The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-03-28

from Albuquerque journal (Rep.)
In his annual message to the as
sembly Governor Hagerman recon-
mended among other things, the fol-
lowing:
That a strong anti-gambling law
be passed which would prohibit gam
bling in this Territory. An anti-gam-
bling law has bee enacted, which,
it is believed, will be strong enough
to accomplish the end desired. Presi-
dent Charles A. Spiess of the Coun-
ell introduced this law which bears
his name and it is worthy of note
that Mr.. Spiess, although upon the
district attorney bill he stood with
the Bursum forces, declined through
out to be led by the nose as were
the house machine leaders, and de-
clined to stand for the extreme meas
ures advocated by the machine. And
at the end, Mr.. Spiess was found
working openly for the passage of a
sane supply measure.
the governor recommended the re-
vision of the laws. A commission, of
which the attorney general of the ter
ritory is the head, has been named by
legislative act, to revise the laws, and
an appropriation for the purpose has
been accomplished. But n man who
stood stolidIy with the machine, ap-
pears on that commission.
The governor recommended the re-
vision of the school laws, and certain
advances in the educational system of
the territory. The changes have been
made and the advances in part accom-
plished.
The governor recommended hat the
ancient system of handing out the
public printing of the territory as po-
| 1ifi0o1 DafrOron orc ~, r-af 81 he ohn1IchA I'D
and that the territory's work be let
to the lowest bidder on a business ba-
sis. The public printer, although the
office has not been officially abolish
| ed, is gone for good, and the terri
tory's work will be let upon a bust
ness basis to the lowest bidder.
The governor proposed certain
changes il the land laws, and chang
es in the irrigation laws. They a
been made.
The governor objected to the ex-
penditure of an unreasonable amount
for extra employees, and the expeadi-
ture for this purpose was limited to
SIS. ZOO.
And thus all down the line, u re-
view of the actual work of the assem-
bly, shows the actual accomplishment
of the legislation proposed by the gov
ernor and the failure of the legisla-
ton proposed by the machine. In but
one of his larger recommendations
did the governor fail of success, and
that was in the passage of a new and
reliable election and registration law
to which the republican convention
pledged the party. This legislation fail
ed because it was held UP until the
last four days of the session., when
consideration of it by the council was
practically impossible.
Another Interesting feature of the
session is the fact thai although more
veto messages were returned to the
assembly han in legislature in
recent years, every one of these vetOes
were sustained, ave the first, upon
the first appropriation for extra en-
ployes. and this was passed over the
veto only after every concession for
a public accounting, demanded by the
governor and his friends, had been
complied with. 1t is al unusua rec
ord.
1t is not to be supposed that the
governor accomplished the utter de-
feat of the Bursum ring and accom-
plished the legislation desired, with
out assistance. On the contrary, he
had throughout the strongest assist
ance to be desired. In the first place
the people of New Mexico were behind
him and supporting MIN, a fact known
to every man familiar with the trend
of public sentiment.
Moreover, early in the session. he
really strong nan in h republican
| party came to realize the utter ruin
to the party and the grave danger to
the territory of allowing the Bursum
ring to run riot through the session
One after another, they came out
fatty for the governor and the princl-
pies for which he stands AID against
the ring campaign. Men like Solomon
Luna, the national committeeman and
the veteran of the party lead
ers. Hon.. T. D.. Burns, and the others
of the strong mel of the party real
lied h situation and did not hesitate
to take a positive position II the
struggle. These men threw all their
great strength directly against the
| campaign of the ring, and its defeat
was certain from the very start MI
Luna stood throughout the session as
a restraining force, his -farreaching
Influence being thrown always fatty
against anything but sane business
and against all of the proposed leg
islatio1 which he and the men who
stood with him plainly saw must in
the end result in ruin for the party.
Moreover, the majority in the council
Mr.. Duncan, Mr.. Miera, Mr.. Sulzer.
Mr.. Sergeant, Mr. Chavez, Mr.. Stock
ton AID Mr.. Murray. saw from the
start the Inevitable result of success
for the ring. and standing fatty on
the ground of the best interests of the
territory, blocked legislation which
would have sent the republican party
straight to the destruction toward
| which it was being FASTENED by the
Bursum management
With the people at his back and
with influences such as these support