New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-02-23
CODIF|CATION IS
HOBBY AMONG THE
STATE Law MAKERS
BALLOT REFORM OFFERED
BY MEHLHOP EMBRACES
STERLING FEATURES. DE
BACA COUNTY SLIPS A
COG

VI tHC StdtC law diC lCdtuiC VI
the third state legislature. The pro-
bate laws will be gathered into
compact as wei as comprehensive
form, If a law introduced is to be
passed.
Election laws will be assembled in
one place and form, and will in all
probability be greatly improved be-
fore the session ends. Ditch mat
ters, jury matters, fence matters.
.egal procedure matters, each topic
will be garnered into its own fold
and offered in systematic form, dur
ing the next fortnight of legislative
workings, if the proposers of these
bills are to have their way.
One of the principal items Of the
legislatures business has scarcely
been touched upon as yet. This is
the appropriation of money for the
needs OF state institutions. Though
some money has been asked for,
much more in fact than will be
voted for any purpose, the big bud
get is yet to come. Something ike
million and half dollars will be
spent
Ballot reform will be urged, and
an Austria ian ballot law will be
enacted; 1t is almost certain The
routine bills for the date and man
ner OF holding the constitutional al
amendments election of booze will
be passed although the demon rum
is in the city and trying his Gus
sedest to have the bills forgotten in
the rush, and in that way give the
whisky men another year before the
vote is taken.
Kascmans two good drainage laws
have passed the senate and seem
in fair way to pass the house.
Llano county is being worked for
and they say the house will vote
for the bill, making a new county in
the southeast corner of the state al
the expense of Chaves and Eddy
But what will happen to it in the
Senate is something else, again"
De Baca county having passed the
senate as amended by unanimous
consent will probably be recalled by
that body and re-referred to COM
mittee, or beaten down in the house,
so narrowing are the perils that
beset a new county in this session.
The big question of state appoint
ments will be opened up by the new
governor. and the hint is broad y
abroad that the appointments so far
made representing as they do the
dictates of an unimportant and self
constituted wing of the minority
party wi go by the board while
new names, a majority of them be-
ing republicans, will go on the
boards.
Synopsis of Ballot Law: BY F. l..
Mehlhop.
Provides for adoption of new re-
pistration system in the State, de-
signed to do away with a regis
tration system. overburdened with
names Of deceased, unqualified and
removed voters.
The Act follows closely the sys-
TEN in use in the State OF Oregon
Among other things it provides the
following:
A general county register to be
kept by the County Clerk Of each
County.
Personal registration of all voters
by making oath. as to residence,
place of birth, post office address
and qualifications as voter.
Registration oath must be made
before County Clerk or Precinct
Registrars appointed by the County
Clerk for each precinct not conve'
nient to county seat. Oaths taken
by precinct registrars are sent to
County Clerk who copies name and
other data into general County Re-
gister.
Registration may be made at any
time except thirty days previous and
SIXTY days following any county cleo
tion.
Prior to elections, county clerk
must copy precinct voters lists from
geAeral county register, and forward
same to election officials for use
at polls.
Any qualified voter not registered
may vote by making same oath re-
quired for registration before judge
of election substantiated by oath OF
two qualified voters of precinct.
General County Register must be
striking off names of persons who
have not voted in any election dur
ing the previous two year period.
County Clerk is authorized to strike
off names from General County Re-
gister of those whom he knows to
have died or been convicted of crime,
which conviction disfranchises such
voter.
Voters need not re-register unless
they change residence within the
state or fail to vote in any cleo
tion for two years.