The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-02-24
BILLS CREATING TWO
NEW COUNTIES ARE
PUT THROUGH HOUSE
De Baca Is to be the Name Of One
and the Other Has Been Chris.
tened Lea; Much Opposition
Encountered in Both Cases.

1
Santa Fe. ~ NJ, Feb. 2t.--De Daca
county received the OK OF the house
yesterday afternoon by unanimous
vote. the house concurring In the sen
ate's amendments Len county. which
is the new name gwen in com
mltiee to the proposed county of
Llano. in the extreme southeastern
corner OF the state. passed the house
under suspension of the rules at
O'Clock last night. after a stormy de-
bate
Republicans voted solidly for the
bill. and the Democrats were divided.
This condition came about. II Is said.
from the possibility that the new
county viii be Progresnive In politics.
though II has appeared as a Demo
cratic policy from the frst y. =.
Eaves, Democrat OF Lovington. the
projected county seat. introduced the
bin.
Hearings on the subject OF Llanc or
Lea county have been held for the
past three days before house commit
tees. and no less than i've factions
and some fifty people from the region
AFFECTED have been az the capitol Tel O.
egrams from that section urging that
the county be not created were re-
ceived. These stated that II was de-
sired that an election be held, ana
that II one-third OF the voters wanted
the new county the rest of the people
would be satisfied. These facts were
thrown In the teeth OF the majority
In spirited speeches BY several Demo-
Gratis. though without visible effect on
the vote.
MIR. Livingston moved an amend
ment to the Lea county bill. designed
to lenVe the ratification OF the legls-
llatnrcs action In the matter to the
voters of the counties OF Chaves and
Eddy. the election 10 he held within
ninety days. Melhop. ie~is. stroud,
Wesley, patricio Sanchez. and others
lspoke against the bill. ar for the
amendment Mr.. stroud said III u
not a proper prerogative OF this body
to turn dewn the viii OF Il majority
Of the people In the two southern
lcountles affected. | am for principle.
lThe proposition that the people would
Iabide by an election II the new county
is not turned down by a two-thirds
vote. is as fair a proposition m pos
lsibIe. II was offered to the house
lcommittee CON counties) this morn
ing. This house does not appear dis
posed to do the fair thing. and the
vote so far has shown that they are
not"
| Mr. Barnes resisted the amendment.
Laying. we have before us an un-
usual spectacle. The Democrats came
to us and asked for the creation OF
DeBaca county. ON the high ground OF
the convenience OF the people In the
section. The vote shows that the
house. including the modest and un-
lassuming Republican majority. voted
for the bill. The committee on coun-
ties and county lines was favorable.
Now another Democratic county IS
proposed, based solely upon the same
question OF the convenience OF res
lidents. II has been examined Dy the
Iproper committee, and II Is well
known that the committee had hear
ings here for hours and on repeated
davs. and the convenience OF the IN
habitants was discussed in full. No"
the gentlemen are fying In the face
OF this question. They want us 10 lay
; Iaside the same power that We assum'
ed in the creation OF DE Baca county
They offer an amendment which
would cause us to suspend our Judg'
ment.
Il suspect that there T. Niger IN
their domestic woodpile. The ulu
Innate question is left to the county
commissioner of the two old counue.
from which the new county would be
made. True, the amendment con
ltains formal mandate to the com
missioners 20 hold the election pu'
I there Is no provision for the enforce
ment OF this order under the law. Fo'
| failure 20 hold the election they coul'
not be held in contempt OF court even
much less legislative enactment.
Mr.. Vesely. Democrat, summed ~
s the matter in explaining his vote
when he said the steam roller ~ u
nerfect condition" Later he re
marked. "it Is well oiled, and viii b
used from now on
A conspicuous feature Of the Le
county tit, was the entire absence o
Minority Leader Pardue IN the debate
he was the most aggressive IN secur
% ing the passage OF the De Baea count
, bill.
Resides the election amendment OF
:, fered TO lea county by Livingston
!. was an amendment by Melhop, max
nng Lovington merely temporar
county seat. and providing for the 81
~ lection OF permanent one late
:. Eaves father OF the bin, and rcsioei
n Of Lovington. defended the city, an
A. said that il was the only aNail""'
10 county seat in tho new county
T. Melhop also offered an ironici
't amendment naming the new co"n'
Eavos. which was voted down.
ps Patricio sanchez In explaining y
,n vote. observed the difference IN ~
W. wording of the two county bills.
~. the De Baca county bill the goVern'
'o In directed TO appoint Republicans
well a. Democrats on the county con
n. mission In the Len county bill' whi'
a.. originated under Republican go
ornorship. no party lines are draw