Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-21
Sharp Controversy Arises Be-
tween House and Senate as
to Sum That Should Be
Given by New Mexico,
LATE GOVERNOR DIED
PRACTICALLY PENNILESS
Campaign Expenses and Cost
of Long Illness Are Reasons
Why Assistance Should Be
Given to Widow.
(By R. l.. ID. McAllister, Staff Core"
sDOndent.)

(By IL. htZtiiStN't
spondent.)
Santa Fe, Feb. 20.-The legislature
of New Mexico today went on record
as favoring an appropriation for the
relief of Mrs. Margarita c. de Baca,
widow of the late Governor de Baca'
but the two houses differed Sharply as
to the amount that should be appro"
priated. AS a result of this difference,
what was expected to be a merely for
nal session this morning dragged out
over more than two hours and led to a
debate in which considerable sup
pressed feeling was evident.
It is no secret that Governor de
Baca died a poor man. The expenses
of his capaign last fall proved heavI
burden to him, and the trip to Los An
geles for special treatment just after
the election, followed by protracted
illness in sanitariums both there ami
in Santa Fe constituted a further
drain on his finances that no one but
a rich man could afford to bear. The
small amount of property left to him
by his large family is barely sufficient
to pay his debts,
House and Senate Bills.
In a bill introduced this morning by
Senator Sanchez of Taos county, the
senate proposes to appropriate for the
benefit of Mrs de Baca, in addition to
the amount of accrued salary due the
deceased governor, the sum of $4,000.
This bill was i,assed unanimously BY
the senate but was rejected by the
house.
The house proposition, embodied in
a bill introduced by Messrs. Romero,
Griego and Sanchez of san Miguel, is
to appropriate for Mrs. de Baca $1O,-
600, of which $1,000 is to he available
within thirty days and the remainder
is to be paid in quarterly installments
of $3.50 each extending over a period
of five years. This bill was passed by
a vote of 81 to II, but has not been
transmitted to the senate, as that body
adjourned before the vote on the
measure was taken.
In opposing the bill, Mr., Barnes, re-
publican floor leader, explained that
in his opinion the funeral expenses OF
Governor de Baca which it was stat
ed would amount to about 81 1900, are
payable out of the contingent fund al
lowed to the governor by law, and in
view of that fact thought that the
$4,000 appropriated by the senate was
sufficient.
Only ten members of the house, all
of them republicans, voted with Mr..
Barnes against the BILL which carried
the emergency clause and WHICH was
passed by more than two-thirds ma
jority necessary to give effect to that
clause. Mr.. Wesley of Grant county
declared that Governor de Baca had
saved the state much more than the
amount which it was proposed to give
his widow by coming home at the cost
of his life to be sworn in as governor
on New Years day. Mn. Winston of
Sierra county reminded the legislators
that they were voting away the peo-
ple's money, and expressed the opin-
ion that after the wave of "senti-
ment" had passed the voters of the
state would not approve of the appro-
priation. Mr.. York of Otero county
replied that he was not afraid to go
before the people of his county on a
proposition of this sort, for he knew
that they would approve of his stand
in favor of the bill. His remarks were
greeted with applause. which was sup
pressed by Speaker Llewellyn.
Will Senate Recede?
The prediction is freely made in
Santa Fe that for once. in a matter in
volving the Appropriation of money,
the senate will be compelled to give
way to the house in the present in
stance. 1t is believed that senators
will feel that they cannot afford to be
parsimonious in a matter of this sort.
If the leaders show a disposition to
stand pat, the chances are that party
lines will be broken down and that a
number of republicans will vote with
the democrats to carry the house bill
through the senate.
Both house and senate adjourned
until 2 o'clock Friday afternoon. No
attempt was made by either branch Of
the legislature to conduct any business
today, except that the following new
bills were introduced in the senate:
. p. l5@. ny SeHdtoT murray ~
define, fix and establish boundaries
between Grant and Socorro counties
and Grant and Sierra counties. Judi
ciary.
S. B.. 1913. BY Senator Baird. Re-
lieving owners of water in La Luz
and FTesnel creeks in Otero county
from payment of photographic charg-
es. Finance.
s. B. 1874. BY Senator Baird. APP
propriating $1,000 for the translation
OF the laws and jurnals Of the third