"
Mr.. Spiess said that Mr.. Hawkins is
too good to stay around with his col
leagues and accused him of posing and
offered to help him out. He denied
that the Standard Oil company had
anything to do with this legislation
and asked for a direct statement that
the Standard Oil company was behind
this legislation.
Mr.. Fall stated that only this morn
ing, b. G. Wilson, representative of the
Standard Oil company had approached
him and told him that flash light test
OF l6O degrees is unreasonable.
Mr.. Spiess expressed thanks that he
did not belong to the Tillman school
of orators.
A motion that the committee rise
and that action on the two pending
bills be postponed until February 12,
was defeated, Messrs. Spiess, Duncan,
Martinez and A. Chaves voting for it.
Those who voted mo" were Messrs.
Albright, Hughes, Fall, Hawkins. Jara-
milo and Pinard.
Council bill No. 20 was then adopted
by sections in the committee of the
whole which rose Immediately after
ward.
Council bill No. 20 was reDorted 10