Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-16
First Step Is Taken to Have
Supplies for Public Institu-
tons Bought From Dealers
in New Mexico,
ROAD TAX LAW Is
TO GO INTO DISCARD
Republican Members Called in
Caucus by Statesman San-
chez, but Purpose Is Only
ConjeCtufaL
CBy X. l.. ID. McAllister, Staff COrrc-
spondcnt.)

(By X. l.. ID. McAllister, Staff Corrc-
spondent.)
Santa Fe. Feb. 15.--Two important
bills of general interest were passed
by the house this afternoon. They
were II. r. 81. to require the pure chase
of goods and supplies for public insti-
tutions from dealers resident in New
Mexico, and H. b. 33, repeating the
three-dollar road tax.
The first named measure is one of
the stock bills that has been coming
up before every Legislature since New
Mexico has been a state. only to be
smothered in committee or killed on
the floor of the house in which it was
introduced. Recently the state feder-
alton Of labor has gotten actively be-
hind it, with the result that it has
had more vitality at this session than
at any former time.
The bill had been called up on third
reading Wednesday afternoon and was
under discussion at the time of ad-
journment. 1t was taken up this af-
ternoon as unfinished business,
amendments offered by the com
mttee on state affairs and by Mr.
Algert were rejected and the bill,
when placed on its passage, carried by
a vote of 81 to 13.
"AS Far as Practicable"
The qualification contained in the
bill that buying shall be done at
home, 'as far as practicable with due
regard for economy" renders the bill
of doubtful value so far as changing
the existing status Is concerned. Pre-
sumably home merchants and manu-
facturers are patronized at present as
far as is practicable with due regard
for economy. Those in charge of the
bill, however. seem to feel that a step
forward has been taken and express
satisfaction at its passage through the
house.
The bill to repeal the road tax law
met with little opposition, the vote in
it's favor being 80 to A. Both republi-
cans and democrats have promised in
their party platforms of former years
that this tax, which is particularly OBJ
noxious to employees of corporations
out of whose salaries the tax is taken
without their consent should he abol-
ished. There was no discussion of the
bill on the floor of the house and it
is believed that it will have easy sail
ing in the senate.
Caucus a Mystery.
The house was due to meet this af..
ternoon at 2 O'Clock. but a caucus Of
the republican members which had
a i
to such an extent that it was 2:45 be-
fore Speaker Llewellyn finally raped
for order.
The delay gave rise to much specu-
lation regarding the purpose for
which the caucus was called. There
was a rumor that Mr. Sanchez of Va
lenca, the caucus chairman, had
called the meeting to secure united
party action in favor of his resolu-
tion providing for the expulsion from
the floor of the house of the repre-
sentative of the Morning Journal in
event the journal should publish any
thing more that might dispease Mr.
Sanchez, If any such matter came
before the caucus, however, there was
no echo of it in the proceedings of
the house.
The Journal man who wrote the
story that caused the recent brain
storm of Mr.. Sanchez was present on
the floor for the first time since the
resolution was introduced, sitting
timidly at an obscure corner of the
press table. Perhaps the reason no.
body started anything against him
was because nobody knew he was
there. At all events he was not mo-
Tested.
There was also talk that the eau
Gus was for the purpose of consid-
ering changes in the personnel of the
employees of the house, but it was inn
possible to verify this report. What
ever came before the meeting was
of those present would give out any
thing regarding the proceedings.
In the Senate.
The session of the senate Was pura
" formal and held nothing of more
than passing interest. The only bill
acted upon was ;. Is. vi, feSuldtlhS
the pay of mayors and aldermen OF
municipalities, which was passed by
vote of % to 0. The following new
bills we're introduced:
$. b. 173. BY Senator Kerr. Pro-
viding for the establishment of coun-
t Libraries and for an annual tax
levy upon the same. Finance.
s. 3. ia. BY Senators Mirabal and
Barth. To repeal chapter IS of the
session laws of 1915 relating to the
sale of tax certificates. Judiciary.
S. B, 175. BY Senator Lea. To
confer upon the state bank examine.
the powers and duties relative tol