Deming graphic., 1919-08-12
Shall the Constitution be Amended,

n""h tNc tofistuuti0n De Amtn0e0l
In Its September issue, the New
Mexico Tax Review will discuss the
three amendments proposed by the last
legislature. These amendments will
be voted upon at a special election to
be held Tuesday. September 10, 1919,
aud are,as follows:
i. To amend Article VII by adding
Section o in order to permit soldiesr
and sailors TO vote when absent from
the state at the time OF an election.
?. To amend Section 3, Article XIV
and Section 13 Article XII, relating
to state institutions so as to place all
the state educational, charitable, penal
and reformatory Institutions under the
control Of board Of four members re-
ceiving On annual salary OF $1,000 each.
3. TO amend Section s OF Article
TX Of fhe State Constitution which
relates 70 the limitation OF the indebt-
edness Of the state. The effort Of the
amendment is TO palce in the hands Of
the state 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 op-
position to the first amendment. The
second, tit is expected, will encounter
considerable 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
certificates OF Indebtedness in eases of
| insufficiency OF state revenues to meet
current expenses. Bonds may he issued
to the amount of l per cent OF the as
sessed valuation Of property in the
state but only after the question of
issuing such bonds shall have been fav-
orably voted upon by the people at n
general election. The amendment pro-
posed provides that "The legislature
may, however, in order to provide
funds for construction and mninten-
ance OF public highways and bridges,
enact laws authorizing the issue of
bonds, debentures, or certificates Of
Indebtedness, payable at such times as
the legislature shall determine out of
tax leyies, receipts from motor vehicle
licenses, or other licenses or revenues.
without submitting such laws to the
qualified electors Of the state, and not.
withstanding that the indebtedness so
created may temporarily increase the
total indebtedness of the state to an
amount exceeding the foregoing limita-
tion: 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 tS2,GJ0000) dollars except to
meet ,allotments OF Federal Funds made
TO The state to aid in construction aud
improvement OF roads"
Let II be noted that the foregoing
paragraph Is not n proposal to vote
$2,000,000 of bonds. II is Il proposal
to permit the legislature to issue bonds
for roads and bridges to any amount
without vote Of the qualified electors,
the only restriction being that not more
than $2,000,000 of bonds shall be Is.
sued payable ont of tax levy; and this
limitation will not apply If, in the
judgment of the legislature, more
funds are needed to meet Federal Aid
for roads.
The second and third amendments
proposed affect public revenues and
expenditures. In view OF the rapidly
increasing tax rate every person con.
tributing to the support OF the govern.
ment should carefully study these pro-
posals as to the necessity and wisdom
Of their adoption. Are they in accord
with approved principles of popular
government? Are such changes ad.
yisable or will they bring about i'm.
proved conditions? Are they necessa-
ry from any point of view? These
questions should not be answered "off
hand" The intelligent citizen will
want Information and discussion be-
fore reaching a conclusion either af-
firmatively or negatively.