Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-10-05
Mr. FerguSson's Objection to
Assignment Brings Motion
That He Be Made the Com
rnittee of One 10 Do It,
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
FOR TEN O'CLOCK TODAY
Constitutional Convention After
TranSacting Little Real Busi-
ness AdJournSi Rodey Sends
His Benadiction.

Especial Dispatch to the Morning Journall
santa Fe. \. NJ. oct A lively
scrap over the distribution of seats
was the feature OF this afternoons
session Of the constitutional conven
tion. The delegates, both republican
and democratic, are busy wranglinG
over the makeup Of the various COM
mittees and until this matter is cleared
up there is little Likelihood of any
real business being transacted. The
republican caucus is called FOR tomor-
row morning at 10 o'clock, when 1t
Is expected a report will be received
from the committee on committees ap-
pointed at the Sunday night session.
This report is expected TO contain the
names of the majority of the MEM
bers Of the twenty-seven committees
agreed upon as well as that Of their
chairmen. 1t is understood the demo-
Gratis have already agreed upon the
members who will represent the
minority on the various committees.
The convention was called to order
OF 2:30 this afternoon by President
Spiess. Chaplain Hartman invoked
the divine blessing on its deliberations
and the reading of the minutes was
dispensed with owing to several errors
and omissions they were found TO
contain The minutes were ordered
corrected and read at the next meet.
ing. 4 communication was read
from Mrs. Mary G. Prince, state re-
gent for New Mexico Of the -. A. r.,
presenting the convention With a gavei
made from wood taken from the
mantel in the room occupied by the
mother OF Washington, and in which
she died. The handle IS from one of
the three oaks planted by Washing
ton when he was president Delegate
MontoYa moved that q letter be sent
to Mrs Prince. conveying the thanks
of the convention ana directing that
when the gavel has filled its purpose
it be presented to the Historical So
ciety of New Mexico for preservation,
This was adopted unanimously.
A resolution introduced by Delegate
StoVer and carried without > dissent
Ing vote, directed thai the governor
members of the supreme court, terri
torial officials, former governors, for
mer supreme court judges, and former
territorial officials. be accorded the
privileges OF the floor.
Mr.. Ferguson of Bcrnalillo preclpi-
tatcd the scrap over the assignment
OF seats among the members Of the
convention. EARLY in the day COM
mittec had met in the capitol and
made the assignments. Everybody ap-
parently was satisfied that in every
one save Mr. Fergusson. This gentle
man moved that the seats he drawn
by lot, as is the custom in the house
of representatives at Washington, and
then the trouble began Delegate Fan
moved that Nh. Ferguson be appoint.
ed committee of one to distribute
the seats. Delegate DoughcrtY, who
is Il democrat. wanted Mr. Fan to he
a member Of the committee with Mr..
Ferguson. Almost every member or
the convention had "a motion or sue-
gestion tO ofior as q solution OF the
problem which was finally solved after
a wrangle of an nuur and a half by
Delegate Springer of Conax who Sc
cured the passage OF a resolution pro-
viding for the drawing of lots for seats
by the chairman Of the various county
delegations. The resolution provided
that members might exchange seats
thus according the democratic mem
bers an opportunity to flock together
if they so desired
The question of seating Is an inn
portant Pne, as the han Of represen-
tatives is somewhat crowded, though
its Arrangement retlecfs credit on the
officials who had the work in charge.
Considera bic Inconvenience is caused
to the delegates by the noise made by
the Workmen engaged In the work on
the addition to the capitol, many Of
whom are employed On the floor di-
rectly beneath the chamber where the
convention meets. The seat Wrangle
over, President Spiess announced the
republican caucus for TO O'Clock to
m orrow morning and the convention
adjourned as a mark OF respect to the
memory OF Mrs. Margaret Sargent, the
news of whose death had been an
nuunced 10 the convention hy Dele I
gate JaramiIlo. Mrs. Sargent was ID
sister OF Delegate T. ID. Burns OF Rio !
Arriba, and the mother OF Territorial
Auditor ". O.. Sargent After ad
journmcnt the caucus committee on
employees held a meeting which ad- |
iOurned with the work unfinished. |
One thing which the committee did |
decide, however. was that the most |
rigid economy should be exercised in |
the matter of employees, and that |
their terms OF service should be linn |
tied To twenty days. This Is taken as |
an indication that the committee is |
hopeful OF making the convention a |
brief one, hope that is shared by |
the entire membership. |
though there are few pessimists /
who insist that the business cannot be 1
in less than sixty DAYS, the I
limit fixed by the enabling act.
During the afternoon session % let !
ter was read from b. S. Rodcy IN /
Alaska. The letter follows:
To the Chairman of the Constitu-
tional Convention.
"DeGr Sir. win you kindly read /
this letter Tor me to the convention. u