Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-02-09
Anenuafed LnfIeneES

TT HON the gods would destroy they FIRST make mad,-and the gods
seem 10 have it IN for somebody IN the lower branch Of the
Nb New Mexico legislature. During the three weeks it has been IN
session, the said lower branch has devoted much the greater part
Of its time to the work Of furnishing evidence of this fact, but the most con
,incng point in the testimony thus far educed vas the passage Of Mr. Holt
"Skiddoo" bill, last "Wednesday. This bill is a measu that has Just two
any legislative body in the United States: First, it causes the legislature 10
cast a fragrant and wholly nexcusabe insult upon a coordinate branch Of te
go,enment-an act by which it shows a deploabe ignorance Of law, a lack Of
ordinary good breeding, and al innate poncnes TO shameless ndeeencyi and
second, it makes the members Of the assembly put the brand oil Judas lscarot
upon themselves. and say to the world by implication as plain as English words
can frame il. We are all for salel' Taken all in all it is probably the most
shameless exhibition OF auenuated luleness and legislative mdecency that the
history o. the country affords
When Mr. Holt vas removed from the district auomeyhip for general
incompelency. we were disposed 10 regard the action Of the executive as
rather loo drastic, but a seat IN the house has given Nh. Holt an opportunity {"
prove 10 the world that the governor had sized him up eoHecdy-and MI
Holt has not neglected the opportunity. In pushing a monsuocy Of this
sort through the house for the purpose OF Wreakng vengeance upon the gov
emor he lot only writes himself a chump, as a lawyer, but shows al absolute
lack Of ordinary "gumpdon' by calling public attention to the smallnes OF the
pattern upon which he is built
But the fact that the man responsible for such a bill makes IN exhibition OF
lis own bitterness is not the point If he succeeds in carrying the measure
Though, he makes a holy chow Of the Legislature, and thereby of the terri
tory, and that is where the humiliation comes IN. For that reason we appeal 10
the council in The nan OF the people OF New Mexico and their good common
sense, 10 save. the territory from the teen and ndeule which it would receive
and also merit. by allowing its legislature to be made a sort Of annex to the
asylum for the feeble minded.
which we have referred above, is to be found IN the action Of the house IN
most Aagandy insulting the council by laying upon the table indefinitely, aud
without even the courtesy Of a roll call a measurew which had passed The upper
house unanimously. Charitable persons make allowance Tor such conduct on
the ground that the men guilty OF 1t do not know any better That is I'M
doubcdy true. but is it a valid excusc} When such rude fellows OF the baser
sort push themselves forward, and obtain seats in the legislature, is It not then
duty to acquire some little knowledge Of the ordinary decences Of civilized life
that they may not permit then ignorance o make such exhibitions OF their boor
rhnea as o bring humiliation upon the entire commonwealth
This is a matter hat directly and very seriously concerns the whole people
OF the territory. We are knocking At the door Of the union, from time 20
time, for admission as a state, but what remote hope Of statehood an We
possibly indulge while confronted by such a record as the lower house Of the
Legislature is now making for u} Instead OF establishing our fitness for state
people as 10 whether we ire really m to exercise the modcum Of sclgo,crn-
mnt which appcuans TO the territorial form.