Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-19
Organization Perfected in Both
Branches; Senator Spiess to
Preside Over Council; {. A..
Miera in House.
HARMONY FEATURE OF
THE OPENING SESSION
All Officers Elected by Unan-
lmouS Vote in Response to
Recommendation of RepubIi-
can Caucus.

Especial Dispatch TO the Morning Journal I
Santa Fe, n. NJ. Jan 1s.-The
Ithirty-eighth New Mexico territorial
Legislature, now generally believed to
be the last territorial legislature. con-
vened at noon today in the capitol
| perfected the organization of council
and house Of representatives. with
Charles A. Spiess the president OF the
! council ana T.. A.. Miera as speaker
OF the house; and immediately gath
erlng in joint session in the chamber
| of the house of representatives heard
the reading of Governor Currys first
message.
The keynote of the session was
sounded in the governors message,
which he read himself, and which he
| introduced with three kilograms, one
| from Chairman Hamilton, of the
house committee on territories; an
other from william Loeb, secretary to
| the president, and "A third from Dele
gate Andrews all of them expressing
conviction that the statehood bill will
pass at the present session. The gov
ernor did not receive a reply to a tele-
gram sent to Senator Beveridge of the
senate committee on territories, but
those in close touch with the situation
here believe Beveridge's opposition, if
it still exists, viii be overcome and
that the territory will be admitted be-
fore this legislative session has ex-
pired. The governor, in introducing
his message urged the legislature to
send a joint memorial by telegraph to
Washington Immediately, and this will
be one of the first acts passed.
The message, taken from its first
page to its last, is a strong one; one
of the strongest in fact that has ever
81 10,
islature. Dealing as it does with Drac-
tically every phase of the administra-
tion of territorial affairs, II finds nu-
merous recommendations for needed
legislation, several Of which are ur-
gent recommendation for radical re-
forms in administrative matters.
The governor urges amendments to
the election laws which will make
corruption of the ballot punishable by
penitentiary sentence. He asks aboli-
tion of the death sentence and the en-
actment of parole and indeterminate
sentence laws. He desires change i'm
the management of the penitentiary
by making a new and more active
form of commission instead of the
present penitentiary board. He rec
ommends local option on the liquor
traffic, and makes powerful recon-
mendation for good roads legislation, |
which, If carried out. will be worth |
much to New Mexico, and in a num- !
ber of other equally important matters
his recommendations are strong. 1t Is |
likely also that many of these recon- !
mendations will be carried out for the |
legislature as a whole is in sympathy |
with the governors program and with
his policies. The message is one that |
viii bear careful reading. and people |
who desire to be informed as to the |
trend of governmental affairs in New |
Mexico should not fail to read il from |
beginning to end.
1t was exactly 1905 when Secretary |
Nathan Jaffa appeared in the council |
chamber to call that body to order |
The council was quickly organized and |
the secretary proceeded to the house
where he performed a similar office
There, too, organization was quickly I
effected and after the usual delay to
allow notification committees to work.
the council appeared in the chamber
OF the house of representatives. and /,
Speaker Miera yielded the chair to
President Spiess. who called the Joint /,
session to order.
The chairman appointed a commit
tee of five consisting of Representa-
tive Walters. OF san Juan county,
Senator Mechem. Of Quay county. I
Representative Pacheco, OF Taos coun-
ty. Representative Baca, of Santa Fe
county, and Senator Hewitt. of Lin
coin county. to notify Governor Curry
that the legislature was organized and
ready to receive his message.
1t had been expected that the usual
custom would be followed. and that
he message would not be read until
Tuesday morning. But Governor Cur
~ evidently desires the legislature to
yet down to business. and Informed
he members OF the committee that he
Vas ready to read IL at once. and ap-
Deared almost Immediately before the
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