The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1921-01-29
LEGISLATURE STRONG IN CON
DENINATION OF CONWAY
Majority SOlons DO Not Favor Me-
chem Recommendations For the
state Wide Primary; Other News.

remuneration oil republican OIL
flee holder in "a resolution drafted
and engineered through both branch
cs of the legislature by republicans
has been the chief feature of the
first two weeks work of the Fifth
New Mexico Assembly John V.
Conway, serving his third week
as state superintendent of public
instruction, was severely con-
demned by house joint resolution
No. ?, introduced by A. H. Carter,
republican floor leader i'm the house
and Immediately passed by that
body
In spite of strong defense made
10y Mr. Conway before the public
affairs committee of the senate.
that body, upon motion of Judge
Il. r. Wright, who is republican floor
leader in the senate, also passed
the resolution of denunciation.
The resolution states that "The
members of the house of repre-
senlatives and of the senate of the
Fifth legislature are astounded that
state official should deliberately
ne party to such proceeding or
the author of such a letter. Mr..
Conway served several years as as
sstant to State superintendent of
Public Instruction, j. II. Wagner,
and was himself elected to the po-
sition ON the republican ticket last
fall.
One of the democratic senators,
A. l.. Zinn, of OuaY county. is CO.
author of bin to afford substm-
tial relief to gasoline users. He
has introduced with Senator Mitch
ell of Union county, Senate Bill No.
l3, which provides for the imme-
diate repeal of the gasoline tax law.
already held unconstitutional. by
Judge Nebletl in federal court
Should the Iinn bill pass. it would
stop the collection of the two
cent excise tax on every gallon of
gasoline sold in the state and would
effect a considerable saving to au-
tomoble and truck users.
There is every indication of a
sharp division within the republi-
The type Of primary act which will
be passed. Governor Meechem has
gone on record during the campaign
and in his message to the legisla-
ture, as Iayoring a statewide pri-
mary for the nomination Of all
state, county and district officers. !
This has been the aim of the DEM
Qcratic party for many years. Ac-
cordingly, such primary act was in .
troduced in the house Of reprcsen- /
tatives by Hartell, democrat.
The republican legislators, how /.
ever, are not inclined 20 follow the /
governors recommendation for a
statewide primary. They are |
seeking to- find some subtrrfuge |
which viii fulfill the platform .
pledge, and yet not disturb the
present convention system. which
the republicans have used to ihpir
advantage so fr4ducnilV. Such a
bill was introdu Hl IN the lower
house by Reprc'i ,tative Bara, Of
SaEta Fe counV 4 prominent re-
Publican member, HIS Mll provide
fn" county primlrics. at which del
cS5tes are to be chosen 10 county
convention. Afte" that initial pI-
mary, now in vogue IN many 1oJm
ties, the regular convention SySteni
would be employed
Another prima,Y lH!l drafted BY
Senator HedcOck, republican. of
san Miguel. was introduced by Sen
ator Quintana, another republican.
II provides for a limited primary.
Up to date there mas not been a
single statewide primary bill pro-
posed by republican legislator.
even though the governor has spe-
requested it.
There is strong probability that
.he democratic members Of the leg !
Iature will not concur in the sug-
sestlon of Governor Meechem that I
-he time Of paying rentals be chang
ed from the beginning to the end of {
me year for which a lease on
state land is made This would
handicap the school (
program during sharp advance in I
. taxes Of other property owners. d
mere is also a possibility that the &
tate would lose much less money f,
{ the suggested plan were put into In
effect. !.
In their opposition TO that mart
If the governors accommodation p
or the relief of the live stock in 4
lustry, the democrats will likely be Ia
'lned by number OF republicans. e