Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-22
Two Members of the House
Introduce Measures Creating
New Counties, With Several
More in Sight,
STANDING COMMITTEES
NAMED IN BOTH HOUSES
Mr., Hewitt, of Lincoln, Intro
duces Bill in Council Propos-
ing Radical Change in Equal
ization Boardi Adjournment
Until Monday.

! Especial Dispatch to the Morning Journal. ]
| Santa Fe. n NJ. Jan. 21.-The first
general Introduction of bills in both
houses, including the first county di-
vision measures. and the appointment
of the standing committees were the
features of the closing day of the first
week of the legislative session The
council adjourned this afternoon until
Monday and the house will take like
action after short session tomorrow
morning.
Probably the most important fea-
ture of the days proceedings was the
beginning of the fight for county di-
vision and the entering of the first
formal protest against it. Two bills
to create Curry county were intro
duced in the house the first by MI
Buskevitch, of Roy, N. NJ, who desires
a county out of portions Of Mora, Col
fax and San Miguel. with Roy as the
county seat, and the second by Mr..
Baca, of Santa Fe, who presented by
request the bill for the creation OF
Curry county with Clovis as the coun-
ty seat. This count Y IS proposed to
create out of small portion of Quay
county. and the remainder from
Roosevelt county territory The pro-
test was in the form of petition pre-
sented to the council by Mr. Mechem.
Of Tucumcari and signed by residents
of Quay county
The county division fight promises
to be a little more vigorous this ses-
sion than ever before, although along
the same lines. There are several sec
tions where it is generally recognized
that new counties are needed, and
whore their ability to support them
selves is unquestioned this is partic-
ularly true in the eastern New Mexico
country, where rapid development has
furnished both population and wealth
The old counties, with one or two ex-
ceptions, will resist division unless it
is carried out along lines of least re-
sistance; namely. a drawing of new
lines to cut off as little taxable valua-
tion as possible. other county divis-
ion bills will come forward presently
and today's bills are but the begin
ming.
The small but respectable" minor
ity In the council. as it is termed by
its leader. Mr.. Hewitt, of Lincoln
county, furnished a number of inter-
esting bills In that body this after
noon, among them being a bill by Mr.
McBee. embodying the provisions of
the measure drawn by Mayor Richard
son, of Roswell, and others, providing
authority for the csta blishment of the
commission form of government In
New Mexico cities. Mr. McBee intro
duced the bill under the title, "Ros-
wen plan. The bill was not read
and was referred to the committee on
corporations. with instruc-
tions that it be printed. 1t is likely !
to attract considerable attention be-
fore the session has gone much far
ther.
The other bills of interest emanat- |
ing from the minority side were Mr. |
Hewitt. one of them proposing TO en- |
act three-eent railroad fare law, and !
the other making radical change in |
the makeup of the territorial board |
of equalization. In this latter bill it !
Is proposed that the board of equali- /
cation be composed as at present. but
that in addition the chairman Of the !
board of county commissioners of each |
county become an ex-officio member /
Of that board. This would make 1
board. as the counties now stand. Of |
thirty-one members. Both Of these I
bills were referred to the committee |
On territorial affairs.
third bill by Mr.. Hewitt provides /
Tor the election Of county commission
srs by vote of districts. instead of by /
vote of the whole county. as at pres
snt II was Mr. Hewitt's busy after !
noon. In addition 10 the several bills 4
he presented council ,
demanding that each mem 4
ber of the council be furnished with 4
4 complete list OF the council employees l
and to what duties each cmployc has
been assigned. The chair entertained /
4 motion from Mr.. Catron to refer the
resolution. Mr.. Hewitt objected upon
he ground that its reference would /
iefeat the purpose of the resolution. /
which was for the purpose of eliciting /
Information. Mr.. Hewitt wanted 20
know what the employees were doing 4
1r intended to do. He made no fur
her objection when the resolution 1
Vas referred to the committee on ter
-itoriaI affairs, although the minority 4
7oted against the motion.
EmpIoye Racket Closed.
The opening week has been devoted