The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-22
Convention Had Unique Cues
tions to Deal With i'm FOrmu-
lating Document.
SPANISH-AMERICANS WERE
AFRAID OF DISCRIMINATION
Demanded Ancient Privileges
and Same Status as English
Speaking Citizens.

SANTA FE. N. NJ. Nov 21.-The con-
stitutlon formulated by the convention
which closed today contains 20. 600 words.
$50 sections grouped into twenty-five ar
ticles.
Probably no other commonwealth was
evor confronted with such difficulties.
Unique was the race and language ques-
ton The 1875 geo people of New Mexico
who are OF Spanish, American descent
demanded protection OF their equality be-
fore the law, retention of their ancient
piciouS on account OF the federal enabling
act which demands that all the state Of
tlcers and Legislators must speak Eng
ish.
They insisted upon guarantees that
were difficult TO formulate without giving
them wider intent In other directions
than intended This task was made no
easier by the fact that one-half OF the
Republican majority was OF Spanish
American descent. while the Democratic
minority had not one delegate of that
race.
The convention also bore In mind the
advice of President Taft to formulate a
safe and sane constitution, Il constitution
unlike that of Oklahoma, we'll as the
many restrictions and conditions imposed
by the enabling act It. too. had 20 take
into consideration the insistent demands
for progressive features. a demand OF
which the Democratic majority naturally
Many Things Considered.
The convention was compelled TO listen
TO the plea OF vested interests and capl-
tai that New Mexico needs railroad capt.
tai for development and that nothing
should be done TO hamper future develop
ment. The various debts OF the coun-
ties which the new state is 10 assume.
the regulation Of the land donations OF
l3,00000o acres, the regulation of the
liquor traffic and kindred questions had
10 be dealt with
AS a result a constitution following
along the older models was adopted. with
these salient new features;
An elective corporation commission
having no Judicial powers, but neverthc-
less the right 20 regulate rates for trans
portatioh and transmission, to grant
charters. and 10 supervise corporations.
An automatic arrangement Immediately
to the state supreme court. which must
pass upon them judicialy without de-
lay.
The initiative and referendum we're
rejected. but a referendum clause was
included which enables 20 per cent OF the
voters, upon petition. TO suspend a law
within ninety days OF legisla tive ses-
sion, and 10 per cent of the voters upon
petition to submit a law passed by the
last legislature TO a popular vote al the
next election. while a ma aiority OF the
legislature may submit to the people
constitutional amendments.
Prohibition Sidestepped
Prohibition and local option We're ex-
cluded. but the way was LETT open to the
next legislature to deal with these queS-
tions and a stringent anu~pass section
was adopted.
The constitution raises boundary dis
putc with Texas and Colorado. IL pro-
vides for an elective judiciary FROM top
TO bottom, and for elective state off,
GERS. 1t limits the tax rate to twelve
mills the first two years and ten mills
after that
1t grants the women right 10 vote at
school elections and makes them eligible
to the school directors and school SUI
perintendents' offices Of counties and il
abolishes the fee system 1t prohibits
separate schools for Anglo SaXons and
Spanish Americans and provides for the
payment by the state Of the railroad
bond Indebtedness OF a million dollars
through the sale of million acres of
land granted by congress.
No distinction is to be made in the
franchise, In jury duty. in holding Of
flee, other than that of state and leg
islature, on account of inability to speak
English.
Outside OF these clauses the consttu-
ton resembles very much that OF the
United states.