Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-01
Ballot Reform, Consolidation of Boards
and Better Health Laps Are Badly Needed

LatAoI ai9fNinT journal - ] W
eyes y aii earnest and fh0bghtful cit
i1efsf are eeaieftd u the coming sea-
sion ~ the state legislature The
meeting is fraught with great posi-
biiiiief l<laF can ~ enacted that
I All place rs with The progressive
1 states ~ Che fnion or The time can
b. fflffHred away 10 cheap political
l piekeringe such az have chafaeae fised
other sessions
The legislature wil undoubtedly
I 9iFe ~ attention 10 county salaries
( hifi and consider the TAXATION prob
lem. The NJ Wspapers are 6eranding.
and rightly ~. "a new libel law. These
are all important nuestiopr and ID
ought not 10 be- 50 very difficult 10
arrive az d Just and fair conclusion
with regard % them.
There are some other propositions
thar are important 10 the state ard
To- citizens. and with your permission.
I shall briefly outline what they are.
BALLOT Law Badly Needed.
we are badly IN need ~ good
ballot law. Unless one has taken an
active part So politics b. can hardly
appff late ilfi how badly We do need
new law on this subject Al the
present time u 81 the duty ~ the
county clerk 70 distribute the ballot
boxes and poii books % the election
officers The distribution Of the
ballots Is teft ~ the county commit
i4fH ~ the several parties. The ex-
peuFe and trouble u getting the ball
sgfs lrto the henda ~ the election Of
neers In q county like this Is qulte
t0o. II s bad enough when you have
an organization In each precinct bot
when your party Is only partly or
Banlzcd, Il Is an almost impossible
task. just how an election can be-
held Without ballot boxes and poll
books ia beyond me In the election
~ 1912, one precinct that know u
did not receive any ballots Of the pro-
gressire party. though they were sent.
ana the republican party vas ln the
same fix. However. the county chair /
man ~ the republicans IL great ex- /
pense. hired an automobile and the I
ballots arrived nj the polls AZ 2 D. I
~. Voters who went 10 the polls /
early in the morning and did not re- /
turn were therefore disfranchised 4
through no fault II theirs
IN this county In order 70 have bal +
lots printed IN Spanish the respective I
county committees must pay for them /
The county clerk refuses to do 80. An
examination ~ the Law viii sustain
him believe this Is the only coun-
" IN the state where this view Is TAX
en-. An appeal No ! Was informed. WIS
made 10 the attorney general during
The last campaign for his opinion on
this subject aud he Reluctantly arrived
AZ the conclusion that the county clerk
could not be made 10 print the ball
lots IN Spanish. Therefore. unless
he county committees pay for these
ballots, large number 0f our citizens
are dlsffanchised. This ~ not fair,
lf course.
Women Should BE Represented.
The legislature an les next session
should provide that women have rep
reHeniatiOn on the various boards ~
Inc state. More ana more women are
taking an active part ia public life
and rendering valuable service. This
Is not radical step New Mexico
would simply join the rank Of pro-
iremive states iu this respect
There Is considerable agitation IN
'ay0r uf consolidating the various ed
Icntional Institutions. This Is not
ikely 10 succeed a step in the right
direction. however would be board
" regents to have control Of the uni
'efsitY, the normal schools. the agrl-
'utufal college aud the school Of
mines 4 like body--board Of con-
r0l- should be created 90 have SUI
Of the insane asylum, the n
the reform school. with
ierhaps some say over the hospitals
hat receive state aid.
Generous appropriations should be
'iYen the university aud the common
choois the university can Dc
reat work by having a thoroughly de-
'eloDed extension course. which has
'rovcd SO helpful IN Wisconsin and !
ther states.
The board Of hcelth. In it's annual