Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-01
WAS M|SQU0TED
BY MR.. LUCERO,
ARM|JO STATES
Chief Clerk Of Senate Declares
Lucero Permitted Incorrect
and Partial Memorandum
TO Be Printed,

Especial CONSEQUENCES TO MORNING JOURNAL
Santa Fe, April 30.-That the sec
rotary OF state permitted n two page,
partial, incorrect and unofficial state
ment' Of his conversation with lsidrO
Armijo to be printed is the allegation
of Mr.. Armjo, chief clerk of the SEN
ate during its last session, in state
ment which he made public today.
This statement Is addressed ITO the
Press OF New Mexico and Is as fol-
lows
In the Santa Re New Mexican. Of
saturday evening, April "a, appears
what purpOrted to be a statement of
what took place when | presented the
journal of the senate of the second
state legislature To the secretary OF
state for filing, but which was in fact
only an incorrect and partial state
ment of the conversation which took
place between Mr.. Lucero and myself,
at which Messrs. a. =. Hill and Frank
Stapln were present.
A full statement of what actually
transpired, which ! make in Justice to
myself and the state senate, follows.
Under instructions from senator IL
field, a member of the revision com
mittee of the senate and of that body
! went 10 the office of the secretary Of
state at about II O'Clock on the morn
ing OF April "a, accompanied by Mr..
Frank Staplin, with the senate jour
nal On large volume containing the
original typewriter sheets prepared
by the reporting stenographer from
the notes and securely bound in a
substantial loose-leaf binder) for the
purpose of filing the same in his Of
flee and stated 30 Mr.. Luce"0 that |
was there for the purpose of deliver
ing To him the senate journal of the
second Legislature to be filed in his
office, at the same time laying the
journal upon his desk.
Sent journal Out of Town.
Mr.. Lucero invited me to sit down
and the following conversation took
place:
Mr.. Lucero--"Are you still the chief
clerk Of the senate?'
Answer do not know whether / !
am or not"
Mr., Lucero-"Why has not the
journal of the senate been filed in my |
office within the time fixed by the
constitution"
Answer-"It has not been filed
sooner because after the close of the |
session at the request of Senator IL |
field, / expressed the journal to him
at Las Vegas. | sent it by Wells, !
Fargo, valued it at S300 and insured
it,"
Mr.. Lucero-"By what authority did !
you send the journal TO Mr.. Ilfeld, /
and does the journal show that he
was the custodian ?"
Senator's Had Right TO See Journal.
Answer--"At the request of Senator !
llfeld. member of the senate and |
the revision committee of that body, |
as | do not believe the chief clerk or
any other employee Of the senate has
any right to dispute the authority of
u senator to see any senate docu- /
ments. The record does not show that /
MIR. llfeld was the custodian
Mr. Lucero--"Now, are you sure /
that this is the senate journal (laying /
his hand on iD and that no changes |
have been made since il left your pos /
session.
Answer-"Yes, sir. | am sure this |
is the journal and that it has not been
changed, because the seals of the
Well, Fargo Express company which |
were put on here in Santa Fe when | /
sent it to Senator HELD at Las Vegas /
had not been broken when it was re-
turned to me here. 1t had not been
opened while out of my possession, but I
was readdressed to me on the reverse
side and have the original wrapper
in which 1t was sent. | can identify /
it by the carbon copies you have IN
your office or those in the office of
the governor. 1t was all signed by
me, every days proceedings and partly
by the lieutenant governor before il 1
was sent
Luccro Makes Statement
Mr.. Lucero-"Now, Mr.. ArmijO, ] /
wish to make a statement; The con
stitution provides that the original Of
the journal of the proceedings of the
two houses of the legislature shall be
presented to the secretary of state for
filing at the close of the session, which
] constitute to mean at any time be-
fore the expiration of ten days allowed |
the chief clerk in each house of the
legislature within which to finish the
work assigned to him as such officer
SAID journal must be presented by him
and by no other person At this Time
| must consider you as Mr. Armijo, a |
cltlZen, but no longer the chief clerk 4
OF the senate. In the case of the house
Journal this was done. The chief
clerk of that body in person, before
the expiration of ten days after the
close of the session, brought to me
the journal of the proceedings of the
house of representatives and they
were filed. Now, Mr.. Armiio, this is
no reflection upon you or upon any
one else, but | believe it. is my duty I
as a state officer.
In the case of the senate it was
altogether different. The ten days af- I
ter the close of the legislature passed
and no journals were presented for
filing, and now, at this late day, IN