Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-04-09

| When the clerk had finished read
! ing the report. Zacarias Padilla, of
Valencia county, strong organiza-
tion republican and one of the chief
leutenants of Hon. solomon Luna.
arose and stated that the appearance
of his name on the report was in er-
ror. as he had erased it and desired
to- -witA.lsssA his - ~ from the re-
port.
Mr.. Blanchard of Otero county,
who throughout the proceedings,
acted as floor leader. for the oppo-
sition to the accused men, made the
point of order that after the report
had been signed it was not in the
power of the committee to withdraw
his signature 10 the report. Tae fatct
OF order was promptly overruled by
Speaker Baca, and MIR. Blanchard
appealed from the decision of the
chair. The first vote of the after
noon was then taken and the chair
was sustained by vote of 33 to s,
hut this was in no sense a test vote.
Mr. Tully, of Lincoln county, then
moved that the report submitted by
Mr.. Rogers be adopted, but before
this motion could be put. Chairman
de Baca sent to the clerks desk the
report of the committee which ia
vorod the exoneration of the accused
men.
The report of Chairman de Baca,
was in effect, finding that the
charges against the men had not been
proved and was a bitter arraiSnment
of the men who had caused their
arrest and the methods employed by
them in bringing il about
Following is the report in full of
the members of the committee recon-
mending the eXoneration of the ac-
cused members.
Report Exonerating Accused Men.
Mr.. Speaker:
Your special committee appointed
to investigate the bribery charges
against j. p. Lucero, Luis r. Montoya,
Julian Trujillo and Manuel Cordova.
members of this house, most respec;-
fully report that Immediately upon
the appointment of this committee,
under the resolution of the house,
we entered upon the investigation
of the charges named. The taking OF
testimony covered period of several
days.
The committee was represented by
Judge +. r. Wright, as its counsel,
and the Hon. G. w. Prichard and
Hon. e. NJ. Read appeared before the
committee for the accused.
As will be seen by the testimony. !
which we submit herewith as a part
Of this report, we went into every
phase of the questions presented to !
the committee. We not only consider !
ed the question of the innocence or !
guilt OF the accused, but we took up !
the question of the alleged plot ana
conspiracy against them, and also /
the question as to whether the priv /
l. dges and prerogatives of this house 4
that have been interfered with ly /
another branch of this government in |
the manner of the arrest and the ina !
prisonment and detention Of the ac- I
cused members
Under the resolution. creating this /
there were four charges 1
preferred against the accused mem
bers. one OF the charges was for |
accepting a bribe. and three OF the /
charges were for soliciting nribes for /
their votes for United States send-
tor.
After the testimony was all in the
charge OF soliciting bribes from divers
persons was cropped. as there was no
proCf To sustain that charge.
This left three charges to be con
sidered by the committee.
This inquiry arises under Art ~,
Section 80 Of the constitution of tins
state reads as follows.
ANY member OF the legislature who
shall vote or use his influence for or
against any matter pending in either
house i'm consideration OF any money.
thing OF value. or promise thereof
shall be deemed guilty Of bribery. and
any member OF the legislature or other
person who shall directly or indirectly I
offer. give or promise any MONEY.
thing of value. privilege or personal
advantage. to any member Of the
legislature to influence him 90 work for
Or against any matter penang in
either house. or any member of tns
legislature. who shall solicit OF any
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