Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-05-16
Probate Code Bill Finally
Passes, After Most Import
ant Section is Eliminated by
Amendment,
SALARIES OF DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS ARE SLASHED
In Fit of Economy Lower Body
Materially Reduces Compen-
satlon Provisions Of Level
lyn Act.

JSpeeial Dispatch 10 thc Morhips Journ"i.i
santa Fe, N. NJ, May 15.-The leg.
islature today did little else but
slaughter time. In the senate one ol
two bills of very minor importance
were passed, while the house took al
day to accomplish what should have
been done in two hours, with time to
spare.
The probate code bill occupied the
center Of the stage Of the house. A
strong fight was made on the section
of the bill which requires that the
probate judge shall be a licensed at
torney and the friends of the measure,
fearing for its fate, were finally
forced to accept an amendment, strik-
ing this provision from the bill. The
bill applies only to seven counties. Ii
greatly enlarges the powers of the
probate court in those counties, Civ
ing it Jurisdiction in civil cases, where
the amount involved is not greater
than $1,000, and also confers limited
criminal jurisdiction upon it. As
amended, the bill passed the house by
a vote of 38 to 7. one of the votes
cast against it was that of Mr.. Rogers,
of Chaves county, who explained
that, while he was strongly in favor
of the bill as it originally stood, he
had rather see it defeated than to
have it passed, with the requirement
that the judge shall be lawyer,
stricken out.
The hill introduced by Mr.. Llewel-
lyn, prescribing the duties and quail
fications of district attorneys and pro-
viding for their compensation, was
discussed in committee of the whole
and reported back to the house, with
amendments. It was then ordered re-
printed and will be taken up for pas
sage in the next few days.
The bill divides district attorneys
into two classes, those in districts or
more than 3O,0 population constitut-
ing the first class, and those in dis
tricts of smaller population, the sec
ond class.
As originally drawn the bill pro-
vided for a salary of $4,500 year for
district attorneys of the first class
and $4,000 a year for those of the
second class. 1t also created the office
of assistant district attorney In dis
tricts of the first class at a salary OF
81 200 a year, and a stenographer at
a salary of $1,000 year.
In spasm of economy the house
reduced all these salaries. cutting the
district attorneys of the two classes
down to s3,500 and $4,000 year, re-
spectively making the assistant dis
trict attorneys salary $1,000 year
and that of the stenographer 5000
a year. An amendment was adopted
providing that district attorneys OF
the second class shall also be allow
ed stenographer at $500 a year.
President j. NJ. Hervey, Secretary
Nellie c. Brewer. A. b. McMillen.
Francis F.. Wood and a number or
other prominent members of the New
Mexico Bar Association, were in con-
ference with the judiciary committees
of the house and senate yesterday and
today, relative to the enactment OF
legislation desired bv the bar associa-
ton. and II is likely that the bills em-
bodying this legislation will be push.
ed vigorously from now on.