El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-15
WHITE 5LiVIH6
BANNED IN
HEU MEXICO
Legislature Also Passes a
Rigid Law Prohibiting
Gambling in the State.
MANY LAWS In THE
GOVERNORS HANDS

session WITHIN a year OF the New Mex
leo legislature which ended at noon
Friday.
Among other things, the legislature
ratified the income tax amendment to
the United States constitution. rati-
fled the direct election OF senators
amendment to the federal constitution,
PASSED law in prohibition Of the
white slave traffic, passed two local
option liquor laws, one applying to pre-
cincts and cities, and the other to cOun-
ties, enacted one Of the most stringent
anti-gambling laws in the country;
ADOPTED a resolution submitting an
amendment to the people of the state
changing the term of offices of county
and state officials to two, instead of
four years, as provided by the cOnsti-
tuuon5 created two new counties, en-
acted a law providing for the assess
ment OF all property at One-ChiTd of its
cash value; passed a county salary and
district attorney salary bill and appro-
priated the sum of $4,000 for an ex-
hibit at the San Diego exposition.
Antf-WhIte Slave Act.
The laws Nnacted in the final hours
Of the legislature included an anti
white slave act almost identical with
the Mann act which is expected TO put
an end 10 the traffic within the state.
which, in some instances, recently has
been flagrants and an anti-gambling
law replacing an anti-gambling law
passed in 1907, when New Mexico was
a territory.
Antf-G ambling Law.
The laws enacted In the final hours
gambling of all kinds a misdemeanOr,
punishable by a fine and Imprisonment,
or both 1t prohibits private games of
bridge IN homes, where prizes are Civ
en-, puts the ban on shaking dice for
drinks, on slot machines, betting on ball
games, horse races or prize fights, and
fOrbids raffleS and the like at church
fairs or lodge sccials.
bill establishing the state fair at
Albuquerque and making an annual. ap-
preparation Of $4,000 therefor, also was
passed.
Baca Has Close Call.
The final days session was marked
by two sensations. In the Sirst, speaker
Baca came near being Enseated as pre-
siding officer by indignant colleagues,
who charged him with attempting to
defeat score Of important bills by
withholding them, and the other was
the unexpected adjournment of the sen
ate by Lieut.. Gov. E. c. DeBaca,
thwartiRg an attempt by the Repub-
Hcan majority to refuse to confirm a
long list OF appointments by governor
w. &. Mcdonald As 1t was, the ap-
pOintees will hold without cOnfirma-
ton.
Bitter Fight During Session
The session was marked throughout
by a bitter fight between the gov
ernOr and the Republican majority.
This fight continued TO the hour Of ad-
jOUrnment.
IN the new QlSLElCL attorneys salary
bill, the salaries were cut about $500
a year below the figure at which they
were fixed in the bill vetoed last week
by the governor In the county salary
measure, the legislature cut salaries in /
first and second class counties from
$3.50 to $3.50 below the former figures
and in second class counties, the fig
ures were cut 800
No Mounted Police.
The legislature adjourned without
making appropriation for the mounted
police The house killed the public
monies" measure Of the senate hence
il does not become a law.
Senate bill 1S2, providing for the
building Of school houses in weak dis
tricts out Of the surplus in the state
school fund, passed both houses. There
is now on hand $50, 900 that will be
available at once The senate Joint res
OluuOn providing for the consolidation
Of the state schools was killed in the
house, when the resolution providing
one board Of regents TO have control OF
all the state educational institutes and
providing for submitting same to a
vote Of the people was defeated.
Senate bill providing for a commits
sion form Of government in cities Of
5000 Inhabitants and stating salaries of
New Valuation Bill.
An important measure passed by the
house is the senate One-third valuation
law. This, with the taxation amend
ment to the state constitution, also
4
as a basis for the solution Of the tax
alton problem
The senate passed the house occupa-
ton tax law This is an act making
it possible for cities to levy and collect
occupation taxes, in no case exceeding
$3.50 from any one concern from all
the industries which formerly paid a
county license The city clerk IS made
master Of the machinery of collecting
these taxes.
New Counties.
Although the legislature passed the
bill creating Mora and AgUilar counties
out of the present Mora county and
parts Of COlfax and Union counties, the
new division cannot be created until
July I, 1915. Many details Of the Gre
alton Of the county are provided for in
the act.
House and senate passed another one
third valuation bill somewhat different
from the former measure. This act pro-
Tides for the return Of all taxable prop
erty by each taxpayer in blank, the as
SCISSOR being empowered TO fix the
values. The citizen simply makes a list
OF his holdings. An assessment at one
third market value is provided, heads
of families being given $500 exemp-
County Road Boards.
The senate passed the house measure
a bOlishing the county road boards as
they now stand This bill makes the
continuance Of road board optional
with the different boards Of county
retained the commissioners themselves
are empowered to act instead.
The cent fare and full crew bills
with the senate woman suffrage amend
ment, were tabled by decisive votes.
The senate passed the house bill
apprOpriating $4,000 for an investiga-
ton Of the water supply of the state
This act is so arranged that the money
appropriated can be used for the sink
ing Of an artesian well as an eXper-
iment, TO determine the practica bility
of wells Of that nature, upon suit
able state lands.
Commission Government.
The bill for the commission form /
Of government is limited to cities Of Z
q, 900 population or more The salaries |
are scaled according to the size of the 4
city. The bill was passed Is to g. but 4
a recOnsider was taken later and i
a twO-thirds vote given it.
The bill increasing to two the num-
Der Of judges in the Fifth judicial /
district, was passed The governor is
to appoint a judge to fill the vacancy
until the next election.
The weights and measures bill pro-
r-f IA s-E1