New-York tribune., 1910-11-22
NEW MEX|CO'S BASIC LAW
Conservative Constitution Is
Framed for New State.
OPENS 2 BORDER DISPUTES
Initiative Rejected, but a Refer
endum Clause Adopted-No
Race Discrimination.

Santa Fe, y. VI, Nov. 1.-THE eonstttu-
ton for the State of New Mexico. framed
by the convention which closed to-day.
contains 20.Gd0 words, or 80 sections
grouped into twenty-five articles
Probably no other American common
wealth ever was confronted with the Pc
culiar difficulties that faced the coIstitu-
tionaI convention when it assembled Para
mount despite repeated denial. was the
race and language question
Some 1S5,ot9 inhabitants OF Spanisn-Amer-
lean descent demanded protection OF their
equality before the law and retention OF
their ancient rights ard privileges They
were suspicious of the federal enabling act.
which demands that ali the state officers
| and legislators must speak English
The convention also bore in mind the adj
vice of President Taft to formulate SAFE
and sane" constitution. and his sdmOnitiOu
was taken to mean a constitution unlike
that Of Oklahoma II also had 70 take into
consideration the insistent demands for
progressive features-a demand Out OF
which the Democratic minority naturally
made political capital
The various county debts which the new
state is to assume, the regulation OF land
gifts of thirteen million acres. the rezula-
IlOH OF Ile liquor ITa10c ana kindred Qlss-
tons had TO be dealt with.
AS a result. a constitution following this
older models was adopted. with these
salient new features;
An elective corporation commission, hav-
ing no judicial powers. but having the
right to regulate rates for transportation
and transmission. 70 grant charters and
To supervise corporations. An automatic
arrangement Immediately takes the de-
cisiors OF the commission To the state
Supreme Court, which must pass on them
without delay.
The initiative was rejected but a refer
endun clause was included Tt enables =
per cent of the voters on petition, to sI1s-
perd a law within ninety days of Isgis-
lative session. and 10 per cent OF the vot-
ers. on petition. 10 submit law passed BY
the last Legislature TO a popular vote ar
the next election, while majority OF tns
Legislature may submit to the people con-
stitution amendments.
Prohibition and local option were exclude
ed. hut the way was left open TO the Leg
isIature 20 deal with these questions. \
stringent antf-pass section was adopted
The constitution raises a boundary dis
pUte with Texas and with Colorado; II pro-
vides for an elective judiciary from top To
bottom and for elective state officers II
limits the tax rate to z mills the first two
years and 10 mills after that II grants
to women the right 10 vote ar school cleo
tons. and makes them eligible to be school
directors and county school supeTinten-
dents
The constitution also abolishes the fee
system. II prohibits separate schools for
Anglo-Saxon and Spanish-Americans and
provides for the payment BY the state OF
the railroad bond Indebtedness Of S1.eSSooS
through the sale of 100000 acres Of land
granted BY Congress
I No distinction Is 10 be made N the ran
chiSe. in jury duty or IN holding ONCE
other than that OF state and Legislature,
OF account OF inability 10 speak English
/ Phoenix. Ariz.. Nov. "a strike of the
attaches of the constitutional convention
was averted today when the report OF tho
committee on printing and clerks. recon-
r1ending the discharge OF five COMMITTEES
clerks, was defeated by an overwhelming :
/ vote.
| Many proposals Wers Indefinitely post
| poned. including those providing for z stats
/ geoIogist the right OF the state 10 inter-
| fere in industrial disputes the employ ymens
| Of convict labor on bridges and highways
and state Jurisdiction over the importation
OF alien labor
The anti-Iobby clause vas adopted; also
that creating d mine inspector and the on9
removing the Iin-t of damages for personal
injuries. A measure restricting the en-
ployment Of alien labor prohibiting the
employment in hazardous occupations ot
any one who cannot speak English, vas
reported by the judiciary committee