Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-04
PEOPLE To VOTE
ON 8 AMENDMENTS
To CONSTITUTION
Special Election viii Be Held
in State Sept, 16, to Accept
or Reject Proposals of Last
Legislature.

ESPECIAL CORP EsponpsNcE TO MORNING JOURNAL
Santa Fe. n. NJ. Aug. Sin it's
September issue, the New Mexico
Tax Review will discuss the three
amendments proposed by the last leg
islature. These amendments Will be
voted upon at a special election to
be held Tuesday, September 16. 1919,
and are as follows:
/. To amend Article VII by adding
Section 6 in order to per2it soldiers
and sailors to vote when absent from
the state at the time of an election
g To amend Section 8, Article XIV
and Section 10, Article XII, reiating
to state institutions so as to place
all the state educational. charitable,
penal and reformatory institutions un.
der the control of a board of four
members receiving an annual salary
of $4,000 each.
g. To amend Section of Article N
of the State Constitution which re-
lates TO the limitation of the indebt-
edness of the state. The effect of the
amendment is to place in the hands
of the legislature the power to issue
bonds for building roads without sub
hitting 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 en-
counter considerable objection on the
part of the various institutions and
their friends throughout the state.
As to the third amendment pro-
posed, the constitution at present per-
mits the issuance of not to exceed
100000 of certificates of indebted
ness in cases of insufficency of state
revenues to meet current expenses.
Bonds may be issued to the amount of
one per cent of the assessed Valua-
ton of property in the state, but only
after the question of issuing such
bondsbonds shall have been favorably
voted upon by the people at gen.
eral election. The amendment pro-
posed provides that the legislature
may, however, in order to provide
funds for construction and mainten-
ance of public highways and bridges
enact laws authorizing the issue OF
bonds, debentures, or certificates or
Indebtedness, payable at such times
MS the legislature shall determine out
of tax leves, receipts from motor We
hicle licenses, or other licenses or rev.
enues, without submitting such laws
to the qualified electors OF the state,
and Notwithstanding that the indebt-
edness so created may temporarily in
state to an amount exceeding the
foregoing limitation. Provided. that
bonds issued for such purposes from
advalorem taxes levied upon tangible
property shall not at any time exceed
The sum of two million $20OO,OOO,-
OOOl except to meet allotmentS OF
federal funds made to the state 10
aid in construction and improvement
of roads
Let If be noted that the foregoing
paragraph is not a proposal to vote
$4,000, 900 of bonds. 1t is proposal
TO permit the Legislature to issue
bonds for roads and bridges to any
amount without vote OF the qual-
fled electors, the only restrictlon pc
inc. that not more than $2,0OO.0O0 OF
bonds shall be issued payable out or
tax levy: and this limitation VIII
not amply if. in the judgment of the
1epislat1re more funds are needed 10
meet federal aid for roads.
The second and third amendments
nronosed affect public revenue ana
avnanditlres. In view OF the fapldly
increasing tax rate every person con-
tributing to the support of the gov
eminent should carefully study THESE
nroposals as to the necessity ana WIS
dom of their adoption Are tney III
accord with approved principles VI
onn1ar government? Are such
ppbpnges advisable or will they pring
about improved conditions? Are lney
necessary from any point of view
ubose questions should not be an
swered "off hand" The intelligent
oitigen will not want information ana
discussion before reaching a conclu-
sion either affirmatiVely or mega
tiVGly.