Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-25
Senator John S. Clark, Major
ity Leader Introduces Joint
Resolution in Upper House
for That Purpose.
CHAVES STATESMAN
SENSITIVE ON 0RAT0RY
Introduces CaustiC Letter to
House Calling Down Journal
Representative for Report
of Belgian Speech.
tBy r.. r.. ID. McAllister, Staff COrre-
SDOndentI

SANTA re, Jan. -f-l he llili
ton into the senate this Afternoon by
Senator John S. Clark of a joint reso-
luton to amend the constitution of
the state by abolishing the corpora
ton commission as it now exists and
substituting in lieu thereof provi-
sion of single commissioner of cor
porations. was the principal legisla-
tive development today.
The proposed amendment provides
that the commissioner of corporations
shall be appointed by the governor,
by and with the advice and consent of
the senate; that he must have been
q bona fide resident Of the state for
at least five years before his appoint
ment; that he shall hold office for
term of four years, or until his sue
cessor is appointed and qualities; that
he shall exercise all the duties and
have all the powers now possessed by
the corporation commission and such
additional powers as may be con-
ferred by law, and shall receive such
compensation as the legislature may
fix for, him. 1t is provided that no
person who is financially interested
in any public service corporation or
association operating in this state, or
who is an officer or agent of such
a corporation, shall be eligible for ap-
Jointlr ens.
Senator Clark's resolution expresses
the smouldering discomfort at the
present corporation commission that
has existed practically ever since
statehood--a discomfort not so much
at the individuals composing the
commission as at what is believed by
many to be an expensive and useless
piece of governmental machinery.
Coming as 1t does from the senate
leader of the dominant party in the
legislature, it is believed that the res
olution has better than an even
chance of passing, and that the peo-
pie of the state will be given an OPP
portunity to say whether they desire
Il continuation of the present system.
Lewis Is Sensitive.
Mr. Lewis, of Chaves county, who
on Tuesday afternoon raised his elo-
Quent voice in heart-breaking ap-
zeal to his fellow members to come
across with five dollars each for the
suffering inhabitants of Belgium
does not like to have the newspapers
criticize his oratory.
Mr.. Lewis was shocked, not to say
Jared, to read in this mornings
Journal a reference to his soulful
words as sob stuff. Accordingly,
Just before the adjournment of the
house this afternoon he rose to ques-
ton of personal privilege and sent to
the clerks desk written communica-
ton explaining that he desired the re-
marks to be read by someone else in
order that there might be no criti-
cism of his oratory, and asked that it
be read in both English and Spanish.
Mr. Lewis communication, which his
friends assert was intended to be both
facetious and caustic, was as follows;
Mr.. Speaker: / want to say word
in answer to a gentleman who enjoys
his presence and ego on this floor as
a reporter / want to know If his
privilege card entities him to be here
a Judge of oratory. ! doubt seriously
if one whose head has grown gray
grabbing goobers from the red hills
of Georgia can qualify as such a, per-
son. That if he wishes to further exer-
else these functions on any member
that he be required to show diploma
as an oratorical judge or stand exam
ination for such, and, if he cannot
qualify, he be required to stand an
examination by committee of three,
the chairman of the committee to be
a licensed veterinary. After such
qualifications, ! move this house petit
ton his employer to raise his salary
from 80 cents to 81 per diem"
That settles it.
Senate Stands Pat.
For that matter, however, the Bel
gians are not in any immediate dan
ger of drawing one days pay from
each member of the house because the
members Of the house are not in any
immediate danger of drawing down
any pay for themselves. AS forecast
in the Journal yesterday, the senate
stood pat on the proposition that Leg
islative employees must work before
they are allowed to draw any salary
and that the chief clerk of both houses
must certify under oath that they
have been in attendance and rendered
the services specified for them.
The refusal to concur in the house
amendment to s. B. 8, striking out
this provision, was unanimous, and the
bill was accordingly sent back to the
house. No action was taken on the