El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-13

7 much time is being devoted TO these
measures IN committee A well defined
program Of revenue legislation has beer
outlined by the finance committee OF
the senate and the ways and means
committee Of the house and ii is said
both these committees are getting
through their work as rapidly as
possible There are seven Of these rev.
enue bills and the committee has an
nOUnced that they are all well under
way Six Of these measures were con-
structed by the finance committee the
seventh is an individual measure.
Also, 10 rush The work as rapidly as
possible, the senate IS holding frequent
night sessions. These sessions occur
about three nights out of four aud the
senate Keeps at work anyw here from
10 10 y o'clock. Almost every DAY q
resolution for @ night session IS intro
duCed in the house. but thus far il has
always been defeated
The new local option bill went TO its
death yesterday In the senate by a de-
cisiye majority. Only five senators
voted for it. The measure was designed
TO destroy the city segregation feature
Of the present local option law, by
providing that the counties should vote
without reference 10 municipalities.
Afraid Of Liquor Liquidation
Almost every senator voting against
the bill explained his vote. all recog-
niZiDg that liquor legislation IS a tick
liSh thing at best Some said il is
4l4S LdtN6 10 TAKE I'D the DLLe or the leg
lSlature IN considering mea sureS Of this
sort now. when the session IS drawing
70 a close. some said they voted against
the bill because IL was not offered ia
good faith and that its sole purpose
was to put the members on record
Some gave one reason and some anOth-
Ct, 8 few coming out openly and say
ing they voted in the negative because
they wanted the saloons TO stay. On
the contrary. there was one or two who
e. 4 L. a
they always voted against the saloons
on any kind Of proposition and as often
as they got the chance.
The senate has passed the bill pro-
Viding for the creation Of the office Of
public defender and for the election OF
an attorney 10 fiji that office The bill
Is designed TO take the defence Of aC-'
cused persons out OF the hands OF law
yers generally and place all such cases
IN the hands OF q county official Ar
gUments in its favor are that II will
prevent delays and viii further the
ends Of justice There Is. however.
pretty good reason for believing this
measure viii not get through the
house for there is. strong opposition 70
ii there. particularly by those repre-
sentsrives who are not bound by any
great liking for The administration pro-
gram.
Measure Relation to Electricity.
The senate, in committee Of the
whole has recomm ended for passage
the bill regulating the construction
and operation Of underground electric
wires snd apparatus and, under the
rules Of that body. this is equivalent to
passage. The only interest in Phoenix
affected by this measure is the Pacific
Gas and Electric company. which al
ready has Jared rather badly at the
hands of the legislature. or viii fare
rather badly is other proposed legisla-
ton goes through and IS effective The
other legislation is com prised in a res
OlutiOn recently offered by senator Da-
Wis and which asks congress TO annul
the contract existing between this COM
pany and the federal government for
the purchase Of power from the Roose- !
veIt dam. Under this contract the com
pany has a monopoly of the present
power at a rate OF one and half cents