Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-11-13
Provision Made That Cooamis-
sioners Shall Be Elected by
the People instead Of Ap-
pointed by Governor
RAILROAD MEN ARGUE
FOR APP0lNTIVE SYSTEM
Believed That the Part Of The
Constitution Agreed to Yes
terday viii Stand the Test
Of ANY Court in the Land,


Especial dispatch to tho Morning 1oarnall
Santa Fe. H. NJ, NOV. IA cor
poration commission law. which it is
believed will stand the test OF any
court in the land. and at the same
time provide just ana adequate regu-
iation Of the public service corpora
tions and common carriers of this
state was today written into the con-
stitution OF New Mexico. The COM
mittee which has had III charge the
preparation OF this most Important
article has been at work almost cor-
unuously since early IN October and
/ the painstalSing care which they de-
voted to the task had ts reward to-
day when the report went through the
COMMITTEES Of the whole OF the con
vention and was agreed to without a
| single amendment No conferences or
caucuses had paved the way for this
! report and IL WINS presented to the
| convention In the exact form in Whtch
| it had been adopted by the commit
/ teo.
An eleventh hour attempt TO pro-
vide that the commission should be
/ lappointed instead of elected was made
this afternoon. But Mr.. Catron. who
| proposed the reconsideration for this
| purpose Withdrew his motion after y
had been demonstrated that the
members of the eonvention~ regard
| less of PARTY were overwhelmingly
against him. The agitation to make
/ the commission an elective one hau
1 IT'S inception in the appearance Of
delegation Of representatives Of the
different railways employees orders
! who had been sent to Santa Zee Tor
! the purpose Of securing, among other
! things an appointed railroad com
m ission, az least two OF whose mem
bers should be railroad men Of not
less than five years experience. An
Invitation to address the convention
was extended the railroad men, in re-
| sponse to which Chairman McGrnth
spoke in behalf of the organization
which he represented. Mr. McGrath
thought that better and more expert
onced men could be secured by ap-
pointment than by election, lie cited
! the action OF the convention in de-
Gliding the other day that the state
mine Inspector should be appointed
and held that the same necessity Tor
! technical skin existed In the case OF q
railroad commissioner, as existed IN
the case Of mine Inspector He saw
grave danger to the public ana to- the
railroad men in the election of mex
pericnced men TO these offices Mr.
/ McGrath said he represented SOME
1000 organized railway enployes ana
probably as many moro who were un~
organized
cnpablc OF dealing Justice 20 these
people" said he ALLOW the governor,
\ with the advice and consent or the
senate, 20 name the members OF this
commission
Mr. McGrath was followed In o
similar vein by William schultz
nHfa 70 -
vice MI schultz expressed the rear
that radical men might be elected to
The corporation commission, and that
these men could slash freight ana
passcnger rates 10 such an extent that
the earnings of himself and fellow en-
lptoyes might be affected, "A result
which he held. would be TO the detri-
mont of the merchants and business
men throughout the state. For rail-
road men, said Mr.. Schultz, are no
toriou.iy liberal spenders.
After listening TO the railroad rep
rescntativcs. and asking them several
questions as To the number of voters
! they represented. Delegate Catron
moved that the section providing for
the election OF the commissioners be
| re-considOred. This motion was sec
ouded by Mr Doueherty Of Socorro,
who has always been consistent od-
vocate Of the appointiVc system Tor
! Judges and other officers.
The proposition 20 reconsider vas
/ vigorously opposed hy Delegate kich-
ardson. who took occasion 10 bid DC
| nance 70 political bosses. regardless OF
party. Mr. Richardson expressed ms
I confidence in the abilities Of people 70
choose their own officers az the polis-
1 Delegate Field OF Union also cp-
posed tho proposed change as did
Judge Fall. who could see no reason
why tho railroad mcn. II they Wanteu
places on the commission. could not
20 before the people and Win their
six thousand votes as nucleus con-
duct their campaign and elect whom
I they pleased to the places. The argu
I lnent ef thr railroad men that Inc
members ol fhtir commission should
i be skilled in the work ot operating
raurcad. did not appeal very strongly
10 Judge Fal a brakeman or an
icnriucer. hr said, might have valu-
/ abl., kuoNieagc Of safety appliances.
bnt TINS would help them very little
in the matter of fixing rates which
! VA. to be au important duty of the
commission. Carried 10 its logical
conclusion. said the speaker. the ar
I runent presented would require
! commission with a membership large
| enough tee embrace men skilled IA
every branch of raiiroadine, as NeN
ar one or two. who might understand
I tb.. wants 90 the man who merely
| naid his fare or pat Up The coin TOT
the freight charges
l DELEGATE Prichard vas cncthsr De-