Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-08
DRASTIC BILL To
STOP GAMBLING IS
PASSED AFT TER A
STORMY SESSION
After A Bitter Fight Which
Ragged Nearly All Afternoon,
Measure Finally Goes Thru
by 81 to II Vote,
STATE HEALTH BOARD
MEASURE INTRODUCED
Governor LarrazoIo Stands
Sponsor for It; Resolution
of National Livestock ASSo-
citation Given Endorsement,


topsc,AL oIsPArcs TO MORNING JouRnAlI
Santa Fe. Feb. AFTER bitter
fight which ragged nearly all the after
noon and in which almost every brand
of parliamentary strategy was used
the drastic anti-gambling bill. drawn
by Blanchard of Lea county. passed
the house by a vote of 3 to II. Party
lines were eliminated in the battle.
Almost the entire democratic delega-
ton voted for the passage of the
measure but the leadership remained
with the republicans, when Faircloth
and Blanchard led the insurgents
against Barnes and Curns, all major
ity leaders Members opposing the
bill took pains to explain that they
were not in favor of gambling, but
argued that the law now on the
statute books is drastic enough If the
officers are compelled to enforce IT.
Barnes feared that New Mexico was
about to make the mistake made by
other states, by trying to force people
into morality by drastic statutes. lie
suggested that the measure he post
poned until caucus could he held
was drafted. The very word caucus
seemed to arouse the suspicion of
some of the majority members who
favored the bill. and they decsively
voted II down Blanchard sent up
an amendment in which a typographi-
cal error was discovered. and while
he was correcting II Rarnos ng"Ned
that the house adjourn until Monday
afternoon in order to give the gentle
man time in which to perfect his
amendment. A storm Of noes and
eyes resulted from the voted, and
roll call was demanded, resulting in
another victory for the insurgents by
a vote of II to 81,
Debate again ragged from one side
of the house to the other, almost ev-
cry member having something to say
in regard to the bill. While the de-
bate was at it's height. Lobato as
sumed the floor and made another
motion to adjourn. This resulted in
another roll call. with the friends of
the bill winning by the close vote OF
81 to %. The gain in strength
brought forth loud cheers from the
friends of the bill. The flood gates
of oratory were again opened and
members whose voices had not been
either in praise or condemnation of
the measure. Epstein stemmed the
flood by motion to recess until Mon
day afternoon. This would have re-
tanned the bill its place on the calen-
dar, but would have given Barnes
time within which to call q caucus
of the majority. Epsten's motion
failed by a vote of II to SO. On fin
al passage the bill was passed by
vote of 81 to II, Speaker Sedillo
joining the insurgents and voting aye.
The new bill makes it unlawful to
hold any game of chance at which
anything of value is wagered, and
makes the proprietor Of the house in
which the game is held liable under
the law. Officials who fail to prose-
cute games of chance are also made
liable.
The house finally decided to en-
dorse the resolution of the National
Livestock association which it had
previously refused to approve under
suspension of the rules Wesley want
ed the resolution read but Barnes
explained that it was the end of the
week and there would not be time.
(The resolution contains $50 pages)
The democrats sent up an explana-
JlOn OIL a SOlll HtSdtlNt NOlet saying
that the resolution demanded the I'm
mediate return of the railroads TO
private ownership, and that thought
there were many good things in 1t,
for that reason they voted against
endorsing it, Carter of Socorro coun-
ty explained his vote for adoption by
saying that he did not believe any
body would read the entire resolution
anyway. Mascarenas said that he
had not seen the resolution, did not
know what it was; and for that rea-
son he voted for 1t. The memorial
passed by a vote of so to IA.
The first bill to which Governor
Larrazolo has agreed may be referred
to as his own and was introduced to-
day by j Frank Curns. This bill Gre
ates state department of health and
is among the number in the governors S
official program. 1t bears the caption,
"at the request ,of and with the sup
port of the governor" Speaker Sedil-
10 said the caption should be consid-
cred a message from the governor.
The provisions, summarized, follow.
A state department of health COM
posed Of a board of health and com
missioners thereof created.
The board of health, which is to be
composed of five members, not more
than three of whom at any one time
shall be physicians. and the terms are
to be for five years. The board is Civ
en- wide powers in that it is empow-
cred to make. promulgate and en-
force all necessary rules and regula-
tions for the protection of the public
health.
The commissioner will be paid
$1,000 n year and must be a physician
of one Of the orthodox schools.
Other employees are to be chemist,
bacteriologist, sanitary engineer. reg