The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-07-11
TO THE PEOPLE or NEW MEXICO
Judge Freeman, of Carlsbad Issues a
Letter on Statehood

OuCS VI Inc SHd1IHldu, new McXIco
| Statehood League, Carlsbad, N. M,
July A, 1906.
To the People of New Mexico:
In a YER short time the people of
this territory will be called upon TO
hold an election for the selection of
delegates to a convention to form a
constitution for the new state of Ari-
iona.
Il shall not dwell upon the import
ance of this election. The veal or
woe of the people of this territory for
on indefinite period depends largely
on the wisdom to be exercised by
them in this behalf.
1t goes without saying that the
very best men ought to be selected.
without regard to their religious or
political views.
The man who is SO grossly ignorant
of the gravity of the situation as to
desire to make the election turn on
| the politics of the candidate, can not
be reached by argument or reason,
and hence l v no suggestions to
| offer to him.
l desire, however to present some
views for the consideration and atten-
ton of intelligent and patriotic voters
as to what, in my opinion, the consti-
tuition should contain, for there are
some matters on which candidates
ought to be required to commit them
selves in advance of their election.
1t will be fatal to the constitution if
members are elected without knowing
what they are expected TO do, and find
after arriving at Santa Fe, that their
work has already been laid out by
a few men who nave purposes of their
own to accomplish.
| am going, therefore to suggest
a few provisions that in my humble
judgment should without fail be in
serted in the constitution.
l. Gambling in all its forms should
be prohibited.
2. The new state should not be per
mitted to assume any debt hereto
fore created by any county or rail
road or any other purposes.
3. No railroad doing business in
the new state should be permitted to
charge a greater freight or passenger
rate than is charged to citizens of adj
joining states.
4. No railroad should be permitted
to issue free passes to anyone except
those engaged exclusively in the bu-
siness of such railroad
80. No person elected TO either
branch of the Legislature should be
eligible to any appointment by the
governor during the two years for
which he was elected.
Sc. The legislature should be pro
hibited from Increasing or diminish
ing the compensation of any officer
during the term for which he was cleo
ted or appointed.
Z. The Legislators should be allow
ed an ample per diem compensation
for a term of seventy-fve days and
actual travelling expenses for two t2)
trips from their home to the capital.
8. No bill should become a law
without having been read three times
: in each house, each reading on a sep
arate day.
8. In all suits involving $50 in
amount either party should be enti-
tied to a jury and the Judge should
be without power to direct a verdict;
and no more than two new trials
should be granted on cOunt of the
failure of the jury to find the facts
in accordance with the opinion of the
judge.
10. The supreme court should con-
sist of three judges. no more than
two of whom should be residents of
the same division of the state. One
of the qualifications of a supreme or
district judge should be that he has
been in active practice in the terri
tory for at least three years next pre-
ceding his election. Judges, both dis
trict and supreme, should be elected
by the qualified voters.
II. Counties shout be prohibited
from creating any Indebtedness ex-
cept for strictly county purposes
II. No legislation not applicable
alike to all the counties and TO all
the citizens should be allowed.
| cannot of course. outline all the
provisions required in a good consti-
tuition, for to do this would be TO
write a constitution | have, there
fore, ~endeavored to outline what
deem to be the most essential fea-
lures.
Unless the anti-pass clause is adop-
ted it will avail but very little to
form a constitution of any character.
AS well turn the whole matter over
to the railroads, and let them make
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