Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-02-07
HOLT INDULGES
IN ORATORY
AT bARTH
BILL CHANGING METHOD OF DRAW.
ING ORIGINAL VENIRE CALLS FOR
SARCASM FROM FLOOR LEADER
OF SENATE TODAY

L.
dulged in oratorical efforts in the
senate this morning, thereby pro-
longing the session of the senate
somewhat but doing no other dam
age.
The oratorical fights arose when
Mr.. Barth sought to amend MI. Holt
Ill amending the present law WIN
regard to the method of drawing orig
inal jury venires.
Mr.. Barth was the entire minority
rome of the other Democrats could
view the situation with alarm, SO al
Ter Mr.. Holt had expressed his views
Of the situation. Mr.. Barth withdrew
his amendment and contented himself
with casting the lone vote against the
jury bill.
But it was worth the price or al.
mission, anyhow, just for the speech-
making. Under the Holt bill, the
clerk of a district court is given pow
81 to draw the names of the jurors
from the jury wheel or box IN the
presence of the sheriff of the county
and without the presence or the DIST
uct Judge. Formerly, it was neces-
sary for the judge to honor the cere-
mony with his presence.
1t was the presence OF the sherlh
apparently, that filled Mr.. Barth with
alarm. The gentleman from Bernal-
lilo could see all manners and sorts
Of things happening to that jury Win
,othing present except the presence
ef the sheriff. The gentleman from
Bernalillo. did not wish to offend any
Cne, but he preferred little more
1.esence at the jury drawings and he
so stated in emphatic style 1t would
lave suited him better had the sher-
if. the sheriffs family, the neigh
rcrs, the Judge, the attorneys and
any and everyone else been some
where in the vicinity at the time the
said jury was drawn.
At the conclusion OF his remarks,
If became apparent that Mr.. Holt was
going to floor lead a little. He arose
with great dignity, placed one hand
at an angle of forty-five degrees and
opened up all along the line.
He declared that he could not see
any reason for the gentleman from
Pernalillo having such suspicious OF
a sworn officer of the law. He as
serted that just because man was
deemed fit to be elected as sheriff
c1 county. took the oath of Office to
support the laws and otherwise com
Piled with the constitution, etc, there
was no reason to Immediately brand
him crook. He painted picture
Of misjudged and cruelty misunder
stood sheriff that would have glad
dened the heart of the most hardened
office holder within the confines OF
the state. Carried to it's logical con
clusion, he said, such suspicion as
was borne by Mr. Barth could only
niean one thing-that the courts were
crooked, that the clerks were crook
ed, that the Office boy was crooked
that every man, woman and child who
took the oath of Office to support the
constitution and laws of the state was
T. crook.
This was hitting close to the inne,
Trenches and Mr. Barth turned in his
chair, looked out across the capito
grounds at the beautiful snow and the
10y who was trying to shovel it of
the steps of the executive mansion
Mr.. Holt, however was magnimous
He quit with this parting jolt
"Do hear a second to the amend
rnent offered by the gentleman from
Bernalillo county," asked the presid
ing officer politely. He heard no sec
ond.
II guess I won't offer that amend
nent,' said Mr.. Barth The bill mas
sed, % ayes to 1 nay, Mr. Barth being
the nay. Having received two-thirds
vote, 1t was declared to have passed
with the emergency clause in eff
feet.
The bill in question is as follows.
An Act amending section of Chan.
ter 1l6 OF the Acts of the thirty-sixth
Legislative assembly of New Mexico
as amended by section 3, chapter 1
OF the Acts of the thirty.seventh leg
1slative assembly of New Mexico pro-
viding for the manner of drawing
original jury venires.
Be 1t enacted by the legislature of
the state of New Mexico
Section 1. That section 9 of chan.
ter 1l6 of the acts of the seth leeis-
lative assembly of New Mexico as
amended by section of CHAPTER / Of
the acts of the 37th legislative as
sembly of New Mexico, be and the
same is hereby amended so as to read
-as follows:
''Sec. 8. Not more than ninety
(9O) days before the first day of any
term of each district court to be held
in any county of the state, it shall
be the duty of the judge of the dis
'trict court with the assistance of the
clerk of the court, and in the pres
ence OF any persons or such citizens
as shall desire to be present, to draw
from the said wheel or box sufficient
number of names from which to con-
stitute the grand jury and sufficient
number from which to constitute the
Continued on page eight.