Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-01-19
GOV,DEBAGKSMESSAGE
NEW MEXICO EXECUTIVE WANTS
DRY AMENDMENT.
John c. Clark Elected President Pro
Tenn. Of Senate, and w. n. n.
Llewellyn Speaker Of the House

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Santa Fe-The organization of the
Third state legislature was completed
by the election OF John G.. Clark Of
San Miguel county as president pro
tenn. of the senate and J.. W. Gliding
chief clerk. w H. II. Llewellyn of
Dona Ana county was elected speak.
er Of the house and Bias Sanchez OF
Mora county, chief clerk.
The message OF Gov. e. c. De Baca,
submitted to the legislature, altho pre-.
pared from the bed of a s|anitarium, is
q. comprehensive document, searching
into the needs Of the state and max
ing numerous recommendations. Be-
ginning with the hope that a differ
ence in political complexion of the
legislative assembly and the executive
will not be used to weaken the ef-
fectiveness Of the government, Cover
nor De Baca recommends an overhaul
ing of the statues, the elimination of
many Anticipated laws and the substi-
tuition for them of laws which have
been found by experience to work well
in states in which conditions are sim
liar to those in New Mexico.
Citing that both political parties
have declared in their platforms in
favor of an early submission OF the
question of prohibition to the people
Of the state, the governor recon-.
mends that action necessary to sub
NIT IN amendment to forever prohibit
the sale of intoxicating liquors be
taken.
The governor recommends the pass.
age of a law accepting the provision
of the federal aid road act, and that
ways and means be provided for rails
ing the necessary funds on the part
Of the state to comply with its pro-
visions. The financial condition of
New Mexico, Governor De Baca thinks,
can be solved thru a state tax com
mission that would get on the tax
rolls a large amoun OF property now
escaping taxation, and thinks that in
this way the necessary revenues can
be obtained without i%,creasing the
levies set by the present law. He rec
ommends the adoption of an inherit
ance tax, and wants private car com
panies doing business in the state
taxed on a proper basis. Governor De
Baca would abolish the office of state
insurance commissioner and delegate
the duties of the office to a state cor
poration commission. He recon-
mends that a system be adopted by
which $500, 600, money of the state in
the hands of the state land commits
sion, can be made to bring a revenue,
and the adoption of a budget system
by the state institutions and all de-
partments Of the state government.
Reform of the election laws and alb
sent voters law and a strengthening
of the jury law to make it impossible
to use a jury for partisan purposes are
among the recommendations. A fence
law that will be equitable to both the
stockmen and farmers, mn improve
ment in the state banking law, and
the employment of inmates of the pen.
itentiary and reform school in useful
occupations, are suggestions made in
the message.
Lieutenant Governor w. E. Lindsey
read the message to the assembly, the
Illness of the governor preventing him
attending the session.
Following the selection of Major
Llewellyn for speaker, Judge Barnes
was named as Republican floor lead
err; Bias Sanchez, of Wagon Mound,
Mora county, chief clerw; Jesus Arch
uleta, of Los Lunas, Valencia county,
sergeant-at-arms, and Father A. Bees
set, rector of Guadalupe church. chap
lain.
At the Republican senate caucus,
Senator John S. Clark, of Las Vegas,
was named as president pro tenn: j..
Wight Giddings, of Sante Fe, chief
clerk; Cesario Pedragon, of Dona Ana
county, sergeant-at-arms, and Rev. f..
H. Hammond. pastor of st. Johns
Methodist church, chaplain.
The house committee appointed to
consider applications for house en-
ployment and to fill the minor posi-
tons is composed of representatives
Mares, Of Colfax county; diversion, Of
Mckinley; Romero, of San Miguel;
Leavitt, of Socorro, and Ortiz, of Rio
ATriba.
The additional senate employees
named follow: Stenographers, Miss
Pearl Price, Las Cruces; Miss Gather
inc Sullivan, Las Vegas; Miss Devine,
Albuquerque; Arthur SENEGAL, Albert
Clancy, John j.. Kenney, Santa Fe.
Assistant reading clerk, e. II. Bern
baum, of Mora. Reading clerk, Roy
Flamm, of Santa Fe.