New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-02
No. 7
JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING
AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE
XIII OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE STATE OF NEW
MEXICO, ENTITLED PUBLIC
IANDS"

MEXICO. ENTITLED PUBLIC
LANDS"
s. ]. r. No. IL, Apr. March y, 1921
Be it Resolved by the Legislature OF
the State of New Mexico:
Sec. /. That Article XIII of the
Constitu ION OF the State of New
Mexico be amended so as to read as
follows:
ARTICLE XIII PUBLIC LANDS
Section |. All lands belonging to
the State OF New Mexico, and all
lands granted. transferred or confirm
lands hereafter acquired, are declar-
ed to be public lands OF the state 10
be held or disposed Of as may be
provided by law for the purpose for
which they have been or may be
granted, donated or otherwise ac-
CURED.
Section ?. A permanent Commits
sion to consist of three members, not
more than two of whom shall belong
TO the same political party, is hereby
created, which shall be known as the
State Land Commission"
Section 3. The members OF the
Commission shall be appointed by the
governor, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. and shall be
subject to removal only for cause.
Each member shall hold office for a
term OF six years from and after his
appointment. and until his successor
shall have been duly appointed and
qualified; Provided. that the three
members of the Commission first ap-
pointed and confirmed shall immedi-
ately qualify themselves by lot so
that one of them shall hold office
for two years, one for four years,
and one for six years. from and after
January LIST. 1923. and thereafter one
Commissioner shall be appointed ev-
cry two years; Provided. however.
that the members of the Commission
first to be appointed shall be appoint
ed during the regular session of the
legislature to convene in the year
1923, and, provided further, that until
such Commission shall be duly ap-
pointed and qualified as hereinabove
provided. the Commissioner of Pub
lie Lands elected at the general cleo
ton in the year 1920 shall continue
70 act as Commissioner of Public
Lands with all the powers and auth
GRITTY heretofore exercised by him.
Section 4. The State Land Com
mission shall select. locate, classify,
and have the direction. control, care
and disposition of all public lands, un-
der the provisions of the Acts OF Con-
Press relating thereto and such re-
eulations as may be provided by law.
section ). The Commission shall
annually elect one of its members
Chairman. and shall appoint a Chief
Clerk, and such other officers, assist
ants, and subordinates as may be
requisite and necessary for the pro-
per conduct of the affairs Of the State
Land Office. The Commission shah
prescribe its own rules OF order and
procedure concerning its official du-
tics. The salaries of the Commits
%sioners shall be fixed by the legisla-
ture.
'"Section 9. An of the duties, pow
ers, and prerogatives now by law in
cumbent upon or vested in the Com
missioner OF Public Lands OF the
State OF New Mexico, shall as soon
as the first three members, appoint
ed and confirmed under authority of
this article, shall qualify. be incum5-
ent upon and vested in the State
Land Commission, and said Commits
sion shall %thereupon be deemed 10
be the local successor Of the Com
missioner of Public Lands of this
State, and shall be bound by and
power to enforce all lawful contracts.
entered into By the Commissioner OF
Public Lands on behalf OF the State.
Section Z. Any qualified elector
of TIE State Of New Mexico, who
has attained the age of thirty years.
and who shall have been a resident
OF the State OF New Mexico for five
years next preceding his appointment
shall be qualified to hold office as a
member OF the State Land Commits
sion.
Section s. The State Land Commits
SlOn Sndl nave a seal Win an dppTO-
pirate device thereon. and such seal
affixed to any instrument, signed by
the Chairman or Acting Chairman,
and attested by the Chief Clerk, shall
be prima facie evidence OF the due
execution thereof.
Section 9. Each member OF the
Commission shall, before entering up
on the duties OF his office, qualify by
taking the oath of office, as pres
cribed for all State officers, and shall
execute a bond, in favor OF the State,
in the penal sum Of S50,000O0, condi-
toned upon the faithful performance
of the duties of his office.
section 10. The Chairman of the
State Land Commission shall be the
third member, together with the Gov
ernor and Attorney General, OF the
Commission created by Section II Of
the Act of Congress, approved June
10th, 1920. commonly called the En-
aiding Act"