New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-03-21
COMPLETE SUMMARY
OF LAWS PASSED BY
FOURTH LEGISLATURE
ROADS AND DRAINAGE, so.
C1AL BETTERMENT, PRO.
H1B1T1oN, EDUCATION, TAX
AND REVENUE REVISION:
FIVE STATE AMENDMENTS

With . total of $2,446.539.oo in ar
preparations for all purposes for tn
Rext two years the fourth state. leg
isiature overran last years total b
o.O70. Sweeping betterments c
public welfare are created, and
number of old expenses are Gu
down.
Social Bettsrment
An advanced child labor law is no,
in force. It embraces restrictions O.
the kind of employment children u
to certain ages may undertake an
prohibits children of school age work
Jog when schools are in session. H
B. 3ls.
A child welfare bill carrying $500
year providing a salaried directo
and boad of six for two, four an,
six year terms is on the statutes
H. B. N; and a girls welfare bill
designed to lessen the states pro
biems in handing cases of juvenil,
delinquency Is also a law. H. B. l7C
Compensation to workmen injured
at their occupa tions has been mucl
amplified at this session, IN hous,
bill s.. which the governor has sign
cd. Representatives of labor me
with the committees from the iegis
fsture, objecting to the rather inciu
slve working OF the bill aimed al
syndicalisn,. which was changed ant
to a proposed compulsory arbitra
ton law. which was dropped.
S. B. 10 fixes the maximum rate
Of interest to be charged by banks
building and loan companies and al
others in New Mexico at 10 per cent
Public Health Bill
The new health department start,
with $9,66666 available for deficien-
c'es for the seventh fiscal year, and
an annual appropriation of $1,000
for salaries and expenses to follow
In case Of emergencies such as the
flu epidemic the health department
can with the consent of the gov
ernor pledge the states credit and
borrow an additional $4,000 if neces-
sary.
The bill which has been much dis
eussed does not limit an individuals
choice of treatment and is confined
to recognized practices of quarantine
and sanitation. 1t contains specified
powers Of supervision of food sup
plies, and Its administration is large
ly in the hands Of county and muni-
eipal health officers, locally appoint
ed, but who can be removed by the
state health board for cause. The
hoard is to have three members only
one of whom, and this one not to be
the director, shall be a physician.
The former board of health is
changed in name to the state board
OF medical examiners. The require
n1ents for admission to the practice
Of medicine are unchanged, H. B. l31.
H. B. IS creates a state board of
dental examiners.
H. B. IA is an innovation, giving
town authorities in, places OF 800
souls the duty of calling on each
able bodied man over 2l years old
to work a day or pay dollar. each
year for the removal of filth and
garbage from the town limits. Fail
ure to enforce the law involves pen
aities.
S. B. 81 requires registration of
trained nurses.
New Taxation Laws
A series of tax laws was enacted
which materially advances the sys-
tenn of taxation in New Mexico. Al
tax commissioner who serves all the
year round at salary of $500 and
two assistants replaces the present
tax commission of three which is in
session only a portion of the time.
Broad powers in correlating the
work of assessors, and compelling
true tax returns are vested in the
and his assistants.
While q commission of three makes
aquiry into mine tax conditions
to recommending a law
that will fit local conditions for the
of the next state legis- |
ature, mines will be taxed on the
average amount they have paid the
ast three years. Since production !
IS decreasing, the mines will pay a |
higher rate on their output for this
rear and next than they formerly
lid. The expenses of this commits
lion of inquiry are limited to $40 per
lay each for l20 days. H. B. log. +
Should production rise above the
lverage, the companies are to pay
. higher tax.
New Mexico now has an inheri-
ance tax. 1t is levied on heritages
II $4,000 and up, beginning at one
,alf of one per cent the maximum
ate is S percent; H. B. 378. An oc-
upation tax extending the scope Of
he old statute, H. B. 239; and a
ranchise tax on corporations, H. B.
50, are now in force.
Road taxes for men up 70 20 years
4 age are now $3.50 yearly, the same
aw calling for a highway superin-
endent in each county. An attempt
o amend this bill to give the appoint
ng power to the county commits SION
rs failed, and the Governor will ap.
I. B. 32s.
House bill TIA relates to maximum
ates of taxation; and senate bill 10l
rovides . method for compiling a
tate budget before the next legis. I
lture. County commissioners are
to employ special attor-
eys to collect delinquent taxes BY
ouse bill 38l; and another house
III - amended by the senate re-
uires that purchasers and lessees of
tate land shall pay taxes on % per
ent Of its value while contracts with
be state are pending.
House bill 263 exempts from tax Z