The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1917-01-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE TO
3rd STATE LEGISLATURE
Australian Ballot recommended
and action on prohibition
amendment desired
To the Senate and House Of Rep.

To the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives:
The government of a state re-
Quires from those entrusted with
its management. the same care
fol. conscientious and economical
consideration, as from one charg-
ed with the conduct of his own
~ any other line of business.
When a majority of the Leg
islative Assembly is of a differ
ent political complexion from
that Of the executive, the temp
tation is great TO devote much
time of the session 10 the pas
sage of laws attempting the eX-
ccutiye department of the power
Of appointment. trust this as
sembly will have a more lofty
ideal OF its duty.
/ So long rs our aim is for laws
giving some individual or party
advantage, just so long will we
have a shifting and changeable
legal system. Every two years
a large portion OF the statutes
Will be- changed or repealed and
a new set enacted 10 take their
place. No one will know Just
what the law is and the work of
our courts in interpreting it Is
largely nulliied. A law TO be Of
value should be certain. and
when once made plain of mean
.'Ur lw an Interpretation OF the
f courts. ought not TO be changed
Tor repealed except from consid-
erations of the highest necessity.
A few Of our laws are anti
Quatcd and out of place on our
/ statute books. These should be
replaced by statues framed after
those laws, which by experience
have been found TO work well, in
states whose conditions are sim
lar 10 our own. There are other
. laws which need to be strength
! Uel IN some of their weak nlac-
as; hers whose meaning should
Jp made plain and certain where
liz is now ambiguous; and still
Others where there is a real or
.lppaiynt conflict between differ
. ont portions of the same law, or
b between portions Of the laws eX-
. istirg at the time of their en-
actmynt. These conflicts ought
20 hc removed by proper lcgis-
latiun.
II we shall be- wise and patri-
otic enough 10 devote the sixty
DAYS of this session 10 the ac-
complishment of these ends, we
will have earned for ourselves
the encomium, well done faith
, Iful servant" and for our state a
place among the progressive and
forward looking states of the
, union.
The Battleship New Mexico
am advised by the secretary
!. of war of the United States that
the battleship New Mexico will
be ready TO launch and christer
=. in two or three months. Thi,
will be one of the largest ships
in the United States Navy. On
such occasions il il CUSTOMARY
for the state after which the YES
sci is named TO present for us,
on the battleship some suitabl,
gift. The time for action OF
this matter is rather short, anC
!, ! recommend you take il up fol
!. consideration Immediately aftel
your organization is completed
r and that you appropriate a sun
sufficient to purchase the gift
you decide to present.
|, Liquor
I The question whether W,
\ should continue to license the sa
I loon or prohibit the sale of intoX
I icating liquors entirely, has beer
Z agitated among us for sometime
I At every session of the legisla
; tive assembly it is brought al
! and enters into the discussion
I and consideration of all impor
tant political measures. Tn
! question is one of morals entire
Z iy. and should be speedily II
4 moved from the domain Of pol
! tics. No man has the mora
: right TO legislate the saloon int
Z a state or community, if il b
4 against the wishes of a maiorit
! of its inhabitants. The two don
! inant political parties have d,
Z clared in their platforms in fave
I Of an early submission Of II
: matter TO a vote of the peop