New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-16
No. 7
JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING
AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE
XIII OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE STATE OF NEW
MEXICO, ENTITLED PUBLIC
LANDS"

6. ]. r. No. II, Apr. March II, 1921,
Be it Resolved by the Legislature of
the State of New Mexico:
Sec. |. That Article XIII of the
Constitution 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
ed to the State by Congress, and all
lands hereafter acquired, are declar-
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-
quired.
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 10 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 APP
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 nve in the year
1923. and. provided further, hat until
such Commission shall be duly APP
pointed and qualified as hereinabove
provided. the Commissioner OF Pub
lie Lands elected at the general cleo
ton in the year 1920 shall continue
to act as Commissioner of Public
! Lands with all the powers and auth
ority 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, I'M
der the provisions of the Acts OF Con-
g-ess relating thereto and such re-
gulations as may be provided by law.
Section 5. 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 shall
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 8. All 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 the 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
rnerter of the State Land Commits
sion.
Section 8. The State Land Commits: