The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-09-17

who. 10 far aa character IN concerned.
are above reproach. and perhaps n
we knew ths: We always would ave
three "a good men on h commission,
10 one need fear al injustice. but we
cannot tell what will he done In the
future. This constitution may be
amended n the amendment may
stand for q hundred years. and we
may have radicalism rampant In New
Mexico " we may have corrupt men
on the State Corporation commission
In New Mexico. and we may have
corrupt men In the Legislature. and
II seems TO me this matter II too
important TO handle In he way that
his amendment attempts to do Il.
And ] doubt very much II the consti-
tutionai provision that the State Cor
poration commission may fix rates
without n hearing. except hat after
they ere fixed you are privileged to
show before Tho commission they are
unreasonable doubt whether hat
will stand under the provisions OF the
United States constitution. but even
though II may think II n b lack
81 wisdom to offer the people such
az amendment to tho constitution on
a matter that might prove so serious.
Up To Legislature.
The Corporation commission may
he given control over affairs that YOU
consider your own private affairs.
The legislature In the future II the
one 60 say what these powers shall he.
The commission may say hat you
may not handle our Own property
and do what you consider yourself
best. az they Eay 20 the railroads to-
day. you must do with your property
what we think YOU should do with H."
ut takes away from the city and
villages OF the state the real control
over their own municipal affairs. I
believe that. for instance. in Aihu-
querque. our own city commission ia
better equipped. better able 10 know
what Is right between the Gas COM
pany. the Street Car company. and
such corporations as that, than the
State Corporation commission sitting
In Santa Re.
Budget Amendment.
NO. 8 " what IL known ns the
budget Amendment. when the legis-
lature meets II Is composed of people
who know Just AZ much about the
state and the affairs OF the various
Interests Of the state as YOU and /
know. I don't know whether there II
anyone In this audience n knows
how much money the university ac-
tunlly needs each year. how much II
mas been getting. and what In doesn't.
W. have in the legislatures some Is
men. more or less. from al parts Of
the state. They coiae there with
Ideas Of their W to get something
for their own communities. or ideas
In politics perhaps some 10 get
offices. and the last thing that viii
attract their attention IL sitting down
and giving the necessities Of the state
institutions sober. serious considera-
! ion. Most nf them are not equipped
for Il and the few who are are busy
with other things n YOU ran with
difficulty get an audience.
"1n 1919 we passed a budget law
which was In operation at the recent
session Of the legislature. u IL a
very good law. almost as good ns this
amendment provides. Under that law
the governor calls upuu the heads Of
the departments. Of all the depart
ments OF state. Of an the state insti-
tutions. foe no amount of money that
thoy used last year n the amount
that they estimate they Will need the
coming two wears. II IL on'y human
nature. which IN well exhibited In the
budget report. that each institution
asks FOR about twice as much rs II
can possibly expect to get. and " thc
governor would acquiesrc In an the
requests It might take practically AL
the property In the state to keep the
state institutions going. But the gov
ernor must ascertain how much
money we viii have. and he will know
that because he knows h assessed
value Of the property In the state anf
the amount that may he levied or
that property, and 80 II II q very
easy matter to compute how muCl
money the state Will have to spont
for an these institutions The difil'
cult thing ~ to parcel that ont fairly
and satisfactorily 10 the various insti'
tutious
And II Is n mar sized Job 20 &c.
up the budget This amendment h.
addition to these duties performed hN
the governor. requires him to foanu.
late an appropriation bill. with hi
IDEAS In that hill. OF what each insti
tuition should have. and h legisla'
ture must pass that hill, and ~ can
not Increase those estimates or pro
visions. II may reduce them. hut 1
Z falls To pass the bill II annot pas
another general appropriation bill ]
may pass special appropriation bus
which of course vii Ice easy tn do hl
simplv drafting q separate hill 10
each institution. So that n the GOV
ornor IL republican ana the Legislature
democratic. or vice versa, we may cN
pcct to see the governors estimate "
his budget given very little Considcrn
ton hy the Legislature, hut II h" II
good fellow and friendly with tn
legislature. II viii he Of great service
To that body to have him submit M
approximation hin Tor their approval
q we can get along without thi
amendment hut ! see ma danger In !
and really believe II TO be n Eooi
r thing for the state. The Eovcrno
takes his office a month earlier AM
the legislature %convcncs q month late
than under the present law. and tina