Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-02-17
THE LEGISLATURE.


and passed a bill providing for an in
urauc department.. The law is
modelled after the laws OF Colorado
and Ohio. 1t provides for the ap-
%pointment OF an insurance commits
%sioner, at s24OO per year, who shall
take charge OF the insurance business.
He is to collect numerous fees, which
are all to be turned into the territori-
al treasury, and it is estimated the de-
partment will net the territory from
twelve to fifteen thousand dollars per
annum. The commissioner is TO salts
fy himself regarding the financial
stability Of all companies who want 10
do business in the territory, and this
will insure the payment Of all losses
that may accrue. The companies will
have to make annual reports OF their
business to the commissioner, and pay
him two per cent on their gross pre-
miums. Whether the companies will
stand this or whether they will in
crease the premiums so the policy
holders will have to pay it time will
tell. Heretofore the reports of the in
surance companies have been fled
with the auditor.
Some years ago New Mexico had a
law providing for the inspection Of
coal oil, While this law was in force
there was not a death In the territory
caused by coal oil. Many people
thought this inspection law increased
the price of coal oil in the territory,
and there were many demands for its
repeal, Two years ago the legislature
repealed the law. Since then there
have been several accidents from the
use of coal oil, which resulted in
deaths, and the price Of the oil has
not been reduced any. The legisla-
ture concluded that If the people had
to pay the same old price for coal oil
they might have the protection Of a
safe oil, and so passed a coal oil inspec-
tion law. 1t provides for the appoint
ment of an inspector, who may APP
point deputies, and who may collect a
fee of one cent per gallon for inspect.
ing the oil.
A joint resolution was passed pro-
viding for the inspection by the legis
lature OF all territorial institutions.
A bill Vas introduced providing for
a revision of the laws of the territory
by a commission which shall report to
the next legislature. The laws sadly
need a revision, and If New Mexico is
to continue a territory the work should
be done, but If it is to be made a state
this summer the work would be
wasted.
A bill was introduced prohibiting
the establishment Of a saloon or house
OF i'll fame within a mile Of the Uni
versity or Agricultural college.
A bill similar to the one vetoed by
the governor, which provided that any
county fund could be used to pay for
the feeding of prisoners, was passed.
The new bill provides that in Grst
class counties an extra levy Of three
mills car be made, the money to be
used to pay for the feeding of prison
ers. This means plenty Of provisions
for the hobos in Albuquerque and Las
Vegas.
The New Mexican oil Saturday print.
ed a large picture Of Col. w. II. Greer,
councilman from Bernalillo county,
who, the New Mexican claims, is the
handsomest and best dressed man in
the legislature.
Tuesday was the thirtieth day Of the
session, and the legislature had lived
half its life. 1t is limited to sixty
days. On that day the house adopted
a code of rules for its own government
Next Friday, February Gath, has
been set aside as a day for memoria
exercises in honor of the late j. Fran
cisco Chaves, who was elected a mem.
Der of the council and was murdered
before the legislature met.
The house passed a bill authorisina
the Luna county commissioners Il
levy a tax for court house building
purposes.
A bill was passed In the house au
thorising the territorial board of edu
cation to issue teachers certificate
that will be In force In any county IL
the territory, and good for five years
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