Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-07-10
COM MISSION FOR
CORPORATIONS
SUGGESTED
Numerous Ideas For
Constitutional New State Re-
commended by Well Known
Roswell Man.

- 80 ~
has numerous other ideas on what
should 20 into the Fundamental law.
In "A letter recently published by the
| Artesla Advocate MIR Scott says:
in response to your inquiry OF some
days ago. requesting my vlews on
some of the most Important measures
which the democrats should advocate
as provisions To be inserted In our
state constitution. / take pleasure in
submitting the following which now
occur 20 me:
l. A provision TO establish a state
corporation commission to be elected
by the people. clothed with ample au-
thority to regulate and control public
serving corporations and fix reason
able rates. subject to the right OF APP
peal 10 the supreme court
.. A provision for a tenure Of Of
flee or six or eight years for BUR
state judiciary. in order To remove
It as far as possible from political
turmoil and influence, election Of all
Judges by the people; also, a provision
to create the office Of county Judge
who shall have original jurisdiction
In all matters OF probate. guardian
ship and settlement Of estates. and
such other civil and criminal jurisdic-
ton as may be conferred by law. but
the jurisdiction in civil matters not
TO exceed $500 and in criminal mat
tiers limited to misdemeanors.
,. A provision fixing a limit on AK
alton. and. also, a limit on bonded
and other Indebtedness OF counties
and municipalities
4. a provision against special leg
islation.
s. A provision for the initiative.
referendum and recall. to be sepa-
rately submitted with the constitu-
ton. This, however, is doubtful TO
secure in view Of the well known views
Of President Taft on this provision.
and it will be urged, no doubt, that
It viii 5eopardize the approval OF the
constitution at his hands. II has
been suggested that IL might be made
detachable. subject to the approval Of
the president. should It meet favor
ably with the voters of II territory.
However. | doubt its submission un-
less the democrats secure a majority
OF the convention.
6. A provision that the governor
shall have power TO disapproye Of
any item or items OF any bill making
appropriations of money embracing
distinct items, and part or parts Of the
bin approved shall be law, and the
item or items disapproved shall be
void. unless enacted over the execu-
tive veto. separately considered.
7. a provision separately submit
ted to the people. statewide proht-
bition OF the sale of intoxicating
liquor. IL this cannot be secured, then
a local option constitutional provis-
ion, ouch as the constitution OF the
state OF Texas. OF the W. courses,
! would prefer the local option pro-
vision .as / do o believe the state
wide provision would carry. and the
local option feature is more demo
cratic. While with MS in eastern New
Mexico, the prohibition sentiment Is
quite strong, this is not the ease in
other parts OF the territory. In my
judgment. the convention will not en-
act a statewide prohibition
provisions in the constitution
and II can only he secured
on separate submission and approval
hy the people, II then am forced to
this conclusion because at our last
session Of the legislature there was
not a sufficient number composing 1t
10 pass by legislative act a local OPP
ton law.
I believe all these measures emu
merated are possible to secure and
are highly important.
New Mexico's legislatures OF the
past have all had a strong leaning to-
ward corporate wealth. corporate in
~terests and special Legislation
Who can point to a single
piece OF legislation OF new
Mexico that is radical In favor OF the
rights Of tho people. as against large
interests while, on the other hand,
we could point TO what congress has
said was very %pernicious legislation OF
the worst character IN favor OF the
railroads as against the interests of
tho people. can see no danger of
a freak" constitution unless II be
made to serve special interests. | am,
not a radical in matters Of l~egisla-
ton. but believe We should encour-
age capital 10 come into our new tate,
and when It comes Il should feel That
all its rights were properly protect
ed and IL would be dealt with Justly
aud fairly ;on h other hand, the
rights Of the people must be protect
ed. and. In the light of forty-siN state
constitutions. we should so frame ours
that public serving corporations may
bc controlled and regulated by ouT
state To serve the people Of the state.
In my humble opinion. the consti-
tuition viii be ultra conservative, and
viii not touch upon any Of the most
vital subjects which have for the past
twenty years agitated both state and
nation. looking TO The effective con-
troll 81 railway and trust combinations.
80 that Il behooves us as democrats
in eastern New Mexico 20 advocate
those provisions which We as demo-
Gratis believe Of great importance O.
the future well being of the new state
Of New Mexico. and 70 fight fearless
ly FOR their enactment We cannot
too strongly condemn that sentiment
among the people that would permit a
paid attorney OF q railway to assist in
making our co~nsttutiin. any more thar
we would permit a representative IN
congress % serve as attorney for the