Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-02-05


Events have been moving in Santa
Fe today. 1t has been the governors $
busy day and he has been making his
tory. At his suggestion both houses
Of the legislature this afternoon pass
ed the house joint resolution appro-
priating S3500 for the expenses Of a
committee of seven men who viii be
appointed by the governor to go to
Washington to work first for the pas
sage Of the statehood bill; for the
passage of the bill extending the
Carey act to New Mexico for the ere
ating of seventh judicial district,
and last and next in importance to
statehood work to work for the ap-
proval by congress of 100000 bond
issue based upon the school lands
owned BY the territory, the proceeds
OF which are to be used Immediately
for the construction, maintenance
and advancement of the public schools
Of New Mexico.
Thu first drait or 4, biz authorizing
and providing for this bond issue was
introduced in both houses Of the legis-
ature this afternoon. in the council
by Mr.. Mechem, and in the house by
Speaker Miera.
The bill viii probably pass the
legislature and with the approval Of
congress. which the committee pro-
vded for today is expected to secure
it will be possible almost Immediately
to place New Mexicos public school
system upon the basis of highest eff
ficiency, the revenues from the land
owned by the common schools of the
territory now providing revenue
amply sufficient to carry the halt
million dollar debt
The school bill, as introduced by
Mr. Mechem in the council, provides
that upon the sale of the bonds the
money shall be distributed among the
several counties, being paid to the
county treasurers thereof upon the ba-
sis of the number of children shown
by the school census of 1905.
The money when thus distributed
is to be disbursed as other school
moneys are disbursed. First, for the
purpose Of building new school build
ings and repairing the old ones; sec
ond. for the payment of teachers. and
third. for the equipment of laborator-
les and libraries for graded schools
and high schools. The full text OF
the bin is given below.
Governor Curry has been consider
ing the proposed school bond issue
for some time. The advancement of
the common schools OF the territory
has been one Of his enthusiasm since
he came into office, and he has con-
cudod that the time has come to
carry ont his broad policy for the I'M
mediate advancement of these schools
instead of waiting for the number of
years il would be necessary TO wait
before the school lands could produce
revenue sufficient TO carry out any
such plan
The common schools of the terri
tory, he reasons. will need financial
aid more during the next two or three
Years than at any other period in the
tcrrltory's development and he con
sdcrs the bond issue the proper way
In which to provide the assistance
necessary
Having reached conclusion. the
governor lost no time in carrying it
into action When the house met this
afternoon at 2.30 it was announced
that the governor desired to address
the members He appeared immedi-
atcly and said that there was some
thing important that should be done
before the house adjourned for the
Weekend This was the appointment
of a committee to go TO Washington
10 work for statehood and TO provide
for the expenses of this committee.
Since the early days of the session the
governor said. the matter of sending
q committee to Washington had been
under consideration. The delegate in
congress had requested that such
committee come on. The governor
thought that the time had come to
send il. He said that there Was a
chance for the passage Of the state
hood bill during the present session.
and the legislature agreed with him
that the territory could not afford to
overlook that chance.
The governor said. however. that
there we're other matters Of the very
greatest importance which demanded
attention and that even should the
statehood bin not pass these other
matters would make Il wise 10 send
committee To the national capital He
referred first to the bin extending the
provisions 81 fhe Carry act to New