New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-01-26
GOOD ROADS AND
DRAINAGE At BAT
LEGISLATURE EXCEPTED TO
APPROPRIATE $I,25o,o00
IN COURSE OF NEXT THREE
W KS PROHIBITION
STILL COMMITTED

day is a long rest, and the legisla-
tors who had gone returned to the
capitol with a store of energy. while
those who waited about the 1obbies
seemed equally anxious to go to
work. Result: very active week
and a whole lot of bills started on
the round of committee report, con-
ference. and vote.
Wsman's Suffrage.
Woman's suffrage comes to the
fore this week in a resolution in
troduced into the house by Repre-
sentatives Liewellyn and Gonzales
of Dona Ana. The resolution pro-
vides for the submission of this
agitated question to a vote of the
people at the next general election.
Suffrage leaders have been "hedg-
ing up to now for two reasons.
They were advised that II they en-
tered the fight early IN the ses-
sion. their program might become
involved with the liquor legislation
then pending, with the result that
the submission of suffrage would
impede the submission OF prohibi-
ton. 1t is significant Of the possi-
Die tendencies Of the womanly. vote.
that its sponsors did not desire to
obstruct in any way vote on the
dry resolutions. :.
Now they feel that prohibition i:
being considered on its merits. and
they are asking the Legislature TO
endorse suffrage submission. II has
been argued that the present IS no
fine for the women of New Mex
leo to seek the ballot, because the
constitution Of the state is so word.
ed that Il wouid be hard, II indeed
possible, to pass the measure At
the poles. That they are willing
10 risk defeat At q popular cleo
tion b regarded as surprising. How
ever, there is . benefit to be gain
ed bv the taking of . state vote.
that has escaped the average OBJ
server, il would seem. This benefit
consists In the fact that the women
hope T. poll . majority vote at the
next election, though not enough
70 actually carry the measure under
the strict regulations OF the consti..
tuition. With this vote on record
il is their aim to go before the
national congress with petition as
planned by suffrage leaders from all
the states, and ask for = nationwide
equal suffrage amendment to the
national constitution. The first step
IN their program then. is to get the
legislature 70 pass the Llewellyn-
Gonzales resolution. and thereby re-
Qister . state vote next fall. That
the legislature looks favorably upon
.>h.;e eeouest il evident
Prohibition Pending.
Prohibition is still on its stormy
voyage up the River of Doubt Pi-
lots are not lacking. The house
a. last report had two resolutions
M for consideration. and the senate
four. That a modified prohibition
plank will be on the next general
election ballots is no longer doubt
ed. however, and the choice bet
ween Senator Clark's bill and Sen
ator McDonalds' inc!ines, we learn
toward the Mcdonald resolution
which was the original one intro
duced and which has been comment
ed upon and printed in full IN the
Record.
Good Roads Desired.
"Ail roads lead to Rome" All in.
terests of the state lead to good
roads. The prospect of improved
road conditions in every part OF
the state gets brighter with every
hour of the session. There is NO
iorrcr a trace of apathy in this inn
portant matter as there used to be
in state assemblies, the reason be-
ing to a large extent that no one
fears the application of road
funds, once they are provided. Inc
session will arrange for raising the
Sl.l70OOO required to meet the fed
eral appropriation of the same
amount. It will probably be done
by direct taxation. The Taxpayer
association has forehandedly pre-.
pared statement to be issued
shortly, showing that levy of a
fraction of a mill. spread over the
next five years will do the work
The state engineer is working tc
lave the Joint fund applied to the
official state highway system, as
carefully worked out and recon-
mended by his office.
IL he IS successful he will deserve
the congratulations of the entire state
If rowever, the federal money IS
10 he spent only on certain road
ways, designated bv the fedora
government. there will be no cause
fer complaint, for it will give tht
states road plans a great lift. ant
will of course be of great benefit
to the regions affected.
Now Comes Drainage.
The common citizen will wipe hi