New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-09-05
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS


voters OF New Mexico will pass on
three proposed amendments 10 the
STATE constitution Will be held on
September 10.
The first OF these amendments pro-
udes that citizens OF the stare II
the military or naval service OF the
United States may vote by mail al
general elections Tor any purpose.
The details of carrying the franchise
into effect are left to be provided
by the legislature, if the amendment
carries. SO far as we know there
is no opposition whatever to this
amendment.
The second provides for the organ
ization Of a State Board of Control
10 manag the various educational
and penal institutions OF the state
instead OF a separate board for each
institution as We have at present.
The State Record can see no ad-
vantage in the adoption of this
amendment. A State Board with its
corps OF employees necessary to carry
on the work will cost the state IN
the neighborhood of $4,000 per an
mum. At the present time all the
boards combined are costing less
than 5000. Only n or two boards
nov receive any compensation what
ever beyond their expenses for tray-
cling. 1t does not seem "a US that
the personal qualifications OF the
members of a state board al a salary
of 5000 per member, or their in
tereSt N the several institutions will
be any greater than that Of the able
public spirited citizens. who HAYES eTy-
ed on these boards IN the past, and
have ~gladgly given their time and
efforts to building them up because
of the pride their several localities
have taken IN the institutions locat-
ed IN their midst, and we can see NJ
reason why they will be any less
local in the personal ~ students at
tending if placed under the manage
ment OF a central board than they
are at present. One argument ad-
IS that supplies might be
bought IN larger quantities by a cen
trial board for all the institutions
at a saving in dollars and cents. If
such a course should result in such
contracts going to firms without the
state, the advantage is very ques-
tIonable, as the local firms who are
interested III the state, as tax pay
ers and contributors TO every call
for financial assistance and public
Improvement are certainly entitled 10
he public business.
The third proposed amendment
mas the effect Of permitting the leg
to ISSUE bonds to meet the
federal appropriations for road build
ing it does not follow that the
legislature viii issue 100000 worth T
# such bonds at once, or at any
particular time. II merely author
that branch OF the state gov
'rnment to provide such funds when ,
or as they may be needed
make up the states share OF an
Elaborate road building program. We
10 not understand that any large
mount OF money IS needed Just now p,
or that purpose, owing to the fact f,
hat the government with its usual ;
yindingS OF red tape is months be T.,
lind in its approval Of and selection {
1 projects for construction. But we ,
.lso understand that such a con :
is likely to occur when the
YORK is once started and under way +,
a large scale, and to wait until +,
IS actually needed and then sub r
MT bonds to a vote OF the state r
,ould be so slow and uncertain a. 10 i,
hamper, If not entirely defeat /,
he road program. II the legislature Q
an not be trusted with authority .
, act on such a matter, u would a
t more plausible TO dispense with !,
altogether and find some other j,
cans of conducting the state. bust I,
ess. If the people OF the state who'll,
TO desire better roads can n
OF trust the men they elect to dot
le work necessary TO secure them, T
icy might as well dispense with Ii
le road building program altogether. O
he amendment was unanimously {,
by the members OF the "a
ST legislature. d few OF whom are r
ow opposing II Just why j., ?,
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