Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-02-23
CITY COUNCIL AND
THE LEGISLATURE
The Aldermen Of Santa Fe Pass Two Re-
solutions Which Bear on Legislation
That is Pending and Directly or In
directly Affects the Capital.
the PROJECT TO BUILD 4 ROAD
FROM SANTA FE TO Las VEGAS

The city council met in special session
Saturday afternoon to protest against
the passage of the bill now pending in
the legislature requiring a tax for wa
ter and light purposes; and to take ac-
resolution which has been adopted in
the House for the construction of a
road between here and Las Vegas by
convict labor. The call for the meeting
was signed by Aldermen Fischer, Sena,
Hersch, Dudrow and Rodriguez, and all
were present. Mayor Sparks presided.
now pending to re- uire a levy for wa
ter and light purposes. 1t was explain
ed that the bill is intended for Ration,
but that under it's provisions, Santa Fe
and other cities are included. Mr.
Fischer then presented the following
resolution which was adopted:
Whereas, Certain bills have been in
troduced in the House and Council of
the 35th legislative assembly, which, if
they become laws, would be detrimen-
tai to the best interests of the City of
Santa Fe; therefore be 1t
Resolved, That to protect the interests
of the City of Santa Fe in the matter
of legislation it would be we'll to have
a steering committee of three members
of the city council appointed by the
mayor, who shall watch legislative pro-
ceedings, and who shall draft and pre-
sent to the honorable legislative body
protests against such bills as may be
detrimental to the best interests Of the
city, and shall draft and present to the
legislative body resolutions requesting
the passage of such bills as may be for
the best interests of the city; and it Is
further
"Resolved, That the mayor shall APP
point such committee of three members
of the council who shall have full pow
er to act as mentioned above in the
name of the city council Of the City of
Santa Fe.-The committee named con-
sists Of Messrs. Fischer, Sena and Cas-
tillo."
The following resolution was then
presented and adopted:
Whereas, Committees of the S5th
legislative assembly are now consider
Ing the wisdom and feasibility Of utiliz-
ing convict labor for the building of
public highway between Santa Fe and
Las Vegas, and
whereas, In the opinion Of the men,
.bers of this municipal body such en-
ployment of the unfortunate inmates Of
the penitentiary would not only serve
to provide such inmates Of the peniten-
tiary with much needed healthful occu-
patton that could In nowise conflict
with the just rights of free labor, but
would identify New Mexico with the
good roads movement now so popular
throughout the neighboring states Of
the west, initiate settled policy for
dealing with the prison labor problem,
SO long a mooted question In this terri-
tory and stand as an example which
may in time be extended to the other
parts Of the territory, and
whereas, Such public road or high
way would pass through the United
States Pecos forest reservation, one OF
the most beautiful mountain parks In
the world and render accessible to the
people of Santa Fe, San Miguel and
Mora counties for the purposes of trade
and healthful recreation section OF
the country now isolated and but little
known, yet rich in historic associations
and resourceful in deposits Of gold and
copper ores, recently proved veins OF
mercantile coal and attractive In its
picturesque ranch homes; therefore be
it
Resolved by the municipal council OF
the City of Santa Fe. in special session
held this 2fst day of February, 1908,
That such undertaking is deemed to be
entirely feasible, and If carried out on
the lne suggested its cost would be In
finitesimal in comparison to its bene-
fits to large proportion Of the tax
payers of the territory; and we earn
estly implore and petition the honora.
| lie members of the 35th legislative as
sembly to authorize the use of limit
ed number of convicts for such purpose;
and be it further r.
"Resolved, That copy Of these res
olutions be presented to the Hon. r. l.
Baca by a committee of one to be nam
ed by the mayor, for his use in furth'
ering the project as outlined above"
Mr.. Dudrow was named as the com.
mittee to present the resolutions to Mr.
Baca.
| Tho oo,,noiI thon adjourned.