Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-03-08
Mr. Catron Has Proposition For
Calling a Constitutional Con-
vention in immediate Future,
DELEGATES WOULD SERVE
WITHOUT COMPENSATION
Congress Would Be Asked to
Include Cost of Convention
and Elections in Enabling Act
Morning Journal Bureau, !
The Palace Hotel,
Santa Fc, n NJ March Z |

Mr. Catrou of Santa Fe. has in
preparation q bill which he may in
troducr in the council tomorrow aft
ernoon providing for the immediate
holding of constitutional convention
In Santa fc for the purpose Of franz
ing constitution for the state of
New Mexico
II is the purpose OF Mr. CAtron and
other advocates OF this course To pro-
vide that the delegates elected to this
convention shall serve without pay.
that they shall receive only their rail-
road mileage and actual expenses
while attending upon such conven-
tion ana that this expense and the
expense of the elections. first of dele
gates, then upon the adoption of the
constitution, which IL Is proposed tn
submit to the people at u specia
election in November, would be repaid
to the territory by congress in tho
enabling act admitting the territory
to the union.
The arguments presented by the
friends Of this course are strong ones
and the bill will probably find very
strong support in the legislature. II
is argued that while every chance IA
Nors che admission of New Mexico at
the next regular session OF congress-.
the territory would be IN a much
stronger position were II possible for
us 60 go before congress with a
strong. sane and carefully drawn
constitution. which had been approx
ed by the people OF the territory. That
congress. IN admitting the territory.
would be Wiling to bear the expenses
OF this convention ana the elections
accompanying II. there Is little room
for doubt as the same procedure has
been followed by other states apply
ing for admission Ia the union. aud
has been approved by congress.
The manner Of appointment OF dele
gates ana their election or selection
has not yet been definitely dctermin-
ed There are many advocates OF
on-partisanship IN the constitutional
con VentlOn, the selection OF strong
men for the convention whether they
be republicans or democrats, the idea
beinu to frame a constitution Which
viii remove the last doubt from the
minds of the members of congress
and particularly Of the senators that
New Mexico win indulge in any OF
the constitutional fireworks which
make oklahoma n deep disanpoint-
mcnt TO the statesmen who admitted
that state.
There is another argument brought
forward in favor Of the course pro-
pos.d In Mr. CatrOu's bill which Is
deserving of attention. II Is argued
that a convention held now, when the
actual admission OF the territory Is
still some time Off would result III
bringing to the framing Of the con-
stitution more OF sane, caretui anu
conservative judgment and less work
with a View 60 political cNpedicney
and political advantage than coma
possibly be the case in convention
held between the passage N an en-
abling act and the coming on OF th"
first state election The immediate
cost 10 the territory OF such a CON
vention and the elections accompany
ing il, would be very small and ia"
nrncticnl assurance that even this cN-
ncnsc would eventually be borne ny
congress makes the question Of eN-
pensc a minor one
If the territory would hold such q
convention and adopt a strong consti-
tuition drawn along sanc lines II
would remove one of the chiet ob-
iections of congress to our ADMISSION
and would vastly Increase the chances
for prompt action In the next con
RrcsS