Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-24
HOUSE MEMBERS
BROUGHT FACE TO
FACE WITH TWO
CRAVE PROBLEMS
Decide Against Senate Propo-
sition That Legislative En-
pIoyes Should Work for Sal
aries Before Being Paid,
BELGIAN APPEAL IS
UNABLE TO MAKE TOUCH

lCpl CoOiltoltFC lo''l O''oEoo
INDUCES in Sob Stuff Ora
tory, but Fails to Get SD
per Head for Relief Work,
(By r. l.. ID. McAllister, Staff Corre-
spondent.)
Santa Fe, Jan. 23.-Whether legis-
lative employees should draw pay with
out working and whether the unfor-
tunates of Belgium should be donated
one days pay by each member of the
house of representatives, were SUBJ
jects of spirited discussion at an un-
usually interesting house session this
afternoon. On the first question the
ayes had it by an overwhelming ma
jority; on the second they didn't get to
first base.
The matter of pay without work
came up on the consideration of SEN
ate bill g. appropriating the necessary
amount for the mileage and per diem
of the lieutenant governor and the
members and employees of the house
and senate. The senate bill contained
a provision requiring that before en-
ployes should be paid, the chief clerk
of each house should certify under
oath that those names on the pay roll
had been in attendance and performed
the duties specified for them.
The finance committee of the house,
apparently considering that such
thing as requiring work for the money
appropriated was not a necessary part
of the scheme of things struck out
this provision and also amended the
bill SO as to make the mileage for the
return from Santa Fe, payable on the
firsl .Ro,leher. s
Democrats Protest.
Mr.. Pardue of Guadalupe county.
objected to the committee amend
ments to the bill. and six of his fell
low democrats voted with him against
the measure as amended, which, how
ever was finally passed by a vote of
40 to 7. Mr. Pardue expressed regret
at voting against a bill providing for
the payment of his own salary, adding
parenthetically that his funds were
getting rather low. The senate re-
quirement, however, he considered a
wholesome one and in line with the
plain duty of the legislature in spend
ing the peoples money, and for that
pose the amendment.
1t is considered doubtful that the
senate will concur in the house
amendment to the bill, and the men,
bers and employees may find that in
stead of having pay day draw nearer
by the passage of the bill this after
noon, it has been further postponed.
There are several watchdogs of the
treasury in the upper house who are
sure to resist the proposition that pay
and work do not go together, and 1t
is not unlikely that the house will be
compelled to recede or send the bill
to conference. AS nobody has drawn
any pay yet, the chances are that If
the senate stands pat, the house will
recede.
Wads of Sob Stuff.
It was Mr.. Lewis of Chaves county
who uncorked the sob stuff about the
Belgians, and the few minutes just
prior to the adjournment of the house
was elected for the time for the un-
corking. Mr.. Lewis drew soul-stir-
ring picture of the sufferings Of the
stricken land over which the armies
of Europe have been surging back
and forth for the last two years and
a half, and it was thought for time
that he was about to introduce a res
olution to end the war. 1t turned out,
however, that his proposition was that
all members should subscribe one
days pay to the Belgian relief fund.
Incidentally he stated with perfect
candor that of the SIS that each mem.
ber draws down for days work only
35 cents can be said to be really earn
ed He wanted a roll call on his mo-
tion.
The discussion that followed was
lively. Mr.. Ortiz of San Miguel want
ed to refer the motion to the judiciary
committee. Mr. Barnes thought that
those who wanted to chip in $5 for the
Belgians had a perfect right to do So
but he didn't think it exactly fair tol
call the roll on those whose sympa-
thies did not take the form of IS
contribution. Mr.. Winston agreed
with MIR. Barnes. Mr.. Wesley didn't
believe in playing favorites. The
Serbians and Poles, he thought, had
quite as much coming to them out of
a New Mexico legislators salary as the
Belgians. and while he was perfectly
willing to kick in with his SIS, he in
sisted that it be pro rated, $1.66 2-3
going each to the Belgians, Serbians
and Poles.
Finally Mr.. Pardue ended the mat
ter by moving rather testify that the
motion and all standing. amendments
be laid on the table indefinitely.
Everybody voted for Mr.. Pardue's mo-
ton.
Exemption Bill Passed.
The house also passed, under sus-
pension of the rules, a bill introduced
by Messrs. Wetmore. Gonzales and