New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-05-27
PROPOSED CONSTITU-
TIONAL AMENDMENTS

In eCtoI VI tilc Taxpayers hsSoSiA>
tion of New Mexico:
On the third Monday of Septem-
Der, 1921, the people will have an op-
portuity to vote on eleven QD prop
osed amendments to the Constitu-
tion of the State of New Mexico as
follows:
|. To permit women to hold public
office.
g. To prevent aliens who are in
eligible to citizenship from owning
real estate
3. To remove the limitations as to
the number of terms for which the
State Superintendent OF Public In
struction may be elected.
4. To permit an exemption from
taxation of $4,000 worth of prop
erty belonging to a soldier, sailor,
marine or army nurse who has serv-
ed in the armed forces of the United
States i'll time of war.
5. To permit the legislature to
charge the powers and duties of the
Corporation Commission. to make
binding any order OF the Commission
IS to rates until otherwise provided
by legislation, and to throw the bur-
den of proving unrea sonableness of
rate.
Q. To provide for a State Budget.
7. To provide for a State Land
Commis sion"
8. To establish maximum lmita-
tions upon tax levies.
.. To permit cities, towns, and
villages to vote upon bond issues at
regular as well as at special cleo
tions.
10. To remove limitation upon
number OF terms for which a coun-
ty superintendent OF schools may be
elected
II, To make possible the early IS
sue OF bond issue OF 100000 End
to validate certificates of indebted
ness and debentures authorized by the
Fifth Legislature
In this amendment it is our pur-
pose to discuss only two of the prop
csed amendments, Nos. 9 and 8.
Proposed Amendment No. 8 will
change Section ;, Article Xxx, and
Section 5, Article " OF the Constitu-
tion. 1t provides that all officers ex-
cept the Governor shall begin their
terms as at present, and that the
Governors term shall begin one
month earlier than at present, that
is on December lst following his ell
ection.
The opening of the legislative 5es-
sion will take place two or three
weeks later than as at present. The
object OF these provisions is to give
time 10 the Governor to study the
financial needs and abilities of the
state with view to his submitting
"a carefully prepared budget 90 the
legislature. In fact the sole purpose
OF the amendment is to establish IN
effective budget system as a feature
oi the states financial admlnistra-
ton.
If the amendment Is ratified the
Governor will have the power TO col
'ect information IRON state boards.
departments, and institutions. hold
hearings thereon and to arrange A.
budget for the guidance al the lep-
lslature. The executive will also sub
mt a genera! appropriation bill with
the budget, both to be presented not
later than the twentieth day OF the
legislature. That body will thus be
able t. begin early consideration of
the departmental and institutional re-
quests, Through the Governor all
necessary data may be made avail
able Tor the proper legislative COM
mttees. The items in the general
appropriation bill as submitted by the
Governor may be revised downward
by the legislature, but no item can
be increased. 1t should be kept in
mind, however, that the Governor
may amend or supplement the bud
get and general appropriation bill
and aitcr final action upon the gen
eral appropriation bill, special appro-
prlatlon bills may be enacted. The
propo. cd amendment would. there
fore, permit the executive and the
legislative branches OF the govern
mcnt TO cooperate in studying the
need, of the state and in providing
fund, therefor. The ratification OF
the budget amendment will place
New Mexico in line with other states
where advances have been made i'm
ciliclcniy oi governmental admins
tration. Our state viii also bc IN line
with the Federal Government If the
present efforts in Congress are sue
cesSful as seems highly probable.
foresight and system should be an
Piled. flit and miss methods OF nand-
Ing public funds must be discarded.
Upon the chief executive officer rests
the responsibility OF managing the
public business. and upon his should
crs that responsibility is definitely
placed by this amendment. With two
months in which to study the needs
OF the state. and after due considera-
ton after hearing those interested.
the Governor will be in position TO
present a well balanced appropriation
measure based upon a budget prep
AIRED accordin gto the relative mer-
MS OF the various and several de-
mands for revenue Under present
conditions lobbying methods NAV Sc
cure for some department or insti-
tuition more than If deserves. The
budget plan embodied in the prop
csed amendment will. it Is believed.
distribute public funds not only more
economically. but also more fairly
and Justly.
Proposed Amendment No. s chang
e Section , Article VIII OF the Con-
stitution so "a to place a maximum
/ limitation OF
!. Six (6) mills for all state pur-
( poses and uses on each dollar OF the
assessed valuation OF all property
subject to taxation in the state. Other
I limitations are also established as fol-
Z lows:
2 Five 90 mills for all county
purp 1ses and uses excepting special
school levies. special levies for health.
and special levies in specific classes
Z Of property.
Tr-n "a nil. fe,-;od %, III