New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-08-08
SHALL THE CONSTITU-
TON BE AMENDED

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In its September issue, the New
Mexico Tax Review will discuss the
three amendments proposed by the
last legislature. These amendments
will be voted upon at a special cleo
ton to be held Tuesday, September
( 10, 1919, and are as follows:
I /. To amend Article VII by add
ing section in order 10 permit SOL
diers and sailors 10 vote when alb
sent from the state at the time of an
election.
2 To amend Section 3, Article
XIV and Section IS, Article XII,
relating TO state institutions so as
to place all the state educational,
charitable, penal and reformatory
institutions under the control OF a
board OF four members receiving an
annual salary Of SoOOO each.
3 To amend Section s O.. Article
tx of the State Con stifu-ila hich
relates to the limitation Of fte IN
.eHteaae ol IHa -.e Ie effect
.t tho amendments Is 10 place IN
he hand Of Me legislature tbe
power - issue bonds for building
roads without submitting the qaes-
zion 20 4 vote or t.e re0pIe
lu Al. probability her. will ie no
npa tio1 To- t'. first amendment.
The ecorf it Is 4. ureted. wiIl en-
counter considerable objection on
The par. of the various institutions
and their friends throughout the
state.
AS to the third amendment pro-
posed, the constitution at present
permits the issuance Of not to ex-
ceed 10000 OF certificates Of in
debtedness in cases of insufficiency
Of state revenues 10 meet current
expenses Bonds may be issued TO
the amount OF ! per cent Of the as
scssed valuation Of property IN the
state but only after the question OF
issuing such bonds shall have been
fayorably voted upon by the people
at q general election The amend
ment proposed provides that The
legislature may, however. In order to
provide funds for construction and
maintenance OF public highways and
bridges, enact laws authorizing the
issue of bonds. dehcntures. or certi-
ficateS Of Indebtedness. payable at
such times as the legislature shall
determine ont Of tax levieS. receipts
from motor vehicle licenses. or other
licenses or revenues, without sub
mitting such laws to the qualified
electors of the state, and uotwith-
standing that the Indebtedness 50
created may temporarily increase
the total indebtedness of the state
to an amount exceeding the forego-
ing limitation; Provided that bonds
issued for such purposes from ad-
yalorem tax leyies upon tangible
property shall not at any time eN-
cced the sum OF two million 5000
Oo0) except to meet allotments OF
Fedora, Funds made % the state TO
aid in construction and improvement
OF roads"
Let it be noted that the foregoing
paragraph is not a proposal 20 vote
S20D000 OF bonds Its a proposal
to permit the legislature to issue
bonds for roads and bridges to any
amount without a vote OF the quali-
fled electors; the only restriction be-
ing that not more than s2O00,OOO Of
bonds shall be issued payable out
of a tax levy; aud this limitation
VIII not apply If, IN the judgment OF
the legislature. more funds are need
ed to meet Federal Aid for roads
The second and third amendments
proposed affect public revenues and
expenditures. In view OF the rapidly
increasing tax rate every person con-
tributing to the support OF the gov
ernment should carefully study these
proposals as to the necessity and
wisdom Of their adoption Are they
in accord with approved principles
of popular government Are such
changes advisable or will they bring
about improved conditions? Are
they necessary from any point of
view? These questions should not
be answered "off hand" The in
telliyent citizen will want informa-
tion and discussion before reaching
a conclusion either affirmatively or
negatively.