Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-18
THE JOKER" AGAIN.

1t remainen for an Embossed delegate from
49, Union county to rise from his seat in the late re-
publican convention at Albuquerque, after the
party platform had been prepared and put through
by the bosses in coptrol and demand additional
plank pledging his party the submission of an
| amendment giving to the Corporation Commission
g some power Sec of Article 10, of the New Mex
leo constitution stands another glazing eX-
ample of the successful effort of the New Mexico
q Republican bosses to give the state the
/ corporation body and soul Judge Mechem in his
I address at Ration last Monday, reported by the
! Id kept press" which take accurate re-
aoport for his purpose. says defense of the
ppraton commission and its powers:
| THE republican party stands for the pas
sage of a constitutional amendment increasing
=-=~ the powers of the Corporation Commission
re- which has do with fixing Interstate rates
$3.50 and the control of public service
---- poratons generally A great deal of criticism
has been made by democratic friends
The powers granted by constitution to the
o. commission, but that was quite while ago
when our provisions in the constitution
drafted relative to the commission, and if l re-
member it, they were taken almost bodily from
the laws of the state of Virginia which at that
time was very satisfactory system. Times
.y have changed. The law has been proved made
quate in some degree, and we propose to
change it,
- 1t is knowledge today that state
=. Corporation Commission is a joke, and that it is
- so recognized by only people but by
u other states and, if Judge Mechem had taken the
pains read opinion of the supreme court of
New Merico (Seward VS.. D. and r. G, Ky. Co.. II
n. M. SGD referring to the provisions of section
of the article he would that it there said:
snasThese provisions peculiar to New Mexico and
,. other state, either by statute constitutional
provision, has the method of procedure"
Certainly not! No state has been cursed has
-Hew Mexico with olgarehy of political masters
since the time California under the heavy
hand of the Southern Pacific. That years ago,
and at the time of New MexiCo's admission state
hood the whole county looking to 70 a for
ward looking, progressive constitution; that
would neither fortify the ultra-radica shield
the corruptionst New Mexico got stone when she
was asking for bread 1t given to her by the |
% same crowd that has given her all the progress
~ sYe" legislation since satehoodthe same crowd of
bosses that has been repudiated by the people OF
the state twice before but who still hold the
- trolling interest in the republican party in New
Mexico There is not member of the constitu- |
tional convention that does not remember the long
and bitter aday struggle made the floor of the II
convention when section of article 10 sub Il
mtted for final action. The great effort of the L
ho"free" delegates of the convention against unfair 4
Corporate control in the state made in the fight
against the adoption of this iniquitous section OF Il
- the constitution. 1t proposed to place all the bur
den in of the PRONUNCIATION of any rule or i
through the commission, to show such an 4
order or rule was just and fair. instead of re- II
."iquiring the corporation resisting such order or
rule, show the unfairnes of it. Delegates NJ. p.
.hsSkeen j. l., Lawson and c. c. Davidson, demo,
Gratis, proposed a substitute for section and sub
snlitted it in the minority report. 1t clear
rscut provision that would have cured the very de-
feet that the people of the state have finally
determined must be cured and which the bosses"
yaof republican party reluctantly and tardiy per-
1itted to be written into their platform (See offic
ial proceedings of Const Conv. pages 165-173) II
Delegate Bursum the chairman of the COM
rlittee that reported this article corporations
Delegate Bursum the who led the fight
against giving the Corporation Commission and the
-people of New Mexico fighting chance in
matter of control of the corporations of this
Estate A constitutional amendment is the only II
thing that give us the relief now. We respect
fully Judge Mechem the substitute offered
by these delegates in open convention ten years
~ago as a very proper draft for his amendment
But If Mr. Bursum fought day and night with II
San his might and power ten years ago against i
giving the people control of the corporations within
the state how justify conviction that he
will fight hard. at all. to change the law to-
day? In other words is it not adopting the bet II
ter reasoning to that since Mr.. Bursunl II
granted this promise late and reluctantly that II
be would not grow very hold In enthusiasm over
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