Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-04-27
Senator Barth's Charge of
Graft Promptly Resented by
Colleagues Who Take Him
Severely to Task,
BILL APPROPRlATlNG
$12,500 FINALLY PASSES
BernaIiIIo Statesman Explains
He Did Not Intend to Ques-
ton Integrity Of Any Member
in His Remarks.

tSr-c'"l p'spat"s 20 the MornIax journal.
| Santa Fe, n. NJ, April 20. The
word graft was flung into the debate
in the senate this afternoon, and when
II was flung, trouble started.
II all came up over bill TO ap-
propriate $4,000 for legislative print
Ing and supplies. A motion was made
to suspend the rules and put the bill
on its passage. Senator Barth had a
kick coming and proceeded TO reg
lister It. lie objected to the price at
which the printing had originally
been contracted for with the New
Mexican Printing Company, of Santa
lfe, and declared that he was opposed
to paying graft money"
There seemed no difference OF
opinion between the senators as To
the fact that the state had been
charged too high rate for the print
ing in the early part of the session,
but there was strenuous objection on
the part of both majority and min
ority members to the use of the word
graft"
In the debate which followed. 1t de-
Veloped that the printing committees
Of both houses had used every en-
deavor to get the Legislative printing
done at the lowest price possible; that
Chairman Bowman. of the senate
committee, had devoted great deal
OF time, attention and study 10 the
question in an effort to make an
economical arrangement and save the
state money. that there was no poll
tics in the matter, the minority mem
bers of the committee approving Of
everything that was done by the ma
Jorty; that the printing had to be
done and done quickly; that the New
Mexican Printing Company was the
only concern that was in position to
handle the proposition; that the joint
committee was obliged to give the
work to the New Mexican az its own
figures or not have the work done at
all: and that as soon as possible.
Chairman Bowman set the different
concerns of the state to bid
ding against each other for the state
with the result that a con-
tract was finally made with Albrighi
& Anderson. OF Albuquerque for less
than half of what had been paid To
the New Mexican. II also developed
that the New Mexican Printing Com
pany, in a recent editorial In the news
paper which IL publishes. has offered
To do the work for half of what tho
state Is now paying the Albuquerque
firm.
Senator Bowman made n clear cut
statement OF his position as chairman
a b.. an nrfpffpss
He explained the difficulties under
which the committee had labored. the
irgent necessity of having the print
ng done at once, the fact that the
lew Mexican Printing Company was
he only concern available at tho
ime that could do It: the further fact
hat in order To get the work done in
ne time needed it was necessary to
mploy extra labor, ana stated that
while the committee realized that IL
vas paying high price for the work
/ did the only thing possible under
he circumstances and Immediately set
self Ia the task To getting competitive
ids SO as 10 assure the work being
one in the most economical manner
ossible. He also pointed out that the
IN before the senate provided for
irict accounting OF every cent of the
loney 20 be appropriated.
la the debate on the subject. Sena-
lr Barth got his" Several of the
.nators took him severely to task for
lsting reflections. as they alleged. on
ie integrity OF his fellow senator's.
rnator Mccoy did not hesitate TO say
iat Senator Barth was actuated in
Is stand more hy motive to adver-
Sc himself than from any other pur-
,se.
Senator Barth hastened to explain
Iat Il was not his intention to criti-
~ the printing committee or any of
: members and protested that he had
'ery confidence in their integrity and
,triotism. lie did think. however.
at not only In the amount charged.
u In the manner that the printing
Id been done. the New Mexican
-inting Company had been graft
x. The alleged grating. he ex-
aimed, was done by the New Mex
an and not by any member Of IN.
nate.
IL the New Mexican had any friends
the floor Of the senate. they did not
axe themselves known. Everybody
10 spoke agreed that the price
arged by IL was extortionate. bpt
the same Time everybody admitted
AZ IL was the best that could be
ne under the circumstances. Sen
lr Evans came nearer agreeing
IN Senator Barth than anybodg
.. when he said that u the Ne.-
.xican is nov willing To do the