The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-03-20
FOURTH STATE LEGISLATURE
CLOSED-CLOCK IS SET BACK

Santa Fe, March l6.-The fourth
Legislature adjourned this morning at
2 o'clock after continuous session
of both houses since 10 o'clock Sat
urday morning. The house by re-
cessing and standing at ease did not
enter the last Legislative day until
/ | 80 Saturday night although the
session was supposed to expire by
limitation of law at noon Saturday.
When the lawmakers adjourned sine
die it was three minutes to 2 o'clock
by official time, but was ten minutes
to II Saturday morning by the clock
in the house of representatives The
senate simple let its clock run and
paid no attention to it.
The closing hours were marked in
each house by usual fun and all sorts
of freak resolutions and bills were
introduced and speeches of humorous
inclination were delivered.
In the senate near the close Lieu
tenant Governor Pankey was pre-
sented with handsome silver tea set.
Floor Leader Clark and Minority
| Leader Skeen both received loving
cups from members of their party.
If there is any one thing which
stands out more plainly than any
other in the work of the Legislature it
was the plea of economy which was
followed by the creation Of large
number of new officers. The bulk Of
the appointments go to the governor.
Among the good jobs which will be
/ available are the twenty-nine places
for road superintendents, one in each
county. This place pays $500
year and the house made a strong ef-
fort to place the appointment in the
hands of county commissioners and
adopted an amendment to that ef-
feet. The senate killed the amend
ment and again placed the appoint
uents in the hands of the governor
and sent it back to the house, where
it was concurred in after more debate.
The place of gasoline inspector at
$l,S00 "a year for the purpose of col
lecting the new 2 per cent tax on
motor propulsion fluid is another.
There will be one inspector in each
judicial district. Opponents of the
measure figured out that the collection
of the tax would cost the state IT
per cent of the total amount. Friends
declared the figures were placed too
high and argued that more money
woriG be paid into the state treasury
under that plan than the plan Of
the minority to have the tax collected
: by the sheriff.
The passage of the irrigation pro-
jects a.d the addition of many new
cerkships in the various Offices will
; operate to furnish many positions.
J Highly paid men are provided for on
the permanent tax commission, health
commission and more jobs are added
! to the personnel of the state prison
force.
Among the measures passed are
some of which will be of great impor-
tance in the future history of New
Mexico. The passage of signing the
bill creating the department of health
is considered a forward step by all
although the provisions of the bill are
criticized by some. The passage Of
the S2,OOO,000 bond issue resolution
,, the issuance of which is to be voted
on by the people, and other road
measures for the purpose Of taking
advantage of the plans of the federal
government to spend S4,500,000 in
this state, is considered by good road
enthusiasts as the most important
/ measure in that line ever passed in
= New Mexico.
5 Governor Larrazolo Jared uncom'
, monty well at the hands of the law
, makers. His program was u sweeping
= one and he saw it in the main &c
= through. His educational bills were
rewritten until some of them did moi
q resemble the original measures bu,
{ his ideas in the main were carried
{ out. The compulsory study of Span
ish failed to get written into the law
1 but bill was passed which place!
Spanish in reach of every pupil il
2 New Mexico and provides for teachers
I who must show their proficiency il
o the language. A bill providing for tn,
e employment of Spanish speaking
r teachers in schools where the ma
= jority of the pupils are Spanish
i speaking passed.
n The governors bilingual bills ere
ated nationwide discussion and wer
generally misunderstood and miscon
G strued by the eastern press. They ere
d ated discussions in the press an
l. among educators which spread fror
l. coast to coast.
= Another of the governors bill
l. which was made law was the increas
e in salaries of teachers. The bill add
r about $40 month to the pay of teach
lie ers.
r. -------
N S. A. Edwards has returned HON