Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-02-10
Morning Journal Bureau.
The Palace Hotel,
Snnin 10 n Al Enh q


one of the most important meas
ures ever enacted by a New Mexico
legislature and measure that is most
likely to be most far reaching in its
effects upon the development of the
territory, was enacted today when
both houses made special order of
the bill to issue $500 600 in school
bonds for the support and upbuilding
Of the common schools of the terri
tory
Both houses considered the bill in
committee of the whole, the house in
the morning. whore it passed by unan
imous vote and the council in the af-
tcrnoon, whore there was one vote
against this measure and this one
east by senator Hewitt. of Lincoln
county. was not because of opposition
10 the bond issue, but because he OBJ
1ceted to its passage without further
time for its consideration.
The reason for putting the bill
through the legislature had practically
unanimous approval and was because
1t was desired to get the bill before
congress as quickly as possible intor-
der that IL may be approved AT the
nrnscnt session.
The presence OF Governor Curry
pna . number of other New MeXicans
at washington now and the fact that
thcV desire 10 return home in few
DAYS made il necessary TO pass the
bill without any delay. in order that
they might be able to present to con-
gress the reasons for its approval
4 number of the members of both
houses worked hard upon the substi-
tuto bin during the latter days OF last
week and on Sunday and Monday ana
il would appear that every safeguard
had been placed about the eXpendi-
tnre of the money
That it may be necessary to make
additional changes in the adminlstra-
tive features of the bill following the
approval of the bond issue by congress
is not improbable But the general
opinion here among the most conser-
vative men seems to be that the safe
guards placed about the expenditure
of this large amount of money are
ample
The measure has received the un-
qualified approval of the members o!
the New Mexico board OF educatlon
who arc now in session here. ana the
general opinion seems to be that there
has been no measure moro progressiv
and more likely to result in Widc-
spread good before the New MeNic'
legislature in recent years
The fact that the revenues from
tho common school lands upon which
this bond issue is based will not onl'
meet the interest charees thereon bu'
will also provide a sinking fund to re-
deem the bonds resulting in the us'
OF the money for the schools without
any additiOnal taxation makes the
bond issue an extremely attractive
business proposition. The substitute
bin. as passed. is a much more elabor-
ate measure than the original bill bu'
aside from the clauses providing fo'
. f... Of nd
expenditure Of the money. probably
the most important change is thai
which seeks to give to the schools oi |
the poorer districts the first claim
upOn this fund
Tho gift Of public land to the terri |
tory was primarily for the use OF thf
common schools and IL was almost |
the unanimous conclusion of tn |
trainers of .his hill that first con |
sidcration should be given to the |
needy districts in the expenditure ol |
the first large sum of money. to b'
realized from the school lands.
The substitute bill was introduced |
in the house this morning by Mr. |
Roberts of ColtaX county and was
passed undor suspension of the rules |
after the house had considered tn |
bin in committee Of the whole Thf |
Noto in tho house was unanimous
Tho bill came into the council a.
the afternoon session and a. the con |
clusion of the session was referred T. |
the committee on education. when Mr. |
Mechem moved that the council &C |
into committee Of the whole for im' |
mediate consideration of the bill Mr. l
Hewitt desired to have the bill print /
ed as did also Mr. McBee and Mf
Prince. After the reasons for hast /
had been explained, MIR. Prince ana /
Mr. McBcc Withdrew their opposition |
Mr. Hewitt. however. objected to tht \
passage of the hill without printing I
and on its final passage voted against
il. He said this evening that he did |
not object to the bond issue and that |
he might have been in favor of every 1
section Of the bill as passed. but ne
declined TO vote for il until he ia, /
time for mature consideration. The
bill was taken up section by sections
but was finally passed without a sin
gle amendment. one amendment pro
posed by Judge Hewitt limiting the
amount to be given To each school
house to one thousand dollars being
defeated BY n vote OF nine to one in
the committee II was shown in the
course of the discussion Of this bill
that there are sixty-six and two-thirds
Der cent of all the school districts la
New Mexico without proper school
buildings and equipment and which