The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-01-28
DAILY Record News Bureau


The 37th Legislative assembly clos
es its first week with considerable
more excitement than usually attends
the work of New Mexico legislatures
for the first few weeks of existence.
Regardless of all that is said, there
is great friction in the republican par
ty and there are two factions warning
for results in the. present legislature.
One faction is headed by Hagermael,
and is known as the administration
faction. while the opposing faction is
known as the regular party organiza-
ton
The organization of the Legislature
is distinctly anti-Hagerman. and the
early introduction of legislation expec
ted to deprive the governor of patron7
age is a sure indication of the hoStil-
ity of the majority to the governor.
The bill introduced in the council,
by Martinez. of Taos is intended to
take away from the governor the pow
er of appointing officials in case of va
cancies. and has actual merit Some
years ago the law provided for the ap
pointment OF county officials in case
of vacancy by the board of county
commissioners, but was charged by
a republican Legislature because of the
expected death of a republican sheriff
in a county with democratic commits
sioners- the bill appears to be all
right, and it is expected that it will
receive the signature of the governor.
House bill No. l brought about the
first real struggle between the admin
istration and the party organization,
ana after a hard fight resulted in a
victory for the organization. The bill
provides for the election of the dis
trict attorneys by the people at the
next general election, and meanwhile
the legislative council fills the posit-
ions. The feature of the bill bringing
about the desperate opposition is the
section authorizing the election for
. the next two years by the council, as
IL is looked upon as a direct slap at
Hagerman-
rules of the house for the passage of
the bill failed by a vote Is to against
ii requiring 16 votes to suspend the
rules. This attempt was made Thurs
day afternoon Friday morning the
anti-Hagerman forces returned to the
charge and passed the bill. after the
usual sparrilg, by a vote of II to z,
the change having been brought about
during the night. 1t is said that both
factions worked all night.
During the struggle on the floor OF
the House several territorial officials
favorable to the Hagerman faction
were on the floor working with the
members, and Holt, of Dona Ana cou-
nty introduced a resolution excluding
all lobbiest from the floor. member
then discovered that under the old
rules. being temporarily used by the
house, that territorial officials, and
others, were permitted on the floor.
and the section was promptly sus-
pended.
Two years ago the territorial Off
cials were all with the regular organi-
zation, and the rule was all right but
ii Is different now. So far as the ex-
clusion of those making it a practice
to lobby, the rule meets general appro
val. and the belief is that it should
have beel put in force many years
ago.
The vote on the final passage of the
bill was as follows:
Ayes s:-Abbott, Santa Fe; Aldrich,
Beach. Biernbaum, Denniston, Gale
gos, Green, Herrera. Holt. Martin, Mir
abal, Padilla. Sanchez, San Miguel: !:
Sanchez. Taos; Studley, Trujillo, Mr..
Speaker-17.
No.-Abbott, Colfax; Hudspeth, Luz
cero Moltoya. Moran, Mullens, Rup-
pc, Walters.
II was understood that the friends
of Hagerman accepted the bill as a
slap at his administration, and made
it a test of strength. while the regular
p2rIy organization ma0S no secret OF
it's purposes; the above vote may be
taken as a test of the strength of
the factions
OF course. the machine leaders in
sist that they are simply seeking to
place the election of district attorneys
in the hands of the people as a matter
of principle, but the protestations de
ceiye no one. They are in the field
to take away the patronage from a
governor they consider hostile. and
the indications are that they will go
as far in that policy as the organic
act will permit.
Friday morning both houses ad-
journed over until Monday, aad the
LEADERS of the warning factions are
putting in all their time preparing
for the expected struggle in the scoun-
ell over the district attorney bill. The
Hagerman people declare lis passage
over a veto Ia the council to be impos
sible. while the regulars declare they
nave at least nine votes, and possibly
ten 1t requires eight TO suspend tine
rules OF pass & bill over the execl,tive
Veto