The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-02-03
O LITERARY GEMS.

Courts are often confronted with the
problem OF wading through a lacy
ninth OF meaningless phrase in their
efforts 10 construe laws passed ~
STATE legislatures. Much " our nti.
Eation would bc avoided " bills be-
fore being introduced in either mouse,
were gone over by a committee fer
the purpose OF seeing that the plirs se-
osepy was correct and that. "A Case the
constitngtonality OF the bill should be
attacked. the court would not DO In
doubt as to the Intentions OF the ,eg-
Isiaure when the bill was passed.
Bills introduced In IN present ses-
sion OF the New Mexico legislature
reflect slaring examples Of the care
lessness that prevails In preparing
measures for enactment into aaa.
Witness for Instance. house bill No.
zoe. providing for barring of biniari.
pool tables for public places In state. ,"
There IL only one section Of this bill.
and upon conviction thereof shall
be fined In not to exceed $50 nor less
than s2s for each and every offense
according to the discretion Of the
court"
Just what the author OF the bill
means b. billiard pool tables we are
unable to say. There are billiard TIA
bles and pool tables. bu; we never
heard Of a billiard pool table per-
haps ne meant to say billiard and
pool tables" However, that. In our
opinion. is not the most serious flaw
81 III bin. Agains; WHORE wouie you
lodge a complaint. in cnse this hull
becomes a law. and yoh discovered
what. In your opinion. wac u vocation
Of tho Law The Snl says and upon
conviction thereof" etc. ~Inssriuch ms
''nilliard pool tables ate spoken 10. and
no reference Is made Ia the party con-
Outing the billiard and pool hail. the
presumption Is that you would &c
compelled to arrest the billiard pooi
tables" yank them into court and fine
them as provided for IN the Dhl.
Here is mother literary eain. II Is
house bill No. IS. relating "a people
% bad conduct" Section / reads.
''That any person or persons within
the state Of New Mexico that makes
writings or drawing in place.
whether il be private or public. wb,ie
people rave go, to 60 by and see them
boinz that such writings contain seam
dslous or obscene words this helms
contrary To the public peace, the per.
son or persons tina should write 'uch
writings. viii be guilty of a INSIDE
meanor and upon oonvie:icn viii be
fined and punished by any Just. e Of
the peace IN a fine o; less than five
dollars nor more than twenty-five
dollars, or as the discretion Of the
court that should Try the JaEe
Even blackstone himself would he
unable To fathom Ia mysteries o. this
"re. II is house biz Ne ~. com
,erning to pubic reals" section ]
reads Thai II shall }. legal that
when a public road q lane ,ha, cros-
ses any railroad line. or fence Of any
person or persons a. lands II a COM
pany. or private lands. which should
have gates in said fences, or crossings
81 any railroad lands. which would 10
necessary for the public transit. the
person ar persons. company or cOtn-
psnies. owner or owners. OF said fcnro
OF fences. property or properties or
crossings of any railroad line In tie
state. which has no gates which will
be easy 10 open and 10 be closed hy
all men. women or children who 'aay
come in and out OF said gate. here
VIII be no responsibility for ans dam.
ages which may occur, Provided. That
said gates or crossings Of the rsiir 'ads
would he IN good condition. and the
and in such case the traveller who
would break the provisions Of this
act. will be responsible for the dam
ages"
The tive following sections ale
equally as lucid aH the one jutt
quoted.
After getting your culpri. into
court the oil provides FOR fine "of
no less than s. 90 nor more than
slO.oO.' provided. OF course, that ne
IL found guilty, although II would he
mighty hard 10 determine. from the
wording OF the bil, just what would
oonstitutee a violation OF the law
II seems that there h nce' ~ a
committee m New Mexico 10 revise
bills before they are submitted 20 the
Legislature. other states IRE advo-
eating the adoption 81 such . plan.