Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-03-09
RUFF DEMANDS RATE BILL CAUSED
FAIR TRIAL A BATTLE ROYAL
Grave Charges AL On Floor of House
legged Against JUS ---Holt Led Min
tice Dunno oritv
DENIES THAT HE FLED STRONG SPEECHES MADE
LED STRONG SPEECHES MADE
By Those Opposing Mea-
sure---No Hard Feelings Re-
suited From Fray.

The three-cent rate bill introduced
in the House yesterday afternoon by
Mr.. Gallegos, of Quay County and
which passed that body by a vote of
IS ayes, 8 nays, two absent and one
not voting, precipitated the hottest
fight Of the present Legislative Assem-.
bly,.
Moreover it demonstrated what a
minority composed of bright men
learned in the ways of parliamentary
battle, could do when determined in
their opposition to the passage of a
measure.
The fight began following the read
ing Of the bill the first and second
time by title, when Mr.. Gallegos
moved the suspension of the rules for
the third reading of the bill prepara-
tory to its passage Mr.. Holt, who led
the minority fight against this bill in
an admirable manner, promptly
amended the motion to refer the bill
to the committee on railroads. The
roll-call was demanded.
Mr.. Abbott, of Santa Fe. who was
one Of the most valuable members of
the fighting minority and contested
the bill to the last ditch, made a
strong plea for fair play in the consid-
Grafton of the bill declaring that it
should be fully considered as it was
OF paramount Importance TO the Ter
ritory. He opposed passing it until
I! 1t had been in the hands of commit
tee and favored Mr.. Hollis motion.
Representative Horace c. Abbott, of
Colfax County, was in the thckest of
the fight. Mr.. Abbott placed himself
s1uarely on record against the propo-
sltlon His speech was earnest ani
eloquent although his cogent reason
ing did not change the majority.
Not Time for Three.cent Rate.
Mr. Abbott did not think that the
time for three cents fare had ar,
/ rived as yet In New Mexico; that the
! time will come he has no doubt and
The hoped that the increase in popula-
tlon would be so rapid that it would
be had at an early date. He did not
believe II fair to make three cents
per mile passenger rate as the new
railroads that have been building in
tthe Territory during the past few
gears and are now building are in
sparsely settled sections where busi-
Iness-both passenger and freight
must be developed and where passen-
ger business for some time to come
must be small He said that it was
the intention of the legislature to en-
courage the construction of beet sugar
factories, cement factories. smelters,
etc, by exempting them from taxa
ton for six years; this would be use
less without railroads as without
such these industries could not exist
and thrive.
An Argument of Great Weight.
In fact without railroad communica-
Ition they would be useless and capital
invested in them would prove a loss.
representative Abbott was the only
member not an attorney who stood
solidly against the proposition and
voted accordingly
He did this because he believed ii
was right and proper so to do. In ad-
dition he stated that he would not
vote for any measure that had not
been carefully and thoroughly exam
ined and was thoroughly understood
by the members.
He favored the committal of the bill
to the Committee on Railroads, to be
carefully investigated, reported and
la full discussion had upon it's merits.
Mr.. Gallegos said the bill was very
similar to House Bill Number 49,,
which had been for some time before
the Committee on Railroads and a
printed copy of which was on every
desk In the House.
Mr. Hudspeth said he was the au-
thor Of House Bill Number 1G and that
he had despaired of it ever being re-
ported by the committee and favored
the passage Of Mr.. Gallegos' bill.
Mr.. Beach asked Mr.. Hudspeth to
come before the Committee on Rail.
roads and explain why the Territory
should enact a three-cent fare law.
He said If the bill introduced by Mr..
Sanches, of San Miguel, became law,
1t was doubtful if the legislators would
ever care for three-cent fare.
Ruppe Again Stopped the Clock.
Mr. Ruppe said: ut has been quite
q while since have had the pleasure,
gentlemen. of stopping that clock"
Gle pointed to the House clock which
press reports said a flow Of oratory
from him had once stopped)
He then said he had waited pa.
tiently for some such legislation and
was heartily in favor Of it. He was
called to order by Mr.. Holt who ap.
pealed to thS Speaker that Mr.. Ruppe
had used more than one minute in ex-
planning his vote. Mr.. Ruppe sat
down, voting mo-"
Later Mr.. Holt apologized to Mr..
Ruppe, saying that five minutes were
allowed member to explain his vote.
Mr.. Ruppe wanted the remaining four
minutes Of his time, which caused
considerable mirth. The additional
tina was not allowed