Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-01-06
Potter Of the GoUernor

~ URING the last session OF congress. Delegate Andrews introduced %
bill FOR a act to provide Tor restricting appointments to office
OF members Of the legislative assemblies In territories" The bill
was referred to The committee N terriort les and In due time was
reported back to the house with n recommendation that 1t be amended
by striking u certain words The bill as introduced provided that mo
member OF the legislative assembly Of any territory low or hereafter
organized. shall hold Or be appointed TO any office whatever by the gov
ernor n said territory or by The legislature thereof during the tem for
which he vas elected and for me year after the expiration o. such term"
The amendment recommended by the committee ws TO strike out the
words and for IN year after the expiration Of such term" and the reasons
given by the committee or such amendment were as folows.
THE bill is intended to prohibit governors Of the territories from
appointing members of the Legislative assemblies to onieo during their
terms Of office.
1T is stated that governors OF territories have frequently appointed
members OF the territorial legislative assemblies TO offices In the terri
tories during the terms II the members thereby making II possible
for such governors TO exercise undue influence upon legislative assem-
bhes IN matters of legislation. The bin II passed, viii prevent the exer-
else Of such influence.
"rhe committee deemed It advisable 70 strike out the provision
prohibiting such appointments for ne year after tie expiration OF the
Terms of members for this reason; It appears that members OF the
legislative assemblies take their eats about ninety days after their
election. and the session OF the assemblies are restricted to sixty days.
OF the assemblies I'd the expiration Of the terms OF members and
inasmuch as no influence could be exercised upon legislation after
adjournment the governors are sWh restricted from making appoint
mens OF members for eighteen months after the legislative session closes.
Instances wefe cited where practically all members II territorial
councils were appointed to territorial Offices during their terms and
sat to confirm their own appointments This Is thu evil which this bin
seeks to correct
The bill was o reached by the last congress before its nnal adjourn
ucnt and therefore failed but seeing that the measure when amended
as suggested BY the committee was approved By members of congress
and by the people OF the territories, MT Andrews has now introduced
another bill identical with the M above referred to except that It omhs
the words which the committee asked 20 have stricken out and 1t Is
difficult te conjecture how or wherein any member OF congress or any
citizen Of a territory could object TO such a bin. Certain it is that the
iek or such ar inhtbuve provision IN the federal statutes for the gov
eminent Or the uerruofies'has given rise ga New Mexico to more scandals
than N other cause True, it would deprive the governor OF a territory
u som power and a certain measure OF influence. but 81 would be
power and influence witch ny governor With a proper respect Tor himself
ana the public veal would scorn TO use,