Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-03-02
Animated Discussion Attends
Passage Of Measure Design
ed to Regulate Rates on New
Mexico Roads,
ACT PASSED BY VOTE
OF SIXTEEN TO EIGHT
Roberts Leads Opposition on
Ground That Legislature
Lacks Power Speaker Miera
Champions Common People,
Morning Journal Bureau |
The Palace Hotel, !
Gnptu Ep Y NJ March |

Santa Ep y NJ March J.
.,
nv "ouse ~ V'''''''''''''''' ''''
afternoon, after an animated ana at
Times acriminous discussion. passed a
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III Now M'NlVp at tnrV' V'n's P'' '"''''
The bin was passed by vote OF 10
to X after "A debate, in which Mr.. Rob-
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sought to convince 'h' hpuso 'hat INV
New Mexico legislature had not the
right to take the power away from
The interstate commerce commission
and fin rates for the territory, while
Speaker Miera and the friends of the
hill In glowing oratory, set forth their
views that New Mexico should be pro-
tected from the railroad corporations
and that If the legislature ala not
have the power II should at least
make an effort to show the railroads
that IL did not approve of the rates
now in force.
For some days the members of the
house have been in caucus consider
inr legislation designed 10 regulate
the 1NiIfDuuN. a nufnNttl VI itit' Hilt'
have been discussed and also num-
Der of railroad commission bills. one
of which is now in the hands Of tho
attorney general and which may be
introduced within a day or two.
These caucuses have been animated,
those members OF the house who OPP
posed the passage OF the bill on the
floor Of the house today having at
tempted To convince the other mem
bcrs of the house that because OF the
net Of congress, which takes proceed
encc no rate legislation enacted by
the territorial legislature can prove
effective This effort. however, has
been without avail and when the in
PRODUCTION Of bills was called for to-
day. house BIN No 19l was present
ed i'm the name Of the whole house.
Mr. Martinez, of Rio Arriba county,
moved to suspend the rules for the
immediate passage OF the bill and this
motion was called by vote of II to
Z. A motion was then made for tho
passage or the bill and Mr.. Roberts
asked the privilege Of the floor to dis
cuss II Ic said that II might be un-
popular to take a stand against rate
legislation should prove valid or not,
hut that he desired to go on record
as opposed to any legislation which II
was wen known could not be carried
into effect. AIR. Roberts made . clear
and convincing statement in support
of his position that whore congress
has enacted legislation for "A territory
tho enactment Of local laws by the
territorial legislature IL prccuded
Mr.. Roberts continued 10 show that.
under the laws of congress. the in
tnrstate commerce commission has
f,,u authority To- regulate rates IN the
territories and that any action which
The territorial legislature might un-
dertnIse relative to the fixing of a
tnaximum ratc. would prove invalid.
lie said that the act under discus
sion was not worth the paper il was
written ON. that. without exception.
every lawyer in New Mexico would
aurcc with him upon this view
s.,Nr ought ga act ON the suggestion
laid down by the governor In his
message" said Air Roberts lie has
pofntcd out the course to pursue N
We viii bring benefit to the people or
New Mexico
eHc has told us To- create a railroad