Estancia news-herald. [volume] (Estancia, Torrance County, N.M.) 1912-19??, 1919-08-07
TO AMEND
OR NOT TO AMEND

In its September issue, the
New Mexico Tax Review will
discuss the three amendments
proposed by the last legisla.
ture. These amendments will
be voted upon at a special
election to be held Tuesday
September 16, 1919, and are
as follows:
1. To amend Article VII by
adding Section 6 in order to
permit soldiers and sailors to
vote when absent from the
state at the time of an elec-
ton.
2. To amend Section 3. AL
ticle XIV and Section 13, Ar
ticle XII, relating to state insti-
tutions so as to place all the
state educational, charitable,
penal and reformatory institu-
tions under the control of a
board of four members receiv-
ing an annual salary Of So, 700
each.
3. To amend Section 8 Of
Article TX of the State Consti-
tuition which relates to the linz
itation of the indebtedness of
the state. The effect Of the
amendment is to place in the
hands of the legislature the
power to issue bonds for build
ing roads without submitting
the question to a vote of the
people.
In all probability there will
be no opposition to the first
amendment. The second. it is
expected, will encounter con-
siderable objection on the part
of the various institutions and
their friends throughout the
state.
As to the third amendment
proposed, the constitution at
present permits the issuance of
not to exceed 100000 of GER
tificates of Indebtedness in
cases of insufficiency OF state
revenues to meet current ex-
penses. Bonds may be issued
to the amount of ! per cent
of the assessed valuation of
property in the state but only
after the question of issuing
such bonds shall have been
favorably voted upon by the
people at a general election.
The amendment proposed pro-
vides that "The legislature
may, however, in order to pro-
vide funds for construction
and maintenance of public
highways and bridges, enact
laws authorizing the issue OF
bonds, debentures, or certifi-
Gates of indebtedness, payable
at such times as the legislature
shall determine out Of tax lev
les, receipts from motor We
hicle licenses, or other licenses
or revenues, without submit
ting such laws to the qualified
electors of the state, and not
withstanding that the indebt,
edness so created may tenn
porarily increase the total In
debtedness of the state to ar
amount exceeding the forego'
ing limitation; Provided thai
bonds issued for such purposes
from ad-valorem taxes levlec
upon tangible property shall
not at any time exceed the
sum of two million $4,000,
OOO) except to meet allot
ments of Federal Funds made
to the state to aid in construc
ton and improvement O.
roads"
Let it be noted that the fore
going paragraph is not a pro
posal to vote $2,0OO,OOO @
bonds. 1t is a proposal to per
nit the legislature to issu
bonds for roads and bridges tt
any amount without a vote Q
the qualified electors, the onl,
restriction being that not NOR
than 100000 of bonds shal
be issued payable out OF a ta
levy; and this limitation vii
not apply if, in the judgmen
of the legislature, more fund
are needed to meet Fedora
Aid for roads.
The second and thir
amendments proposed affet
public revenues and expend
lures. In view of the rapid
increasing tax rate every pc.
son contributing to the suppo!
of the government shoul
carefully study these pr
posals as to the necessity an
wisdom of their adoption. Al
they in accord with approve
principles of popular goverl
ment? Are such changes a.
visable or will they brlr
about improved conditions
Are they necessary from ar
point of view? These que
tions should not be answere
"off hand.'' The intelligel