New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-02-02
ANITA FE, NEW MEXICO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, tsIz

SANTA FE, new NE
ed by that body a part of the duties
of the assessors, county commission
ers, and board of equalization as
formerly constituted.
Still Fixing Fences.
The number of livestock trespass
laws and bills fixing redress for
damage done by stock, over running
private property, is remarkable
Each day sees several more on the
docket. Apparently Governor De-
Baca's suggestion that the laws gov.
erning fences be modified has been
taken very seriously by the law
makers. And it is equally patent
that there are a few more opinions
on this subject than there are men,
bers. The house committee on Ju-
dietary has enough fence statutes
on its docket to make a complete
set Of statutes on fences alone. The
result will be, in the opinion of one
who has followed the intricate sub
ject thus far, that the legal fence"
lof the future will be somewhat
, simplified
Land Grant Measures.
In the house have originated sew
eral measures with reference to that
complicated situation in New Mex
leo resulting from the Spanish land
grant system. One bill would ex-
empt land grants entirely from tax
alton. Another would exempt 49,
600 acres in each grant from taxes.
Still another bill dealing with land
grants, authorizes a new system OF
management of two of the grants
whose rules were adopted under a
aw of forty years ago, since repeal
ed.
Some of the Funny Ones.
There have been a few bills Of
fered this term that would make in
teresting laws if carried out. Be-
sides those on which we have COM
mented may be listed the law offer
ing bounties on jack rabbits, for the
determination of the loco weed, the
abolition of the cigarette, local op-
ton within precincts for the aboli-
tion Of pool rooms, bill authori-
zing the state to END any unem-
ploycd funds to farmers at per
cent for an indefinite term, a law
placing the third tax on auto driv-
crs, this tax being precinct tax of
$40 annually, and also a law rcquir-
ing a good and Sufficient bond for
chauffeurs and automobile drivers.
Other Proposed Measures.
representative Mares has bill
advancing the salaries of teachers
of the third class to SIS a month
instead of $50, as formerly Also
permitting teachers a month of abb
>ence on full pay when on sick
leave His bill would place SIS as
the minimum salary for teachers
with second class certificates. This
sum is now the maximum of month
ly pay.
Several more bills creating indus
trial schools are talked of. In the
past these bills have not usually
been enacted. Appropriations for
bridges in several localities have
been asked, the amounts involved
ranging from $500 to 5000. A fish
hatchery is proposed in a bill by
Senator Esquibel, $4,000 to be ap-
priopriated for the purchase of a
site, and $2,400 for the salary of a
manager for the coming two years.
The state board of medical exami-
ners and board OF health. is asking
for $4,000 this year and next to
carry On their work, and also $1,000
a year for secretary's hire. They
want certain power in declaring
quarantines and the right to advise
county commissioners on the ap-
pointment of county heath officers.
The house has passed a bill fin
ing police who administer the third
degree" to prisoners. The extortion
of confession from prisoners by
rough h-house methods will be punish
able by fines of $500 to 81 900 and
stiff Jail sentences, if the bill pas
ses the senate, and is signed. This
measure of rWetmore's was pas
sed in the house under suspension
of the rules.
a handful of bills have made the
rifle in each house, but what they
will receive at the hands of the
other is conjectural 1t now seems
probable that the statutes will not
be overburdened with the efforts of
the legislature.
A Commission State.
Messrs. Lewis and Wetmore in the
house are sponsors for a radical
measure, which seems nevertheless
TO have the sympathy OF many of
the solons. 1t is nothing less than
a commission form of government
for New Mexico. Instead of le-
gislature of two houses, the gentle
men propose a commission of eight
members. They would be chosen
from the eight judicial districts at
present constituting the state. They
would serve for two years, and
would be the law-making body of
the state. There could be no more
than four of any one political party,
and they would be elected at large.
Six would constitute majority suf-
ficient to override a veto by the
and five normal ma or-
ity. The lieutenant governor, would
serve as permanent presiding Off
GER, and vote in a tie A clerk at
$1,000 a year would have to attend
10 all correspondence the year round
and the filing and indexing of pc
titions, preparation of laws, and so
forth. He would be empowered to
employ only such help as neces-
'ary. The commissioners would get
$500 a year each, and would start
heir sessions the second Tuesday
If each year
This measure was introduced in