Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-03-13
THE COUNCIL.

AItGTIlOOl oeSSIOIl.)
After the recess, House Bill No. 16i
An act to create Leonard Wood county
was handed down and was passe,
without debate.
Substitute for House Bill No. 121, Al
act providing for the construction b!
convict labor Of road through III
United States Pecos Forest Reserve
from Santa Fe to Las Vegas, was re
ported from the House. Mr.. Jaramillt
at once moved to take it up for i'm.
mediate consideration under suspen-
sion of the rules. The bill was read in
full and then the second and third
time by title. Mr.. Fall said he was
opposed to the bill. He is in favor Of
good roads but the bill under consid-
Grafton carried an appropriation OF
$1,000 and he did not know where the
money was to come from. He stated
that as the appropriation bill left the
Council 1t used up within $4,000 of all
the money in the territorial treasury
and since the bill has reached the
House there has been an increase of
$4,000 or $4,000 more than is available
or in sight. The only fund from which
this $4,000 could be taken is the salary
fund and to take the money from that
fund, said Mr.. Fall, will be to cripple
the work Of the territory. Mr.. Fall al
so said it is extremely doubtful If the
convicts can be made to work on such
a project. Mr.. Fall drew a picture of
the insane confined in the county jails
money could be found, it should be ex-
pended in increasing the accommoda-
tions at the insane hospital so that
those in the jails could be properly
cared for. He declared he would more
willingly vote for $4,000 for the insane
hospital than two cents for the road.
Mr.. Hughes said he was opposed to the
bill because it brought convict labor in
competition with free and organized
labor. He stated that he had received
many petitions from the labor organiz-
ations Of Albuquerque protesting
against the passage of the bill and he
would vote against it for that reason.
Mr.. Spiess said that he did not believe
organized labor generally was against
1t and he read many kilograms sent to
Mr.. Duncan and himself from labor or
ganizations and their officers in Las
Vegas urging the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Hawkins opposed the bill on the
grounds that there is not money in the
treasury to meet the appropriation and
because he did not believe convict Ia
Dor could be legally used for this work.
He held that prisoner is sentenced to
the penitentiary to be therein confined
for number of years and 1t is not le-
gal to take him out on such work. The
bill was then passed by vote of to
s, Messrs. Albright, Fall, Hawkins,
Hughes, Pinard voting nay. The result
was greeted with applause by the large
crowd present but it was quickly
checked by President Chaves who sta
ted that expressions Of approval or dis
approval were ilOI peIILitISo III sAS
Council chamber.
BY unanimous consent, Mr.. Andrews
introduced Council Bill No. 129, An act
which provides that where county jails
are limited in capacity and as many
as 80 prisoners are confined, the county
commissioners are authorized to make
a levy to provide additional quarters.
1t was passed under suspension of the
rules.
Council Bill No 1, An act relating to
compulsory education, was presented
by Mr.. Hawkins from the COMMITTEES
on education without recommendation.
Mr.. Duncan moved to put It on Its third
reading, but Mr.. Jaramillo and Mr..
Martinez objected. 1t was then recon-
mitted to the committee on territorial
affairs.
At $50 the Council adjourned until
10 o'clock this morning.