Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-17
PUBLIC DEFENSE:
ACT IS NEEDED
SAYS GOVERNOR
IN HIS MESSAGE
Chief Executive Lays Par
tiCular Stress Upon Such
a Measure in His Recon-
n1endationS to legislators
SPECIAL SESSION
DOWN TO BUSINESS
Introduction of Bills Is Fin
iShed At a Late Session
Yesterday Afternoon All
Employees Are Accepted,
ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO sosHN7 JOURNAL

ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO sosHlNG JOURNAL
Santa Fe. Feb, 16.-The special
session of the Fourth state legis-
lature got down to actual business
in record time today, meeting
promptly at the designated noon
hour, receiving the governors
message within an hour after the
first meeting, and finishing the in
PRODUCTION of bills at a session late
in the afternoon. The committees
and rules of last session will stand
in both houses, while the special
list of volunteer employees recruit
ed by the governor were accepted
without protest.
OF the bills introduced, probably
the most important We're the re-
Vised income tax law, the bill for
the protection of the public de-
fense an act providing state aid In
the settlement of soldiers, sailors
and marines and others upon state
lands, the joint resolution ratifying
the proposed amendment to the
constitution of the United States
extending the right of suffrage to
women, an act appropriating
money for national guard purposes,
and an act authorizing the employ
ment of health employees and the
leVying Of special taxes for certain
health purposes
In his special message to the
Joint session of the Legislature, the
governor laid special emphasis on
IL l..
defense. The constitution, in sec
tion four of article four, charges
him with the duty of preserving
the public peace, of executing the
laws, Of suppressing insurrection
and of repelling invasion. This
pre-supposes that he has the neces-
sary means to do so; but the gov
ernor pointed out that at present
this is not the case.
Specip' Protection Fund.
The bill rur the public defense
charges the governor with the duty
OF calling, out the militia or ma
tional guard of the state or any
part thereof whenever such action
is necessary to fulfil his duties
outlined by the constitution. The
th Gtli'tN VI illt III llld snail bt DdlI
from the protection fund" which
is created by the bill, To provide
the funds, the governor may di-
rect the state treasurer to issue
certificates of indebtedness upon
the state of New Mexico In amounts
as the governor shall designate.
These certificates shall be payable
within five years from the date Of
issuance and shall pay not more
than six per cent. Annually, be
ginning with the tax levy of the
year following the issuance, the
state auditor shall levy a tax upon
all taxable property in the state at
a rate Of not to exceed one-half
mill on the dollar of assessed val
uation, The limit of such certifi-
Gates outstanding at any one time
Is set at 100000.
The soldier settlement act Of the
1919 session was held invalid by
the district federal court. In order
that this work might be undertaken
either with the cooperation of the
federal government or without,
new bill was introduced which
creates a board of three members.
The president would receive an an
nual salary of $4,000 as in the bin
of last year, but the two additional
members would receive salaries of
$4,000 apiece, although in the act
now upon the books, no salary was
provided.
Million Dollar Bond Issue.
To carry out the provisions Of
thn thn rf al
lars is appropriated and the issu-
ance of a bond issue to that
amount is authorized, the issuance,
however, to take effect only after
it has been submitted to the quail
fled electors of the state and has
received a majority of all votes
cast thereon at the general cleo
ton on November eighth next.
The powers of the board are
about the same as in the bill passed
last session. 1t may, with the ap-
proval of the governor, undertake
the complete projects for the re-
clamation of lands by drainage ir-
riGation, clearing or numerous
other means. 1t may acquire real
estate by purchase or donation and
sell the same to soldiers in quanti-
ties sufficient for the establishment
of homes. The provisions of the
act shall extend TO and include the
widows of soldiers.
The income tax law which was
introduced to replace the present
one which it is expected the legis-
lature will repeal, imposes a sliding
scale tax on all incomes received
during 1919 and each year there
after certain deductions are made,
these deductions being about the
same as the present ones allowed
by the government. Incomes under
$4,000 are taxed 1 per cent. From
$4,000 to $4,000 the rate is | IL
per cent for each additional 1000
of income up to $4,000, Persons
receiving from $4,000 to 100000
pay per cent on the first $4,000,
/ 1-2 on the second 100000, on the
third, Q 1-2 on the fourth, on the
fifth, and per cent on the excess
over $4,000. on the excess over
100000, the tax is per cent.
Suffrage Up Tuesday.
The suffrage resolution was mem
toned by the governor in his mes
sage and received the only applause
accorded any individual position of
the message. Judge r. p. Barnes,
majority house leaders, J. F. Curns,
next in control, and T. J, Robertson,
a. democratic house leader, led the
same applause. The suffrage reso-
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