The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-02-18

Santa Fe, N. NJ, Saturday. Feb.
16.-The fourth weeks session of the
the Thirty-Seventh Legislative as
sembly closed with the celebrated dis
trict attorney bill still in a somno
liant condition in the committee on
judiciary. The followers of Bursum
strictly maintain that they have eight
votes il tae council for the passage
of the bill, and possibly nine, but the
other leaders say that it is very doubt
full whether a bare majority can be
secured to pass the bill, and thai
there is no possibility of passing the
bill over the veto of the governor.
All sorts of plans are being de-
vised to bring councilmen into the
band wagon camp, but it does not ap-
ear that much Roadway has been
made. 1t now develops that the liquor
dealers association is taking a hand
in attempting to secure the passage
of the district attorney bill. The ar
dictates the appointment of toe dis
trict attorneys, the liquor dealers
will stand a better show than they
would if the governor were to appoint
them. 1t is understood that the
liquor dealers have raised a large
fund for the purpose of advancing
their interests with the legislature.
and it is hoped that n or two u
cilmen may be Influenced to see mat
tiers in a light more favorable to sa-
loonkeepers. Many of the liquor deal
ers are of opinion that it would be to
their advantage to have district atto:
neys appointed who would not be too
particular about Sunday closing, and
who would not go out of their way
to make trouble for saloonkeepers
Sunday, and who are not averse to
quenching the thirst of the multitude
on the first day of the week at Is
cents per quench.
The same influence is being brought
to zeal to smother any legislation in
ing of the legislature it appeared as
though there would be no opposition
to the passage Of an anti-gambling
law, but a great change appears to
have come over the legislators, and
very little is heard of legislation in
this direction. President Spiess, of
the council, announced from the Chair
in the course of the remarks made
by him Immediately after his election
as president of the council, that he
was heartily in favor of abolishing
gambling in New Mexico, and the
sentiment expressed by him was ac-
quiesced in by more han two-tlirds
of the members of t house
Pressure is also being brought 10
bear from another direction and that
is through bills for county division
and change of county lines 1t is
sought to whip some of the members
of the council into line by the intro
duction of bills to divide their coun-
ties or change the county lines, there
being no less han five bills of this
kind now before the legislature. with
more in prospect.
1t is a matter of vital importance
to secure the right kind of district at
torneys with some of the prominent
republican politicians for the X
2 years. or until the statute of lin
itation runs as against certain alleged
violations of law, among which are
gross violations of the election laws
As a result of the Larragole-Anarews
contest more than twenty infcrma-
tons have been filed in the district
court in Torrance county, and in
some of the other counties a worse
state of affairs exists. 1t is necessary
for some of the republican leaders 10
do some work il order to
keep out of the penftentiary, and they
figure that if they can dictate the ap-
pointment of the district attorneys,
whose duty it would be to prosecute
them. a long step will nave been ia
ken toward immunity.
It will be seen that from the point
of view OF the members of the gang
the game is worth fighting for. Mr..
Bursum is Interested deeply on his
own account, because of alleged gross
Irregularities in the accounts at the
penitentiary ascribed to Tax book
Keeping. AS chairman of the repub
lican central committee, he is not I'M
ious to have it proven ia court that
the republican majority in the terri
tory last fall was secured through
fraud aad gross and fragrant viola
lions of the election laws. But Mr..
Bursum is not alone. Some scores of
lesser lights and election officers are
IN danger Of incarceration. aad win