Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-02-09
CHIEF CLERKS
TO USE AXE
Sixty Seven En-
ployes Legislature
Discharged
SMALL NUMBER RETAINED
May Not Be Able to Handle
Work.. Result of Long Cau-
Gus and Night Session.

Following caucus of the members
of the Council and of the House yes
terday afternoon and night session of
the Legislative Assembly last evening,
it was stated this morning that sixty
seven employees out of the ninety-four
originally on the pay roll are to be
paid off and discharged. This will
leave in the House out of sixty en-
ployes, some of whom were federal,
total of twenty, including the expert
help which is already limited below
the minimum needed for the work on
hand.
In the Council there will remain out
of thirty-four employees, several of
whom were also federal employees, a
total of seven to do the work required.
While it is admitted by even the
reform element" that this number is
inadequate for the proper handling of
the work of the Assembly, the reduc-
tion in numbers is being made in Or
der to keep the expenses for extra
help and for contingent expenses
within the amount of the $4,000 ap-
preparation authorized by the United
States Congress for such purpose.
Expert Help to Resign.
It is probable that, owing to re-
duction contemplated in the salaries
of expert help. several first class STEM
ographers and translators will resign
Monday and return to their former po-
sitions, which they have left on leave
of absence.
This is the final outcome of the al
legged padding Of the employees pay
rolp' which developments have proven
was not only not padded, but was
scarcely large enough to properly han
die the work. 1t is admitted that a
few of the minor employees such as as
sistants to the door-keepers and ser,
yeants-at-arms might be dispensed
with without Gripping the force great
ly, but it is we'll known that even
then the demand for expert help
which is now more sorely needed tnan
ever, would more than make up the
difference on the pay roll.
Chief Clerk Martin Of the Council
and Chief Clerk Staplin Of the House
were instructed to begin using the
axe" lust as soon as the funds were
available to pay off the employees VINO
are to be discharged.
The question now confronting the
legislators, and it is a grave one, Is
can the Assembly conduct its sessions
from now until the end Of March with
the limited help at its disposal ano
at the same time transact the grea'
bulk of business of Importance to the
people?
TOO Much Of a Good Thing.
T am in favor Of economy in every
wav" said a member OF the Assembly
TODAY. "but I am strenuously opposed
to OVERRIDING it so as to cripple tne
good work which the people expec'
from this Assembly" -,
"I understand however, tnat py Ine
terms of the appropriation, we are
left no discretion in the matter and
we therefore must bow our heads te
conditions and do the best we can
The $4,000 appropriation authorized
y by the federal government Will no
be exceeded even if we have TO pa.
employees out Of our own pockets.
know that a number of the members
of the Assembly have already EN-
ployed private stenographers to at
tend to matters that should be done
in the Capitol by legislative employees
think the action of this body Is
certainly the best refutation possible
of the sensational charges that have
been made against it, of padding pay
rolls, grating and the like"
THE COUNCIL.
Fifteenth Day-Afternoon Session.
Pursuant to adjournment the Coun
Gil met at $3.50 p. M, President Spiess
in the chair. The Chief Clerk read
the roll-Mr. Dalies absent owing tc
illness. A message from the House
was received. Chief Clerk Staplin Of
the House announced that the House
had passed, over the Governors veto
House Joint Resolution Number 4
providing for the payment OF employees
and for contingent expenses. Mr.
Martinez, in a motion duly seconded
and carried, asked that the Council
take up for consideration, the message
from the House under suspension o.
the rules. Mr.. Miera was called to the
chair by President Spiess following
the reading Of the communication
from the Governor vetoing the resolu
tion providing for the pay of employees
and contingent expenses, while the
President took the floor to resent Ger
tain statements in the message. He
made strong plea in behalf Of the
passage of House Joint Resolution
Number 4. He then moved that the
vote by which the resolution had
passed the Council the first time be
re-considered, which was duly sec
onded and carried.
This had the effect of bringing the
resolution again before the Council
Mr.. Spiess then moved that House
Joint Resolution Number do now
pass this Council the objections of the
Governor thereto, Notwithstanding
The roll was read BY the Chief Clerk