Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-01-23
Morning Journal Bureau,
Santa Fe. n. NJ. Jan. %.

Santa Fe. n. NJ. Jan. %.
The entire attention of the legisla-
ture was given over today to the re-
ception of the governors message. The
reading Of the message has been
looked forward to with keenest inter-
est BY both members of the legisla-
ture and by the people and particu-
larly by those of the people who take
an active interest in public affairs.
What the governor said to the legis-
lature today fully justified the eXpec-
tant attitude in which the people had
waited for the document. The mes
sage occupied two hours and twenty
minutes in the reading. 1t was a long
message, yet very few people stirred
during the reading, and even a smaller
number left the chamber. From the
beginning to the end, every word was
heard with the closest attention. 1t is
a message which could hardly have
failed of respectful attention from any
audience. The impression it made was
plainly seen in the faces of the audi
ence who filed every available seat
in the chamber of the house of repre-
sentatives and who crowded aisles and
doorways. During the greater part of
the session Governor Hagerman read
his message himself, returning to the
good old-fashioned custom followed
by governors of New Mexico in the
past He read quickly and evenly,
seldom raising his voice from the con-
versational tone; and then only to
drive home some important point or
some salient fact; vet every word was
distinctly heard in the furthermost
corner of the big room; and not a
point in the document of more than
fifty printed pages was missed by the
a hriaf formal
! session Of the council was held, the.
members adjomnlng almost immedi-
ately to the house of representatives
where seats had been provided for
them. President Spiess of the council
was called upon to provide over the
joint session, and Immediately APP
pointed committee of five members
of the two houses to wait on the gov
ernor and escort him To the chamber.
A hearty burst Of applause greeted
the party as the governor appeared
from the rear door OF the house.
He was escorted to the speakers ta-
BILE by Councilman Carl A. Dalies, who
formally presented him. There was
further hearty and spontaneous APP
plause as the governor mounted the
stand. then silence as he proceeded
with the reading of the message.
Throughout the reading, although two
hours slipped past. although the hour
for luncheon was long since gone, very
few people left their seats, and the at
tention was close throughout. AT
those more interesting points in the
message. the people leaned forward in
their seats to catch every word. 1t IS
certain that no executive message in
recent years in New Mexico has been
heard with such close and respectful
attention. The governors voice varied
but slightly throughout the reading
and appeared strong at the end and as
clear as If he had not beenusin@ II
steadily for two hours At the end Of
the reading, the audience and the
members gave the governor another
hearty volley of apDlause.
Then a toint committee was named
to escort the executive back to his Of
flee. And after the thanks of the as
sembiy had been extended the gov
ernor and his escort took their depar-
ture. Both houses Immediately ad-
iourned untll tomorrow morning at
10 o'clock.
Governor Hagermans first message
has already taken its place. and will
stand as one Of the ablest documents
Of its kind in the history of New Mex
leo. Broad, liberal, fearless, in It's
dealings with the most complex prob
lens before the legislature and the
people, II goes to the root of the evils
which vex the territory, suggests In
every case a practical remedy. and
points the way clearly to further adj
vancement for reforms already begun.
The message goes into every phase OF
the territorial government. takes up
every serious question, and deals with
it vigorously and with directness
and strength which shows a clear un-
derstanding of every question raised
That the document shows deep
thought and careful preparation goes
without saying This, In brief, Is
small part of the opinions expressed
today by those who heard the mes
sage:
s'It hews to the line"
1T is the strongest message by
New Mexico governor for quarter or
a century.
1T is an able and comprehensive
document"
"The legislature can make no mis-
take in following out the governors
suggestions.
These and dozens more ike them
are the expressions of members of the
legislatures: citizens, and even politl-
clans. Although tn message goes di-
rectlv into those delicate questions
which politicians as a rule would Ike
bot to see iet alone. even those men
who are disposed to antagOnize the
governor, have recognized the message
as a document which demands and
will receive close attention from the
LEGISLATURE and the neople. II Is
message which will have its effect, not
only on this session. but on future
assemblies. territorial and state.
The council. during the morning
session, prior to the joint session,
passed under suspension of the rules
two ioiRt resolutions introduced by
Councilman Dalies, providing, one for
the furnishing to the members OF the
assembly of copies OF the compiled
laws OF 1897. in both English and
Spanish. at the expense of the terri
tory. and the other for COPIES of an
subsequent session laws. and of tho
Journal Of the assembly of 1905. Press