Albuquerque morning journal., 1915-02-17
MODESTO thinks
! PREsENTL|B[L
LAW ALL right
#v4 f4i Ntifflf
Statesman and Orator From
BernaIiIIo County Doesn't
Waste Much Sympathy on
Newspapers of State,

Commtlted Ihe nSht against Tue plli
was led by MIR. Ortiz, while his coll
league, MIR. Montoya, made a sturdy
defense of Il, while Mr.. Mann AS
sumed an attitude Of compromise.
Mr.. Montoya explained that the pas
sage of the measure was desired by
the New Mexico Press association
and made brilliant plea for liberty
OF the press. lie asked nothing more
nor less than square deal Tor the
newspapers so that they would he
unhampered in championng truth,
liberty, equality and honesty. Mr..
ortiz followed him with the declara-
tion that the present libel statute is
one Of the best statutes on the New
Mexico law books and that the news
papers are trying to dodge RESPONSE
blity for their utterances.
Judge Mann proposed an amend
mcnt fixing the maximum penalty
for libel at $4,000 fine and five years
| in the penitentiary He paid tribute
60 the power of the press, but argued
that because Of this power there
should be safeguards against its
abuse. Il am in favor Of making the
present libel law more liberal for the
newspapers, but there should be a
| penalty for the character assassin.
| lt UtNSlIItIN fAlfi llO AlslEti illlA
me-" he declared, FOR they have eX-
I hausted their ammunition already as
| far as am concerned. but neverthe-
less I plead for square deal for
Them Stil he insisted, an editor
who malciously lbeled any person
should 20 to the penitentiary the
same as any ordinary defamer and
slanderer or character assassin.
| Mann Amendment Carried
The Mann amendment carried 35
! to 10, those voting against it being
Messrs. Casaus, Gallegos, of Guada-
!, lupe; Hewitt, Montoya, of Bernalillo,
| Rutherford, Ryan, Smith, Tharp,
Veal and Welch. The strongest speech
In favor of the Mann amendment was
! by Mr. Martinez Mr.. Montoya, of
Bernalillo, who sought To amend the
| Mann amendment by proposing a
penalty of $4,000 and six months as
the maximum, withdrew his amend
ment when examination Of the bill
showed that II already carried such a
penalty clause.
motion by Mr. Veal that the bill
| with all amendments be laid on the
table indefinitely, failed by the mar
row margin of n to 23. An amend
ment by Mr.. Renehan that the mea-
Hhif SiV1Ad uDN Apply W past VI -
fenses, even II suit had not yet been
brought, and to change word 'justl.
fable TO lawful" was lost as was
also the motion Of Martinez to table
the bill. the vote being 90 to 25. The
bin was then recommitted.
The following bills We're introduce
ed in the house.
No. 239 by Mr. Sena, to compel
companies that sell sewing machines
to pay license tax. Taxation.
No. 249. by the speaker, providing
for the appointment of treasurers Of
boards of education in incorporated
municipalities Education
No, 24l, by the speaker, providing
that capital and surplus paid into
building and loan associations be IL
able for taxation State affairs.
No. 242, by Mr. Lucero locating
the northwestern portion of FL Ca
mino Real. Highways.
House resolution by Mr. Hewitt, to
seat Mr.. Bojorquez of Sierra county
Privileges and elections.
The committee on taxation report
ed favorably house bill No. 215, by
| Mr. Renehan, the charity bill advo-
Gated By the federated women's
clubs of New Mexico. The committee
on judiciary reported favorably house
bill No. 169, by Mr.. Trujillo, amend
ing the civil procedure code
A petition in reference to the coun-
ty high school at Captain was read.
II was signed by a number Of Captain
oitizens.
A recess was then taken until 2
p. m.
in the Senate.
In the senate. senate bill No. ., by
Mr.. Clark, providing for the safe
keeping Of public funds, was passed
unanimously. 1t Is a most important
measure and twenty amendments to
it were passed before it went through
finally. The bill makes 1t mandatory
to pay into the state treasury all state
monies collected during the preced-
ing month on or before the second
Monday of the following month, an
amendment providing that such mon
, les are not TO be paid over unless they
have become the absolute property
, of the state.
The bill creates state board of
finance to consist Of the governor.
state auditor and aAhte treasurer who
shall have supervision of all fiscal af-
fairs 1t also provides that the coun-
/ ty commissioners shall be county
boards of france city councils mu-
nicipal boards Of finance, and educa-
tional and institutional directors to
be boards of finance within thsir
jurisdiction. All public monies must
, be deposited Immediately in approved
repositories which are to give bond
and are to pay not less nor more than
= 3 per cent. Unauthorized use of pub.
lie monies and making profit
thereon Is declared a felony, punish
} able with a maximum fine Of 5,006
or maximum Imprisonment of ten
: years or both. Similar puni hment is
, provided for bribery of puDlie Off
I cials for use of public monies.
= The senate also passed souse bill
, No 236, authorizing the governor to
: offer a reward for the capture and
( conviction Of the slayer Of Candido
> Chavez in Sandovai county, The bill
4 was passed under suspension of The
rules in double-quick time, [ il having
taken less than fifteen minutes to in
trobuce and pass the measure in both
houses
4 The committee on Judiciary report
] cd substitute for senate bill No
! 81, by MIR. Pankey, an act to garnishee
S the wages Of persons receiving more
! than $50 a month for debt. This
/ measure Is advocated by the fner-
! chants associations. 1t repo ted with
o amendment, the following bills.
House bill No. 7s, by Mr.. Montoya
OF Sandoval. to provide pay for jlir-
= ors in district courts; house bill No
ls3. by Mr.. Francis for com 3ensatior