Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-09-16
R0TAR|ANS TALK
AMENDMENTS To
CONSTITUTION
Proposals Two, Four, Six,
Seven and Eleven Dis
cussed by, Members Of
Club at Noon Luncheon.

Suggested amendments two
four, five, six, seven and eleven to
the constitution OF the state were
discussed by members of the Ro-
tary club at the luncheon of that
organization yesterday noon. The
first speaker was Carl C. Magee
on two, four and seven. Col. G. E.
Breeze spoke next on five and
eleven, while Capt. w. c. Reid
closed the discussion with talks
upon six and seven. Amendment
seven, the land office amendment,
was the only one upon which
two-sided discussion had been ar
ranged.
Mr.. Magee first urged the adop-
ton of amendment two, prevent
ing aliens not eligible to citizenship
from owning or leasing lands in
the state.
'"rhe orientals and the whites
cannot intermingle," he stated,
and if they are allowed.to settle
they will make a separate class
and set up their own civilization"
With reference to amendment
four. allowing the legislature to
exempt soldiers property from
taxation up to $4,000, he argued
that it should be defeated since it
helped the soldier who needed it
least and failed to help the one
who needed it most.
Defeat this" he advised, land
the soldiers will force something
more equitable"
Taking up amendment seven,
Mr.. Magee warned his hearers that
he was extremely partisan on that,
question. Showing that the great
trust involved in the public lands
OF the state amounted to s35,000,-
600, he insisted that it was of such
size that it should not be left to
one man to administer. He urged
that it was bigger than the biggest
bank in the state and that 1t should
have several officers as big banks
find it profitable to do.
"Many have urged the adoption
of the short ballot" said Mr.. Ma
gee, because the end of the tick
ct is frequently forgotten in con-
ventions and elections. The land
commissioner Is the most impor-
tant officer in the state. yet usu-
ally the tail goes with the hide and
the land commissioner follows a
gubernatorial candidate into Of
flee. He urged that the governor
be made solely responsible for the
acts of those administering the Of
flee.
Captain Reid, later discussing
the same amendment, stated his
belief that 1t would be mistake
n ityi1
sponsibility for the administration
of the land office.
1.-THE president of bank" he
said, does not know what all his
clerks are doing, but he directs the
general policy of the bank and 1t
is this that a land commissioner
should do"
In discussing the budget amend
ment, No. 6. Captain Reid said that
1t would smooth out the present
practice by permitting the goveE-
nor to take office a month earlier
and having the legislature convene
a month later.
Colonel Breeze discussed first
Amendment No. 5. to transfer the
control of public utilities to the
state corporation commission. He
insisted that this was bad since it
would deprive cities of all control
and leave their rights up to the
legislature.
The speaker also opposed
amendment eleven. the road bond
amendment. He stated that roads
were worthless without sufficient
income to maintain them. He
urged that present taxes were al
ready high and that the bond act
would mean added expense. He
pointed out that six millions OF
dollars would not be drop in the
bucket on the road program of the
state, since he had been informed
that $S0,000,000 would be required
to complete the job.
Announcement was made that
Kenneth Baldridge and Oscar
Lewis would attend the district
conference as representatives of
the club. Moving pictures of the
members were taken after the
luncheon.